Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Louisiana
Finding a financial advisor in Louisiana doesn't have to be a hassle. To help you in your search, SmartAsset has compiled a list of the top 10 financial advisory firms in the state. Read about these top firms below, including their investment strategies, the types of clients they serve and more. If you'd prefer us to find you an advisor to potentially work with, SmartAsset's financial advisor matching tool will pair you with up to three professionals who serve your area.
Find a Fiduciary Financial Advisor
We match nearly 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TruWealth Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $3,050,543,843 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 2 | Argent Advisors, Inc. Find an Advisor | $1,713,265,623 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 3 | Waters, Parkerson & Co., LLC Find an Advisor | $2,859,829,975 | $10,000 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$10,000 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
|
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| 4 | Summit Financial Wealth Advisors Find an Advisor | $1,799,431,900 | $50,000 |
| Minimum Assets$50,000Financial Services
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| 5 | Stokes Family Office LLC Find an Advisor | $3,351,688,868 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
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| 6 | Second Line Capital, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,324,089,165 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
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| 7 | Crescent City Retirement Group Find an Advisor | $124,565,342 | None |
| Minimum AssetsNoneFinancial Services
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| 8 | Cullen Investment Group Find an Advisor | $909,951,360 | $500,000 |
| Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
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| 9 | Montz Harcus Wealth Management Find an Advisor | $876,333,177 | $250,000 |
| Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
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| 10 | Brian Low Financial Group, LLC Find an Advisor | $239,345,026 | None |
| Minimum AssetsNoneFinancial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Louisiana, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the state. 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:
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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.
TruWealth Advisors
The top-rated financial advisory firm in Louisiana, TruWealth Advisors, primarily works with individual investors, both with and without high net worths. Clients also include trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, businesses and corporations. TruWealth is considered a fee-based firm, as some of its representatives can earn commissions on certain transactions. However, the firm maintains a fiduciary responsibility to act in clients’ best interests despite this potential conflict on interest.
TruWealth’s investment strategy is “long-term in nature, based on research, principles and experience rather than short-term trends,” according to the firm’s Form ADV brochure. The firm relies on asset allocation strategies to optimize a portfolio’s risk and reward.
TruWealth uses several types of analysis in generating an investment plan for clients, including top-down and macroeconomic analysis, fundamental analysis and technical analysis. The firm typically allocates client assets among mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded notes, individual debt and equity securities, custom structured products and independent investment managers. Portfolios are designed with a client’s risk tolerance, financial objectives and time horizon all in mind.
Argent Advisors
Located in Monroe, Argent Advisors is a fee-based firm that works with individual investors, pensions, profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, government entities, charitable organizations and corporations. Argent’s team includes advisors with the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified retirement plan specialist (CRPS) and chartered financial analyst (CFA) designations.
The firm does not have an account minimum. Clients may pay advisors commissions when purchasing certain investment products, as several employees are also representatives of a broker/dealer and licensed to sell insurance. While this qualifies Argent Advisors as a fee-based firm, Argent Advisors maintains a fiduciary responsibility to act in its clients’ best interests.
Argent Advisors may use several methods of analysis to evaluate securities and choose investments, including charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis. While the firm’s investment strategies may be tailored to an individual client's needs, the firm primarily invests client assets in individual equity and fixed-income securities, as well as mutual funds and ETFs.
Waters, Parkerson & Co.
With more assets under management than any firm on this list, Waters, Parkerson & Co. is the state’s second-highest-rated firm according to our metrics. The firm mainly works with individual investors, both with and without high net worths, but its clients also include pensions and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses and corporations. There is no minimum account size, but the firm does charge a minimum annual fee of $10,000.
Waters, Parkerson & Co. follows a disciplined investment philosophy that emphasizes long-term growth through a balanced approach to both equity and fixed income investments. For the equity portion, the firm focuses on bottom-up stock selection, identifying undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and the potential for long-term growth.
Their equity strategy emphasizes diversification across industries and companies, reducing the risk of concentration, while holding stocks with growth, value and yield characteristics. The firm’s Investment Committee oversees ongoing research and analysis to separate short-term market volatility from fundamental changes.
For fixed income, the firm prioritizes generating current income while preserving principal. Their fixed income strategy involves diversifying holdings across the intermediate-term yield curve and staggering bond maturities to allow for annual reinvestment opportunities. They invest in corporate, agency and municipal bonds.
Summit Financial Wealth Advisors
Summit Financial Wealth Advisors, a fee-based firm, is the fifth-highest-rated advisor on our list. Across its offices in Lafayette, Monroe, Shreveport and Ruston, the firm has advisors on staff who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) designations, among others.
Summit Financial mainly works with individual investors, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm, which has a $50,000 minimum account balance, also counts pensions, profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations among its clients. Summit Financial also charges a minimum annual fee of $500 per account.
Summit Financial invests client assets in individual equity securities, equity and fixed income mutual funds, ETFs and individual bonds. The firm also has an investment committee that meets around four times a year. The committee also selects the contents of the firm’s asset allocation models.
The firm uses a variety of investment strategies and methods of analysis to research securities and manage portfolios. Charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis, cyclical analysis all may factor into the investment advice given to clients.
Stokes Family Office
Stokes Family Office (SFO) is a fee-based advisory firm located in New Orleans. Stokes Family Office primarily works with individual investors, both with and without high net worths, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. Clients must have at $1 million in investable assets to open an maintain an account.
Because certain members of the staff are licensed insurance agents and may earn commissions on products sold to clients, SFO is considered a fee-only advisor. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary and is obligated to act in a clients' best interests.
SFO typically invests client assets in mutual funds, ETFs, exchange-traded notes, as well as individual debt and equity securities and options. Some clients may have access to private investment funds through SFO. The firm’s investment strategy is long-term in nature and relies on research and experience instead of short-term market trends. SFO employs asset allocation strategies to diversify client portfolios, but customizes a portfolio to the client’s specific needs.
Second Line Capital
Second Line Capital (2LC) is a registered investment advisor. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charities, businesses, trusts, estates and health savings accounts. It does not require a set account minimum for all clients, but some programs have thresholds.
2LC provides financial planning, investment management and wealth management, including retirement plan consulting. The team at 2LC includes on Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified plan fiduciary advisor (CPFA).
The firm primarily invests client assets in mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds, and, when appropriate, independent managers. It also advises on legacy positions and assets such as annuities, employer-sponsored retirement plans and 529 plans.
Crescent City Retirement Group
Crescent City Retirement Group is a fee-based financial advisory firm located in Metairie. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates and ERISA qualified retirement plan sponsors. Its client base also includes retirees and individuals planning for retirement.
Crescent City Retirement Group offers discretionary asset management, financial planning and consulting, co-advisor services through Gradient Investments, third-party money manager referrals and ERISA plan services. Financial planning services may include retirement, Social Security, legacy and estate planning, education planning, insurance, taxes, debt management, cash flow analysis, business exit planning and major purchase planning.
Crescent City Retirement Group generally uses a long-term investment approach, though it may use short-term trades for rebalancing or client cash needs. The firm may use fundamental analysis, technical analysis, cash positions and third-party managed portfolio models through Gradient Investments. Client portfolios may include individual securities, mutual funds, ETFs, options and fee-based variable annuities.
Cullen Investment Group
Cullen Investment Group, Ltd. is a fee-only financial advisory firm located in Lafayette. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, qualified plan sponsors and other business entities. Cullen generally requires a $500,000 minimum for investment management services, which can be met by aggregating household accounts.
Cullen offers discretionary investment management services, as well as cash management services for existing investment management clients. The firm also provides consulting services for employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. Professional certifications for the firm’s advisors are not listed in the available documents.
Cullen’s primary investment approach is a basic value strategy focused on companies trading at discounts to intrinsic value. Portfolios are typically diversified across 20 to 30 companies and are generally held for three to five years or longer. For certain retirement clients, the firm may use a bucket approach that sets aside several years of anticipated withdrawals in conservative investments while investing longer-term assets using its value-oriented strategy.
Montz Harcus Wealth Management
Montz Harcus Wealth Management is a fee-based financial advisory firm located in New Orleans. The firm’s client base comprises individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, as well as corporations or business entities. There is a $250,000 minimum account size requirement for opening and maintaining an account.
In addition to portfolio management, the firm offers comprehensive financial planning services that may include investment analysis, employee benefits optimization, financial goal planning, insurance review, retirement planning and help in other areas. Clients with over $250,000 under management receive complimentary financial planning services. The firm also offers private alternative investment management services, which are separate from its regular portfolio management.
Like most firms, Montz Harcus tailors its investment strategies to align with individual client profiles, which include considerations such as age, income, tax levels, risk tolerance, financial goals, objectives and time horizons.
Montz Harcus focuses on long-term trading and offers private alternative investment opportunities. Client portfolios typically include exchange-listed securities, over-the-counter securities, corporate debt, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. Additionally, the firm invests in municipal securities, variable annuities, mutual funds, U.S. government securities, options contracts on securities, and interests in partnerships related to real estate or oil and gas.
Brian Low Financial Group
Brian Low Financial Group is a fee-based financial advisory firm located in Baton Rouge, with additional offices in Mandeville and Metairie. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations and trusts. Brian Low Financial Group does not require a minimum initial account value, though minimums may vary for clients using third-party money managers.
The firm provides investment management, financial planning, retirement income strategy planning, wealth management, consulting services, third-party money manager referrals and wrap fee program services. Its financial planning services may address estate planning, income tax, charitable giving, cash flow, retirement income, wealth transfer and family legacy planning.
Brian Low Financial Group primarily allocates client assets among equities, ETFs, mutual funds and debt securities. The firm may use fundamental analysis, asset allocation, mutual fund and ETF analysis, technical analysis and third-party manager analysis. It may also recommend alternative investments, such as hedge funds, private equity or venture capital, for accredited investors when appropriate.