The Top Financial Advisors in West Virginia

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McKinley Carter Wealth Services claims the first spot on our list of the top financial advisory firms in West Virginia. Based in Wheeling, McKinley Carter is larger than most other West Virginia firms. The firm works with a variety of both institutional and individual clients, though most clients are individuals without a high net worth. It also works with retirement plans, charities, businesses and high-net-worth individuals.

The firm has multiple representatives who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA), certified plan fiduciary advisor (CPFA) designations, among others. McKinley Carter does not have a set account minimum for advisory services. It is also a fee-only firm, so it doesn't receive commissions that could create a conflict of interest.

McKinley Carter Wealth Services was founded in 2005 and has been registered with the SEC as an investment advisor ever since. The firm's offerings extend beyond personal financial planning to include retirement plan consulting, philanthropic services for nonprofits and institutional wealth management. Clients may engage the firm for ongoing discretionary or non-discretionary portfolio management, or for targeted consulting in areas such as retirement, education, estate, tax, debt management and insurance planning.

When it comes to investment strategies and general philosophy, McKinley Carter Wealth Services works with clients to determine their investment objectives. From there, advisors can craft an investment plan or a broader financial plan around the wants and needs of each client on an individual basis.

McKinley Carter builds portfolios using mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities, bonds, options, independent managers, and in certain cases, private real estate funds, hedge funds or private equity. Its approach combines fundamental and technical analysis, with long-term strategic allocations and shorter-term tactical adjustments based on economic conditions.

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Commonwealth Financial Services in Vienna is a fee-based firm that mainly works with individuals who do not have a high net worth. The firm also works with retirement plans, government entities, corporations and businesses, trusts, as well as high-net-worth individuals. 

The firm offers a variety of services including cash management, insurance coverage, and planning for unforeseen events such as death and disability. Additionally, the firm provides specialized support for divorce and college planning. Investment portfolio reviews, estate and retirement planning, and income distribution strategies are also available to help clients secure their financial future. 

As a fee-based firm there is the potential for a conflict of interest as many of the firm's advisors can earn commissions on the sale of certain insurance policies. However, the firm and it's advisors are bound by a fiduciary duty to put the needs of each client first. 

Commonwealth Financial Services was founded in 2003. Today, the firm has a variety of credentialed professionals on staff, including advisors, executives and planners who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited portfolio management advisor (APMA) and financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) designations. 

nvestment management services are tailored to client goals, time horizons and risk tolerance. Portfolios may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, private credit and alternative investments. Advisors use both in-house portfolio management and third-party money managers. The overall approach emphasizes diversification, aligning investments with client objectives and periodic rebalancing to manage risk. Clients can also impose restrictions on their accounts, and portfolios are reviewed regularly to ensure alignment with changing needs and market conditions.

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NTV Asset Management, founded in 2000, provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, families, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans and businesses. The firm, which is located in Charleston, provides financial planning alongside its portfolio management services. Financial planning can cover areas such as retirement, tax and cash flow planning, estate considerations, insurance review and budgeting. Clients receive ongoing supervision of their portfolios, with quarterly reviews and rebalancing as needed.

The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis, requiring a recommended minimum of $1 million in assets under management, though this requirement can be negotiated in certain situations. Advisory fees are charged as a percentage of assets under management, and the firm does not charge separately for financial planning. 

The firm has one Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) on staff. However, NTV Asset Management is fee-based, as it may receive commissions or other forms of compensation in limited cases when advising on certain investment products.

The firm’s investment approach combines long-term and short-term strategies and incorporates charting, fundamental, technical, cyclical, quantitative and qualitative analysis. These tools are applied to evaluate securities, identify opportunities and determine asset allocation in ways that align with each client’s stated objectives.

Portfolios may include exchange-listed securities, mutual funds, ETFs, corporate and municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, real estate and energy partnerships and precious metals. Asset allocation is central to its philosophy, with the goal of aligning investments with each client’s objectives while managing risk.

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Hoxton Planning & Management, founded in 2022, is a registered investment advisor firm in Shepardstown. Hoxton provides a range of financial planning, consulting and investment management services. The firm can assist clients with planning for retirement, education, tax, estate and major purchases. It also offers institutional retirement plan consulting, including plan design, evaluation, executive benefits and investment selection. 

The firm's client base is made up of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, government entities and businesses. While Hoxton does not have a stated account minimum, it charges an initial financial planning fee of at least $3,500, with an annual minimum of $2,500 for ongoing planning services. For wealth management, fees are asset-based and fall between 0.50% and 1.50% depending on account size and complexity.

Hoxton is a fee-based advisory firm. In addition to charging fees for advice and asset management, some supervised persons may receive commissions for insurance product sales, which presents a conflict of interest. Despite this, the firm is required to abide by its fiduciary duty and act in your best interests.

The team at Hoxton features two Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), one of whom is also an accredited investment fiduciary (AIF). 

Investment strategies emphasize strategic asset allocation guided by modern portfolio theory, which seeks to diversify across asset classes to optimize returns for a given level of risk. Portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, independent managers and individual securities such as stocks and bonds. In some cases, the firm also recommends alternative investments, interval funds or insurance-linked products. Portfolios are constructed using models, rebalanced as needed, and adjusted to each client’s risk tolerance, time horizon and financial objectives.

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Ironwood Wealth Management is a fee-only firm with a small team of financial advisors that works almost entirely with individuals clients, those both with and without a high net worth. It also works with retirement plans.

The firm is fee-only, so it doesn't receive commissions that could present a potential conflict of interest. There is a $100,000 minimum for investment advisory services, though this minimum may be waived at the discretion of the firm. The firm, which is located in Hurricane, also charges a minimum annual fee of $1,000.

Ironwood Wealth Management was founded in 2002 by John D. Williams, who is also the firm's principal owner. The firm officially registered as an invesment advisor with the SEC in 2004. Williams is also the firm's president and carries the certified investment management analyst (CIMA), accredited asset management specialist (AAMS), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) designations.

Ironwood works with clients to provide investment management services, as well as financial planning and financial consulting services, as is requested by the client.

Ironwood Wealth Management works with clients to devise invesment strategies based on an investment philosophy that accounts for their investment objectives and financial needs. The firm manages client accounts on a discretionary basis, and investment management engagements are ongoing and continuous. They may be updated or amended if the investment needs of the client adapt over time.

When working to determine how to properly invest your portfolio, Ironwood uses a variety of methods of analysis, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis, quantitative analysis and investment manager review and analysis. Advisors may use a combination of long and short-term purchases to help drive growth in client portfolios.

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Our list of the top financial advisors in the Mountain State concludes with Fort Henry Capital, a Wheeling-based fee-only practice. Fort Henry Capital mainly with individual clients, those both with and without a high net worth. It also works with charities and other businesses.

As a fee-only firm, Fort Henry and its representatives don't receive commissions from selling financial products. There isn't currently a set account minimum for opening an account with the firm.

Fort Henry Capital is the youngest of the firm's on our West Virginia list. It was founded in 2013 and is currently principally owned by Jeremy Lowe and Russell Dunkin, who are also the firm's only financial advisors on staff. Dunkin is a certified financial planner (CFP) and Lowe is a chartered retirement plans specialist  (CRPS), a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and an accredited investment fiduciary (AIF).

Fort Henry provides comprehensive financial advisory services to its clients. These services include investment management, financial planning, financial consulting and other miscellaneous services. Clients may request a combination of services as well.

As is the case with many financial advisory firms, Fort Henry Capital works with clients to determine their financial situation and investment objectives before creating an investment strategy that works for them. Typically, engagements include both investment management and financial planning services, though it ultimately depends upon the client. The firm most commonly uses stocks, mutual funds, corporate debt, exchange traded funds (ETF), government securities, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and certificates of deposit (CDs) in client portfolios.

Fort Henry's advisors primarily use fundamental analysis to evaluate potential investments for client portfolios. Advisors may make both short- and long-term investments.