The Top Financial Advisors in South Carolina

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South State Advisory is a large fee-only firm that works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, banking or thrifting institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, local governments, insurance companies and corporations.

As a fee-only firm, it does not receive commissions that could present a conflict of interest. It also does not require a minimum account balance for advisory services. The firm's team of financial advisors includes several financially certified individuals.

South State Advisory Background

South State Advisory is a wholly-owned subsidiary of South State Bank, which is a national bank that provides other banking services to clients. Originally founded and registered with the SEC in 2010 as First Southeast 401k Fiduciaries, Inc., South State Advisory is the financial advisory arm of South State Bank. The firm has a board of directors that helps to oversee the corporate governance of the firm.

South State Advisory, on its own, provides clients with financial advisory services such as investment advisory and financial planning. It also provides retirement plan consulting services to institutional clients.

South State Advisory Investment Strategy

Given its status as a subsidiary of a large, national bank, South State Advisory has a number of resources at its disposal to help provide clients with financial advisory services. The firm may utilize proprietary investment strategies and allocation approaches as well as sub-managers, but it still aims to provide tailored solutions to clients based on their individual investment goals and financial situations.

The firm and its advisors use a variety of different investments in client portfolios, such as mutual funds, alternative investments, options, warrants, real estate investment trusts (REITs), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other securities.

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FinTrust Capital Advisors is a fee-based firm that works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as investment companies, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charities, municipal governments and corporations. The firm has a $100,000 minimum account size requirement.

FinTrust is a fee-based firm, given that advisors can earn commissions from selling securities, insurance and other financial products to clients. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is still a fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

FinTrust Capital Advisors Background

FinTrust Capital Advisors has been in business since its founding in 2007. It registered with the SEC in the same year. FinTrust has advisors in multuple offices across the state of South Carolina, many of whom are financially certified. Such certifications include chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and more. Philip Brice, who holds the AIF certification, is the firm's CEO.

FinTrust works with clients to provide investment management services, and strategic financial planning services and even gives clients access to a FinTrust mutual fund. Other services include securities-based lending, annuities and insurance.

FinTrust Capital Advisors Investment Strategy

FinTrust Capital Advisors works with its clients to determine proper, individualized investment strategies based on their financial needs and investment objectives. Advisors take into account a client's financial situation, liquidity needs, time horizon and any other relevant information to craft strategies. A client may also impose reasonable restrictions on the type of investments made on their behalf.

Advisors typically invest client assets in a variety of securities, such as third-party investment strategies and other investment vehicles. Other investments include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), equities, options, fixed-income securities and investment trusts. Advisors develop risk, return and correlation expectations to figure out how to best invest client assets.

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Abacus Planning Group provides financial advisory services to institutional and individual clients. The vast majority of the firm's clients are individuals that have a high net worth. The firm also works with non-high-net-worth clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans and charities.

Abacus is a fee-only firm. It does not receive commissions from third parties for selling financial products. It also does not impose a minimum account size requirement for new or existing clients.

Abacus Planning Group Background

Abacus Planning Group was founded in 1998 and registered with the SEC in the same year, making it one of the oldest firms on our South Carolina list. The firm is independently owned and operated and employs a number of financially certified advisors. Certifications include the certified financial planner (CFP), financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) and other designations. 

Abacus Planning Group manages client assets and provides investment management services on a discretionary basis. It also provides in depth financial planning services to many of its clients.

Abacus Planning Group Investment Strategy

Abacus Planning Group tailors its investment strategies to the financial needs and investment objectives of its clients. It meets with clients, both current and potential, to make sure advisors are properly aligned with their client's desired investment and financial outcomes. Portfolios are rebalanced on an ongoing basis. Advisors may use a wide range of investments, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), corporate debt, hedge funds, bonds, mutual funds and more.

When thinking about individualized investment strategies, Abacus assigns significant weight to proper asset allocation as well as manager selection. It uses a wide variety of macroeconomic data to inform investment decisions.

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Greenwood Capital Associates works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans, charities, state governments and businesses.

Greenwood is a fee-only firm, so you won't have to worry about a conflict of interest stemming from the sale of securities or other financial products, as the firm has no such arrangements. The minimum asset requirement at Greenwood is $250,000, so keep that in mind if you're looking into opening an account.

Greenwood Capital Associates Background

Greenwood Capital Associates was founded about 20 years ago, in 2001. It registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in the same year. TCB Corporation acquired an ownership interest in Greenwood in 2008 and has been the principal owner of the firm ever since. However, TCB is not an operator of the firm, and Greenwood is committed to retaining its operational independence. The firm has six employee-owners and employs several financially certified individuals, including multiple certified financial planners (CFP).

Greenwood provides investment advice and investment management to its clients, along with financial and retirement planning services. The firm manages assets on a discretionary basis.

Greenwood Capital Associates Investment Strategy

When it comes to investment strategies, Greenwood Capital Associates looks to tailor its approach to the needs of each client. This involves getting to know each client on an individual level and meeting to discuss such factors as a client's time horizon, liquidity needs and general investment objectives.

Advisors at Greenwood use a number of analysis methods to evaluate investments. These methods include technical analysis, fundamental analysis, charting analysis and cyclical analysis. Specific investment tactics include short-term trading, long-term trading and option writing. Greenwood will invest in whatever securities make sense for a given client's portfolio.

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Foster Victor Wealth Advisors works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans and corporations. 

The minimum account size requirement at the firm varies based on the type of account you open.

Because certain advisors at Foster Victor are licensed insurance agents who can earn commissions from selling insurance products to clients, the firm is considered fee-based. This dynamic is certainly a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is still a fiduciary, meaning that it's legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors Background

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors was both founded and registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2016. Paul W. Foster and Robert T. Victor, two of the firm's financial advisors professionals, own the firm. Rand Baughman serves as chief investment officer. All three are certified financial planners (CFP). Foster is also a certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) and Baughman is a certified investment management analyst (CIMA). 

The firm provides its clients with financial planning services, consulting services and investment management services. Assets are mostly managed on a discretionary basis, though some assets are managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors tailors its advisory services, including its investment strategies and philosophies, to the individual needs of its clients. It may use model portfolios and third-party advisors to do so. Advisors at the firm typically use a mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), debt securities, and individual equities when populating client portfolios. Portfolios are ultimately managed in a way that reflects the investment objectives and financial situation of each client.

Advisors at Foster Victor use fundamental analysis to evaluate potential investments. They also look to properly diversify client portfolios as a way of increasing returns while hedging against risk.

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Colonial Trust Advisors, Inc. is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The firm works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations. 

Colonial is part of a trust company, and so advisors can offer certain financial products and services to clients for which they can receive commissions. This makes the firm fee-based and is a potential conflict of interest, mitigated only by the fact that the firm is a registered fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times. The firm does not have a set account minimum.

Colonial Trust Advisors Background

Colonial Trust Advisors was founded in 1996, registering with the SEC as an investment advisor just a year later. It is the oldest firm on our South Carolina list. The firm's only principal owner is the financial services company Colonial Group, Inc. However, Henry Walter Barre, II, who serves as chief operating officer and Barry Dean Wynn, the firm's president, each own more than 25% of Colonial Trust Advisors. 

The firm employs chartered financial analysts (CFA), certified financial planners (CFP) and other financially certified advisors.

Colonial Trust Advisors provides its clients with investment portfolio management services as well as financial planning and educational services. Assets are mainly managed on a discretionary basis.

Colonial Trust Advisors Investment Strategy

Like many financial advisory firms, Colonial Trust Advisors works with clients to develop tailored investment strategies that work for their own financial situations. This process involves meeting with clients to determine such information as a client's tolerance for risk or their liquidity needs. Upon gathering the necessary information, advisors can begin to manage the client's money an in individualized manner.

Advisors may use a wide range of securities to include in client portfolios. Such investments may include corporate debt, mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), government bonds, stocks and more. The firm and its advisors primarily use fundamental analysis, qualitative analysis and asset allocation techniques to inform investment decisions.

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The Fiduciary Alliance is a fee-based firm with no minimum size to start an account.

The majority of the clients at the firm are non-high-net-worth individuals, though there are a decent number of high-net-worth individuals as well. Institutional clients at the firm include pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, other investment advisors and corporations.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors can earn commissions for selling insurance products and/or securities to clients. This is a potential conflict of interest, but all staff must act in the best interest of the client when serving as an advisor.

Fees for investment management are based on a percentage of assets under management. Financial planning is charged a fixed fee based on the services being rendered. 

The team in Greenville holds multiple certifications, including the chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified market technician (CMT) designations.

The Fiduciary Alliance Background

The Fiduciary Alliance is actually a network of firms operating under different names in different areas. In Greenville, it is known as Parallel Financial. The Fiduciary Alliance was founded in 2016 and is principally owned by Brian Boughner and Anthony Mahfood.

Services include investment management, financial planning, business planning, cash flow and debt management, college savings, employee benefits optimization, estate planning, financial goals, insurance, investment analysis, retirement planning and IRA rollovers.

The Fiduciary Alliance Investment Strategy

Around half of the money held by The Fiduciary Alliance is invested in individual stocks. A big portion of the rest is put into mutual funds, with some bonds and cash holdings also employed.

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Anchor Investment Management is a fee-based firm headquartered in Columbia. It works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations. 

Anchor is a fee-only firm, so you won't have to worry about advisors earning commissions that could be a conflict of interest. The firm does have a steep minimum account balance requirement of $500,000.

Anchor Investment Management Background

Anchor Investment Management has been in business as a financial advisory firm since 2005, though it only officially registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2005. The firm is principally owned by W. Patrick Dorn, Jr., and he remains the sole principal owner. Dorn is a chartered financial analyst (CFA). Other financial advisory professionals at the firm are financially certified as well. Many of them hold the certified financial planner (CFP) certification.

Anchor provides both investment management and financial planning services to its clients. It also provides financial consulting and financial education services.

Anchor Investment Management Investment Strategy

Anchor Investment Management looks to tailor its investment strategies and philosophies to the individual needs of its clients. This process involves getting to know clients individually to understand their overall financial situation. This includes information like a client's tolerance for risk, time horzion, liquidity needs and other investment or financial objectives. Ultimately, the firm will create a personalized investment policy statement to guide thier process.

While the firm and its advisors primarily invest client assets in equity securities, advisors may also use other investments, such as fixed-income securities, to populate client portfolios. Clients may impose reasonable restrictions on which types of securities advisors can use in their accounts.

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Verity Investment Partners has a minimum account size requirement of $1 million. The firm works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans and charities.

Verity is a fee-only firm. This means that advisors don't receive commissions from selling insurance, securities or other financial products. As a result, there is no potential conflict of interest from such an arrangement.

Verity Investment Partners Background

Verity Investment Partners was founded in 2002. It was registered with the SEC as an investment advisor three years later and has been in business in South Carolina ever since. The firm is principally owned by namesake William W. Verity. Verity also serves as the firm's president. 

Advisor certifications at the firm include chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and more.

Services offered by Verity Investment Partners include both financial planning and investment management. Specific arrangements may vary between clients. 

Verity Investment Partners investment Strategy

As is the case with most financial advisor shops, Verity Investment Partners works with clients to determine their overall investment profile so that advisors can tailor investment strategies to each client individually. Advisors use information like a client's risk tolerance and time horizon to build a portfolio and they then manage that portfolio on an ongoing basis according to the client's objectives.

Advisors at Verity primarily utilize long-term purchases to drive growth in client portfolios. They do not tend to time the market or engage in short-term, speculative trades. However, every client's situation is different. Advisors also use both fundamental and technical analysis to inform investment decisions.

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Dividend Assets Capital is a fee-only advisory firm located in Ridgeland, SC that offers services to high-net-worth individuals, investment companies, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, bank trust funds, charitable organizations, non-profts and other business entities. The firm offers a variety of investment management and financial planning services. There is a $500,000 minimum to work with the firm, which was a change in 2023. 

Dividend Assets Capital is a fee-only firm. This means that advisors don't receive commissions from selling insurance, securities or other financial products. As a result, there is no potential conflict of interest from such an arrangement.

Dividend Assets Capital Background

Dividend Assets Capital was founded in 2003. C. Troy Shaver serves as the firm's Chief Executive Officer and Marc Saurborn (CFA) as the Chief Investment Officer.The firm manages more than $500 million in assets under management (AUM) with its six advisors. The advisors at the firm have obtained multiple designations, such as the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial advisor (CFA) and chartered market technician (CMT). 

Dividend Assets Capital Investment Strategy

DAC's investment committee is responsible for approving the applicable investment universes for all marketed strategies. The group integrates a number of factors and criteria in its security evaluations and decisions. Each client receives the opportunity to invest in one or more of DAC's strategies. Each portfolio, though, is customized to meet the needs of that individual client.