Top Financial Advisors in Louisville, KY

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ARGI Investment Services leads the way, not only ranked as the top financial advisory firm in Louisville, but the entire state of Kentucky. The firm manages billions in assets on a discretionary basis only. With headquarters in Louisville, the firm has branch offices in Elizabethtown and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Grand Rapids, Missouri; and other major cities across the U.S. 

ARGI's team in Louisville includes certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants (CPAs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and a chartered financial consultant (ChFC). The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charities, corporations and other businesses. 

The fee-only firm has a $100,000 minimum asset requirement.

ARGI Investment Services Background 

ARGI was originally founded in 1995 as a franchise of American Express Financial Advisors. In 2003, the firm separated from American Express, and in 2010, the firm officially became an SEC-registered investment advisor. In January 2023, the firm was acquired by Cerity Partners LLC. 

The firm offers investment management services for an asset-based fee, as well as a monthly subscription for its Ignite Asset Management Program. The firm also offers financial planning services for a fixed fee, retirement plan services, consulting and family wealth services. 

ARGI Investment Services Investment Strategy 

ARGI designs and offers proprietary investment portfolios that it can customize by maintaining an individual stock position or purchasing a customized security. Each of the models is globally diversified to lower the risks associated with a single company, sector or asset class. The firm, which focuses on long-term investments, has an investment committee that evaluates portfolios over three-, five- and 10-year periods. 

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KPP Advisory Services, No. 2 on our list of the top financial advisors in Louisville, is a fee-based firm that caters to a diverse range of clients. KPP provides financial advising services to individuals and high-net-worth individuals. Additionally, the firm works with trusts and estates, charitable organizations and foundations, retirement accounts, as well as businesses and corporations.

Investment minimums range from as little as $10,000 to as much as $250,000 depending on the type of portfolio you enroll in. As a fee-based firm, some KPP advisors may earn commissions for selling securities or insurance in addition to the fees that advisory clients pay. Despite this conflict of interest, KPP is a fiduciary and must act in your best interests. 

KPP Advisory Services Background

KPP Advisory Services was established in 2005 by Robert A Davenport and Ken A. O'Neil, each of whom holds a 50% ownership stake in the company. Davenport, who serves as CEO, holds the certified financial planner (CFP) designation and certification for long-term care (CLTC). O’Neil serves as president of the firm. 

In addition to its headquarters in Louisville, KPP has other offices throughout the state in Somerset, Bowling Green and Lexington, as well as Clarksville, Tennessee.  

KPP Advisory Services Investment Strategy

KPP Advisory Services firm utilizes fundamental analysis to make informed investment decisions and constructs portfolios consisting of mutual funds and ETFs. The firm also provides advice on a wide range of securities, including exchange-listed securities, over-the-counter securities, structured notes, foreign issuers, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, variable life insurance, variable annuities, and U.S. governmental securities.

The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, tailoring its approach to the client's stated objectives and tax considerations. 

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Strategic Wealth Investment Group works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also says it works with corporations and business entities. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors could be licensed to sell insurance and investment products, and could earn commissions on those transactions. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first.

Strategic Wealth, which is also known as Strategic Wealth Designers, generally requires $25,000 minimum to engage in services. Clients are charged investment management fees that are based on a percentage of assets under management, ranging between 0.5% and 1.5%. 

Strategic Wealth Investment Group Background

Headquartered in Louisville, Strategic Wealth was founded as a limited liability company in 2002 and formed as an investment advisory in 2012. The firm’s principal owners include Matthew J. Dicken, Dustin Stanley and Jordan Schwart.

In addition to its spot on our list of the top advisory firms in Louisville, Strategy Wealth Investment Group is also ranked among the top firms in the state. 

Strategic Wealth Investment Group Strategy

The firm manages and evaluates portfolios based on client goals and objectives. General financial planning and investment services include asset allocation, risk tolerance, asset selection and portfolio monitoring. The firm uses industry-standard methods of analysis to evaluate securities, including fundamental, technical, cyclical and charting analyses. 

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Alexander Investment Services, No. 3 on our list, is a fee-based firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals as well as pension and profit-sharing plans.

Alexander Investment Services is in the business of offering investment advice on stocks, mutual and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), corporate and Federal government/agency bonds, as well as certificates of deposit (CDs), separately managed accounts (SMAs) and other financial products to its advisory clients.

Alexander Investment Services has no minimum investment requirement.

Alexander Investment Services Background

Founded in 1965 by Roy Alexander, the company's ownership is led by the following:

• Leo Andrew Hanlein is a 50% shareholder
• Richard Lynn Fox is a 20% shareholder
• Gerald Andrew Wells is a 20% shareholder
• Thomas Craig Wilson is a 10% shareholder

Alexander Investment Services Investment Strategy 

Alexander Investment Services' investment strategy for clients is determined by a review of their financial objectives and life situation as discussed during meetings, telephone calls, and/or electronic communications. An in-depth client review meeting is recommended at least once per year. Every client portfolio is intended to reflect specific financial objectives and investment suitability based on age, risk tolerance, net worth, family status, health and more. Clients may alter their objectives at any time. 

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Reliant Wealth Planning works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves at least one charitable organization. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors may be licensed to sell insurance and investment products and could earn commissions on those transactions. Despite this conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first.

Reliant does not require a minimum account balance to engage in services. Clients, however, are charged investment management fees based on a percentage of assets under management. The firm also may charge fixed fees for standalone financial planning or consulting. 

Reliant Wealth Planning Background

Headquartered in Louisville, Reliant was founded as a limited liability company in 2017 by Shaun Chelf and Laura Clark. 

Advisors on staff hold multiple designations, including the certified estate planner (CEP), certified financial planner (CFP), retirement income certified professional (RICP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and accredited estate planner (AEP) designations.

The firm's services include:

• Retirement planning
• Investment management
• Cash flow management
• Estate planning
• Charitable gifting
• Risk management

Reliant Wealth Planning Investment Strategy

The firm manages and evaluates portfolios based on client goals and objectives. Reliant Wealth Planning builds its portfolios using a layering approach that blends different strategies together. To determine what's best suited for clients, the firm assesses the client's emotional ability to take on risk and their financial ability to withstand risk. From there, a client's assets are typically allocated to mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as cash flow vehicles like variable or index annuities. The firm may also invest in individual equity and fixed-income securities. 

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This fee-based firm has no minimum investment requirement. Atlas Brown works primarily with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

The firm has one chartered financial analyst (CFA) on staff. Fees are based on a percentage of assets under management, though one advisor may also earn commissions when selling insurance policies. This is a potential conflict of interest, but the firm and its advisors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the client.

Atlas Brown Background

Chairman W. Wayne Hancock III is the only original co-founder still working at the firm. He owns the largest stake in the business, while CEO/president Michael Robinson and Mary Hancock also own percentages. 

As mentioned earlier, the firm focuses on serving wealthy families, providing legacy planning, family governance, tax planning and lifestyle management - in addition to portfolio management services. 

Atlas Brown Investment Strategy

As Atlas Brown states in its Form ADV brochure, the firm “applies institutional techniques to a multidisciplinary approach, using multiple asset classes/styles, outside managers, alternatives and individual securities to create customized investment strategies.” The firm uses traditional and alternative strategies, investing in non-traditional asset classes such as real estate, commodities, venture capital, distressed debt and other illiquid assets. 

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Magnate Advisory Services is a fee-based firm that works primarily with individuals and high-net-worth individuals. The advisor team includes one professional with a certified financial planner (CFP) designation. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors could be licensed to sell insurance and investment products, and could earn commissions on those transactions. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first, despite this potential conflict of interest. 

Clients are charged annual investment management fees based on a percentage of assets under management. Fees for financial planning may be charged hourly or at a fixed rate. Magnate does not require a minimum account balance to engage in services.

Magnate Advisory Services Background

Founded as a limited liability company in 2016, he firm operates under the trade name Magnate Advisory Services, LLC or Magnate Wealth Management, LLC. Brent A. Gorter and James C. Nicholson Jr. own the firm together and remain on staff as wealth advisors. 

In addition to portfolio management, the firm can offer advice on college funding, tax planning, personal retirement planning, as well as estate planning and divorce planning. Magnate also offers retirement plan services and educational workshops. 

Magnate Advisory Services Investment Strategy

The firm uses a blend of strategies that include fundamental analysis, charting analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis. The firm's research may be drawn from several sources which include company press releases, annual reports, regulatory filings, prospectuses, corporate rating services, economists and other industry professionals.

Magnate emphasizes diversification, tax efficiency and low-cost investments. The firm commonly invests in ETFs and mutual funds, but may also allocate client assets across individual stocks and bonds, annuities, real estate investment trusts, master limited partnerships, certificates of deposit of money market accounts. 

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Retirement Planning Solutions is a fee-based firm that primarily caters to individual clients, both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. Unlike some firms, Retirement Planning Solutions generally does not impose a minimum relationship size.

The firm can help clients with investment planning, retirement planning, personal savings, education savings, insurance needs and other areas of their financial situation. The firm has one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and one certified retirement counselor (CRC) on staff.

Some advisors on staff may earn commissions when recommending certain securities or insurance products, creating a potential conflict of interest. However, as a fiduciary, the firm and its advisors must always act in the client’s best interest.

Retirement Planning Solutions Background

Retirement Planning Solutions was established in 2021, making it the youngest firm on our list of Louisville advisors. The firm is solely owned by Michael Ellison, a certified retirement counselor (CRC) with more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry. 

Overall, the firm's services are designed to provide comprehensive and personalized financial advice and support to help clients achieve their financial goals. Whether it's planning for retirement, managing investments, or addressing estate planning needs, the firm is committed to delivering tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client.

Retirement Planning Solutions Investment Strategy

The investment strategies employed by Retirement Planning Solutions are designed to align with each client's unique goals and objectives. The firm develops a strategic asset allocation plan that takes into consideration factors such as the client's time horizon, financial situation and risk tolerance. 

Retirement Planning Solutions focuses on long-term strategies and typically looks to hold securities for more than a year. However, in order to maintain portfolio balance and meet cash needs, the firm may also engage in short-term positions for rebalancing purposes. As for investments, the firm may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds, variable annuities and options in a client's portfolio.

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Formed in 2016, Saling Wealth Advisors requires clients to invest at least $1 million to engage its services – more than any other firm on this list. The fee-based firm works with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as corporations and other businesses.  

The team includes advisors who hold the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered wealth advisor (CWA) and financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) designations.  

Fees are based on a percentage of assets under management. Clients who do not receive portfolio management may pay a fixed fee for standalone financial planning services. Furthermore, some advisors earn commissions for selling insurance, which is a potential conflict of interest. Still, advisors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the client.

Saling Wealth Advisors Background

Eric Saling, a CFP and the firm's executive director, is the majority owner of the business. Jason Stuber and Tendai Charasika also own stakes in the firm. 

Services include both discretionary and non-discretionary, retirement plan rollovers and financial planning. The latter may include cash flow planning, retirement planning, estate planning analysis, tax planning analysis and insurance analysis. 

Saling Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

The firm primarily applies fundamental analysis in its securities selection process and may use long-term purchases, short-term purchases, short sales, margin transactions and options trading. It mainly places assets in mutual funds, common stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds and fixed-income products.

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Guidance Capital rounds out our list of the top financial advisors in Louisville. This fee-based firm primarily works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charities and businesses. There is no minimum investment or account size requirement to be a client at Guidance Capital. 

Some advisors on staff may earn commissions when selling securities or insurance policies, which is a conflict of interest. This may incentivize them to recommend certain products and services over others that are more appropriate. However, Guidance Capital is a fiduciary and must always act in your best interests. 

Fees for investment management are charged as a percentage of a client's assets under management. Guidance Capital also offers financial planning on an hourly or fixed-fee basis. 

Guidance Capital Background

Guidance Capital opened its doors in Louisville in 2005 and became a registered investment advisor (RIA) in 2022. The firm is owned and operated by Stephen R. Gibson, a certified public accountant, and Beau J. Handy, a certified financial planner (CFP). 

The firm's services income portfolio management, non-discretionary retirement plan advisory services and financial planning. The latter may include investment planning, retirement planning, personal savings, education savings and insurance planning.

Guidance Capital Investment Strategy

The firm typically takes a long-term approach to investing, but may buy or sell assets that have been held for less than a year in response to market conditions or to meet a client's objectives. Advisors rely on both fundamental analysis and technical analysis to evaluate and select investments. These securities may include mutual funds, ETFs, as well as individual stocks and bonds.