Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Kirkland, Washington
With a range of options to choose from, finding the right financial advisor can be difficult. To help you narrow down your advisor search in Kirkland, we’ve created a list of the top firms who serve the area by comparing each firm’s advisory services, assets under management (AUM), fee structure, investment strategies and more. You can also connect with up to three advisors who serve the local area by using SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool.
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We match more than 50,000 people with financial advisors per month. Get connected to an advisor that serves your area today.Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
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1 | Robinswood Financial, LLC Find an Advisor | $412,610,088 | $250,000 |
| Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
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2 | Soundmark Wealth Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $362,972,404 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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3 | Schmidt Financial Group, Inc. Find an Advisor | $416,770,566 | $1 million |
| Minimum Assets$1 millionFinancial Services
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4 | Executive Wealth Group, LLC Find an Advisor | $348,509,483 | $1 million |
| Minimum Assets$1 millionFinancial Services
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5 | Private Asset Management, Inc. Find an Advisor | $167,297,640 | $10,000 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$10,000 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
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6 | Prevail Wealth Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $157,667,706 | $3,000 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$3,000 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Kirkland, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services, those that don't serve primarily individual clients and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
- AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
- Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
- Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
Robinswood Financial
Robinswood Financial is the No. 1 firm in Kirkland. This fee-only practice exclusively works with individual clients, both above and below the high-net-worth threshold.
The firm’s team of advisors have an array of qualifications, including the certified fund specialist (CFS), chartered life underwriter (CLU), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), certified financial planner (CFP), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) designations.
Robinswood imposes an account minimum requirement of $250,000, and the firm charges clients asset-based, hourly or fixed fees.
Robinswood Financial Background
Founded in 2007, Robinswood offers portfolio management, financial planning and pension consulting services.
The firm’s investment planning services also feature retirement planning, financial advice, portfolio management, college education savings plans, estate planning, diversification and asset allocation strategies.
Edward L. Ward is the principal owner of the firm.
Robinswood Financial Investment Strategy
Robinswood says on its website that it employs diversification and asset allocation strategies with index funds, institutional asset class mutual funds and ETFs. The firm says it strives to help clients grow their portfolios over the long term.
The firm also says it aims to deliver higher returns by participating in market upswings while supplying risk protection from market meltdowns. Robinswood’s portfolios typically consist of 10 to 16 investments, and the firm regularly rebalances portfolios to anticipate market fluctuations.
Soundmark Wealth Management
Soundmark Wealth Management's client base is exclusively composed of individuals and high-net-worth individuals. As a fee-only firm, Soundmark earns compensation solely from asset-based fees and fixed fees, not sales commissions.
The firm’s advisors offer a range of qualifications, namely the certified public accountant (CPA), certified financial planner (CFP) and behavioral financial advisor (BFA) designations.
Soundmark Wealth Management Background
Owned by Bill Schultheis and Therese Mille, Soundmark provides portfolio management and financial planning services. Specifically, those services may include:
- Education planning
- Trust and estate planning
- Social security optimization
- Risk management and insurance analysis
- Cash flow planning
- 401(k) and retirement plan consulting
- Tax and legal coordination
- Charitable giving planning
The firm also markets itself as a "virtual family office" that can coordinate between the various financial advisors, tax experts, estate planning attorneys and business consultants that its clients may work with. Additionally, the firm specifically markets its services to medical professionals, tech workers and small business owners.
Soundmark Wealth Management Investing Strategy
Soundmark says on its website that it invests in low-cost, tax-efficient index and asset-class funds. When building client portfolios, Soundmark also utilizes individual stocks, corporate and/or government bonds, mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The firm’s investment strategies incorporate fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). Advisors also implement “buy and hold” strategies by using diversified, passively managed or no-load mutual funds to increase investment return.
Schmidt Financial Group
Fee-based financial advisor firm Schmidt Financial Group collects asset-based, hourly or fixed fees. Additionally, advisors can earn commissions from the sale of insurance products, but the firm has the fiduciary duty to put clients' interests first.
The firm imposes a $1 million minimum account size, but my waive this requirement. As a result, the firm works both with high-net-worth individuals and non-high-net-worth clients.
Schmidt Financial Group Background
Founded in 2002, Schmidt Financial is the second-oldest practice on our list of the top advisors in Kirkland. The firm is owned by founder Glenda Schmidt, president Evan Schmidt, chief compliance officer Paul Cox and an entity called NFP Corp. The firm specifically states on its website that it caters to executives and tech professionals with equity compensation.
Clients who receive the firm’s financial planning and consulting services can also utilize asset management, relationship management and liability management services.
Schmidt Financial Group Investment Strategy
Schmidt typically allocates assets using mutual funds, unaffiliated third-party money managers, ETFs and individual securities. The firm uses fundamental analysis and technical analysis to evaluate securities.
Advisors may offer additional recommendations in variable annuities, variable life insurance, public equity, corporate debt and municipal securities and private securities.
Executive Wealth Group
Executive Wealth Group is a fee-only firm, serving high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm's sole compensation is from asset-based fees.
The practice requires clients to have at least $1 million to open an asset management account. It's unclear whether the firm has any financial certifications or credentials.
Executive Wealth Group Background
Founded in 2017 and owned by Sam Maxwell, Executive Wealth Group specializes in investment management, financial planning and consulting services.
The firm’s financial planning and consulting services may include the following:
- Trust and estate planning
- Insurance planning
- Retirement planning
- Tax planning
- Charitable giving
- Cash flow forecasting
- Business planning
- Manager due diligence
- Equity compensation
- Financial reporting
Executive Wealth Group Investment Strategy
The firm employs asset allocation strategies using Modern Portfolio Theory. They also utilize behavioral finance analysis and fundamental analysis to study price and market trends.
Executive Wealth explains in its Form ADV brochure that it values building wealth slowly and reinvesting income earned from investments. The firm says it may also work with outside professionals to ensure that investments are tax-efficient.
Private Asset Management
Next on our list of the top financial advisory firms in the city of Kirkland is Private Asset Management. This small practice works almost exclusively with individual clients. Of these individuals, most of them are individuals with a high net worth. However, the firm does have a good number of non-high-net-worth individuals as well. The firm also has a few charitable organizations as clients.
Private Asset Management is a fee-only firm. None of its advisors sell insurance, securities or other financial products in exchange for commissions, so there is no conflict of interest that would stem from such an arrangement. The firm also does not have a minimum account size requirement, though it does charge a minimum annual fee of $10,000.
Private Asset Management Background
Private Asset Management was founded in 1996 and has been in business ever since. Michael Thayer is currently the sole owner of the firm. Thayer is also the firm's president and senior wealth management advisor. He has been in the investment advisory business for over three decades.
Clients that work with Private Asset Management can receive a variety of financial advisory services. Not only does the firm provide financial planning and investment management services, but advisors can also coordinate other parts of a client's financial advisory process, such as estate planning.
Private Asset Management Investment Strategy
Private Asset Management's investment strategies are generally tailored to the individual needs and objectives of each client. This involves meeting with clients to determine such factors as a client's risk tolerance, liquidity needs and other important factors. From there, advisors determine an appropriate portfolio strategy as well as the proper investments and allocations for each client.
Advisors at Private utilize a variety of internal and external research resources. The firm typically sticks to cash, fixed-income securities, small, mid and large-cap stocks, foreign stocks and real estate. It primarily uses mutual funds to invest in these asset classes.
Prevail Wealth Management
Prevail Wealth Management rounds out our list of the top financial advisory firms in Kirkland. This fee-only firm offers financial planning, portfolio management and retirement plan advisory services to clients. The firm works with individuals, families, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations, endowments, non-profit organizations and other business entities.
There is no minimum asset requirement but the firm does have a $3,000 minimum fee to obtain its services.
Prevail Wealth Management Background
The firm was founded in 2012 by Amy and David Mutal. Amy Mutal has obtained her certifications as an accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF). Today, the firm has two financial advisors that collectively manage more than $150 million in assets under management. David Mutal, meanwhile, specializes in information technology and security, which helps to provide an extra layer of protection to client data.
Prevail Wealth Management Investment Strategy
Prevail Wealth Management uses both fundamental and quantitative analysis to evaluate potential portfolio investment opportunities. Additionally, the firm may utilize modern portfolio theory, asset correlation or academic-based financial research. Some of the types of investments that you might see in your portfolio as a client include exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, fixed-income securities, debt securities, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other long-term investments.