Top Financial Advisors in Tennessee

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SageSpring Wealth Partners tops the list of firms in the Volunteer State. This fee-based firm is headquarted in Franklin and works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and businesses.

In general, SageSpring says in its brochure that there is no set minimum to open or keep an advisory account. However, the firm may close your account if it becomes too small to manage effectively.

Some advisors at SageSpring hold insurance licenses and could earn commissions from selling products. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary, which legally obligates it to act in the best interests of clients.

As with other firms, SageSpring offers advice based on client goals, risk tolerance, time frame, finances and liquidity needs. The firm may use the following approaches to develop a portfolio strategy:

• Fundamental analysis: Reviews company financials, products, management and industry outlook to find a stock’s value. Risk: information may be wrong or outdated.
• Technical/chart analysis: Uses price and volume data to spot patterns and predict movements. Risk: charts may not predict future prices.
• Long-term purchases: Holding securities for more than a year, aiming for growth. Risk: long-term market or company changes.
• Short-term purchases/trading: Buying and selling within a year to capture quick price moves. Risk: higher costs, taxes and possible lower returns.
• Options writing: Selling options contracts for a premium. Risk: complex and not suitable for all investors.

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Virtue Capital Management in Brentwood works with individual clients, the majority of whom do not have a high net worth. Other clients include high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations and other businesses. 

The firm has a $1,000 minimum account size requirement. Financial planning fees can typically range between $1,000 and $15,000.

Since some advisors can earn commissions from selling financial products, Virtue is considered fee-based. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary. This makes it legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Virtue provides clients with asset management and financial planning services, as well as recommendations for outside advisors. The firm also offers its Retirement Answers 101 Financial Education Course, which is designed to help pre-retirees and retirees better understand the different areas of financial planning required for retirement.

Asset management services at the firm are provided on a continuous and tailored basis. Advisors work with clients one-on-one to determine their financial situation, including factors such as risk tolerance, liquidity needs and overall investment objectives. From there, individualized investment strategies can be created. Advisors at Virtue use tactical, strategic and dynamic investment strategies. 

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Paul Winkler, a fee-only advisory firm located in Goodlettsville, does not have a minimum account size requirement. As a result, it works mostly with individuals below the high-net-worth mark, but also serves those with a high net worth, charities, corporations and businesses. However, keep in mind that third-party asset managers used by the firm may have their own minimums, which may be reduced or waived. 

The firm provides financial planning, wealth management planning, investment advisory services, retirement plan consulting and subscription-based planning services to clients who are still build. It also offers investor education through workshops, online resources, group seminars, public workshops, books and a podcast.

Paul Winkler generally uses an evidence-based investment approach that incorporates modern portfolio theory, multi-factor investing and an efficient market philosophy. Client portfolios may use asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, passive or index-based mutual funds and ETFs, and model portfolios managed by third-party asset managers, primarily Matson Money.

The firm also provides clients with access to the eMoney financial management platform. Its advisors hold either the CFP® or the ChFC designation. Finally, Paul Winkler has two regulatory disclosures on its SEC record.

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Duncan William Asset Management (DWAM) is a fee-based firm is headquarted in Memphis. It works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as other investment companies, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, state or municipal governments, and businesses.

In general, DWAM says in its brochure that account minimum of $50,000 is required. However, the firm may allow exceptions, and clients can combine household accounts to meet the minimum.

In addition to our management fee, clients may pay third-party charges. According to the firm’s brochure, these can include manager fees, custodial fees, brokerage commissions, mutual fund or ETF expenses, sales charges, transfer taxes, wire fees, exchange fees and other account or transaction costs.

DWAM provides investment advisory services, including financial planning, retirement plan services, consulting, asset management, cash management, referrals to outside managers and real estate coaching.

The firm says that it offers financial planning to help clients set long-term goals through investments, taxes, asset allocation, risk management and retirement planning. These services may be comprehensive or focused on specific concerns but do not include active account management.

For retirement plans, the firm assists sponsors with plan evaluations, investment policy statements, due diligence, performance reporting, fiduciary services, participant consultations, employee education and fee analysis.

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TVAMP is a fee-based firm based in Knoxville. It works with individuals, entities, pension and profit-sharing plans and employer-sponsored retirement plans.

The firm generally requires a minimum account size of $50,000 for asset management services. Household accounts may be aggregated to meet this minimum and exceptions may be granted. Certain LPL-sponsored programs may have different minimums, while financial planning and consulting services have a minimum fee of $500.

Since some advisors may earn commissions in separate capacities, TVAMP is considered fee-based. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary, which legally obligates it to act in the best interests of clients.

TVAMP provides asset management, financial planning and consulting, personal financial planning, retirement planning and investment management. It can also provide estate planning coordination, tax strategies, insurance planning, retirement plan advisory services, accounting liaison services and referrals to third-party money managers.

Asset management services at the firm are tailored to each client's needs. Advisors generally consider factors such as investment objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance when developing portfolios.

TVAMP uses fundamental analysis and strategic asset allocation to build diversified portfolios. Portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, fixed-income securities, model portfolios and third-party managers. The firm may also use periodic rebalancing, growth-oriented strategies, income strategies and capital preservation approaches.

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Legacy Wealth Management is a fee-only firm based in Memphis. The majority of individual clients do not have a high net worth, but the firm also works with who do.

Additionally, the firm serves pensions, profit-sharing plans, corporations, charities, state or municipal governments and businesses.

The firm says in its brochure that clients are generally required to have a minimum account size of $500,000 to engage in wealth management services.

Legacy offers portfolio management and financial planning. It can provide guidance in such areas as cash flow, debt management, budgeting, risk management, education planning, tax planning, retirement planning, early retirement-offer evaluations, deferred compensation planning and estate planning.

The firm manages portfolios using global diversification. Equities may provide higher long-term returns but also greater volatility than cash or bonds. Higher returns generally require holding more equities and accepting more fluctuations.

Client funds are mainly invested in stocks and bonds through mutual funds and ETFs. For some clients, Legacy may recommend separate bond portfolios managed by sub-advisors or alternative strategies with limited liquidity.

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SageGuard Financial Group is a fee-based firm located in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. It works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and other business entities.

SageGuard Financial Group does not require a minimum account size. However, certain investment models have minimums that range from $10,000 to $250,000.

Some advisors at SageGuard Financial Group may earn commissions from selling securities or insurance-related products. This represents a potential conflict of interest, but the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first.

SageGuard Financial Group offers investment management and financial planning. Services include discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, investment policy statement development, asset allocation, asset selection and portfolio monitoring. The firm may also direct clients to third-party investment advisor Alphastar Capital Management, LLC.

Financial planning services may cover retirement planning, investment planning, insurance needs, cash flow management, debt consolidation, education planning, estate planning and business planning.

The firm uses strategic asset allocation, tactical asset allocation, fundamental analysis and technical analysis to develop portfolio strategies. Portfolios may include mutual funds, equities, bonds, fixed income, structured notes and REITs. The firm also offers model portfolios, including conservative, moderate, aggressive, income-oriented, equity sleeve and fixed income-oriented strategies.

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Beacon Capital Management is a fee-based firm headquartered in Franklin. It works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, businesses, employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and retirement plan participants. The firm also has offices in Murfreesboro, Mt. Juliet and Hendersonville.

The firm generally requires a $100,000 minimum initial account size for portfolio management services. However, Beacon may waive this requirement at its discretion. As a fee-based practice, some advisors at Beacon may earn commissions from selling insurance products through Beacon Insurance & Life, LLC. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary, which legally obligates it to act in the best interests of clients. 

Advisors on staff hold a variety of financial credentials, including the CFP®, CLU and ChFC designations, among others. 

Beacon offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning and consulting, retirement plan consulting and benefit plan services. It can also provide guidance in such areas as income and retirement planning, wealth management, tax strategy, healthcare cost planning, legacy and estate planning review, Social Security planning and portfolio risk analysis.

The firm says it tailors investment advice to each client’s profile. Client portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, structured notes, fixed-income securities, annuities, life insurance products and other securities when appropriate. Beacon uses fundamental, technical and macro/thematic analysis when evaluating investments. The firm may also use third-party model portfolio management through AE Wealth Management.

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Patriot Investment Management Group ranks first on SmartAsset's top firms in Knoxville. 

This fee-only firm works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charities and businesses.

There is no set minimum to open or keep an advisory account, but the firm may close accounts it considers too small to manage effectively.

Patriot Investment Management offers asset management, as well as financial planning and wealth management. The latter may include:

• Retirement planning
• Estate strategies
• Investment management
• Insurance analysis
• Tax saving/reduction strategies
• Philanthropic planning
• Cash flow management
• Debt management
• Educational funding 

Patriot believes in taking a disciplined, long-term approach to investing. It looks to tailor the strategies it recommends to the particular needs and goals of its clients.

The firms says that it relies on low-cost, tax-efficient index funds which to reduce costs and capture market returns.

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Capwealth Advisors is a fee-only firm based in Franklin. It works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients, as well as charities.

The firm says in its brochure that clients pay an annual management fee based on a percentage of assets under management. The minimum account size is $1 million.

CapWealth Advisors invests through long-term purchases, short-term purchases, and option writing.

Long-term investments are held for more than a year to seek growth. Short-term investments aim for quicker gains but carry more volatility and costs. Option strategies may include covered calls, spreads and straddles.

The firm uses fundamental and technical analysis to develop portfolio strategies. Fundamental analysis reviews economic and company data, while technical analysis studies price patterns.

CapWealth Advisors also uses sources like Bloomberg, research reports, SEC filings and company press releases.