Top Financial Advisors in Wilmington, NC

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Live Oak Private Wealth (LOPW) is a fee-only firm that sits atop our rankings of the top financial advisors in Wilmington. Live Oak works with a mix of individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

Members of the firm's advisory team include Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) and at least one certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA). 

There is a $250,000 minimum account size at Live Oak, as well as a minimum quarterly fee of $1,875. At its own discretion, the firm may be willing to accept clients who don't meet these requirements. As a fee-only practice, the firm and its advisors do not receive additional compensation for recommending financial products and services. 

Services offered at Live Oak span financial planning, wealth management, business planning, cash flow planning, estate planning, financial reporting, investment consulting, insurance planning, retirement planning, risk management, charitable giving, distribution planning and tax planning.

Live Oak Private Wealth's Form ADV notes that its investment strategy focuses on knowing the importance of capital preservation and the power of compound interest. To that end, a conservative, value-oriented approach is at the center of its portfolio management strategy. When it comes time to invest, the firm typically looks toward exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative investments, individual stocks and bonds, options and independent managers.

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The advisory team at Old North State Wealth Management holds multiple certifications, including the certified public accountant (CPA) and personal financial specialist (PFS) designations, among others.

The fee-based firm works with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients also include retirement plans and corporations. The minimum account size is $500,000, though this may be waivable.

Some advisors at the firm may also earn commissions for insurance and securities sales. Though this is a potential conflict of interest, fiduciary duty requires each advisor to act in the best interest of the client.

Services include portfolio management, financial planning services, retirement planning, estate planning and selection of third-party advisors. Old North State Wealth Management uses a number of investment research tools when choosing where clients' assets will end up in the market. These include charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis. Each of these looks at the market in a slightly different way, with the idea that combining all of them provides a more complete picture.

Short-term and long-term purchases are used, as well as covered options. Portfolios may include equities, ETFs, mutual funds, corporate and municipal securities, U.S. government securities, and, when appropriate, options strategies.

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Tilia Fiduciary Partners (TFP), founded in 2011, is a fee-only advisory firm that has a $1 million minimum account size and $2,500 minimum quarterly fee. The firm works with individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as retirement plans, charities, corporations and other businesses. 

Services include portfolio management, financial planning, retirement planning, insurance analysis and pension consulting for employer-sponsored plans. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management, allowing clients to impose restrictions on holdings when desired.

The TFP team collectively holds a variety of financial specializations, including the CFP®, CFA, certified exit planning advisor (CEPA), chartered retirement plan specialist (CRPS) and certified estate and trust specialist (CES) designations. As a fee-only firm, Tilia's advisors do not earn additional compensation from third-party products or services. 

The firm's investment philosophy centers on building customized plans that align with client goals and needs. Portfolios are typically diversified across ETFs, mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds. While the primary approach is long-term investing, TFP may use tactical trades, margin, options or hedging strategies when appropriate. Investment decisions are supported by fundamental, cyclical and macroeconomic analysis, with oversight by an investment committee that meets bi-weekly.

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Previously known as Transitus Wealth Partners, this firm changed its name to Dovetail Financial Group in May 2025. Today, Dovetail works almost entirely with individuals clients, both above and below the high-net-worth mark. The firm has a $400,000 account minimum for its individual and model portfolio management services. 

The firm's advisory team holds multiple certifications, including the CFP® and certified financial transitionist (CeFT) designations. Investment management services here are available through either custom portfolios or model portfolios. Financial planning services can cover topics like retirement planning, cash flow analysis, tax planning, insurance planning, estate planning and more.

The firm notes in its Form ADV Part 2 brochure that "the receipt of additional compensation by Dovetail Financial Group LLC and its management persons or employees creates a conflict of interest." However, as a fiduciary, the firm must disclose these conflicts and always act in your best interests as the client. 

Regardless of whether your investment portfolio is entirely custom or model-based, the firm will make investment decisions based on the same parameters. These include some incredibly important factors, such as your long-term financial goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and investment preferences. Portfolios can be managed on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.

Generally speaking, portfolios include some combination of exchange-listed securities, mutual funds, ETFs, options and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Portfolios may be rebalanced on a consistent basis in order to keep asset allocations intact.

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Seaside Wealth Advisors, founded in 2023, is a fee-based advisory firm that does not require a minimum opening account balance. The firm works with individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as small business owners. 

The firm's small advisory team includes one advisor who holds the chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and retirement income certified professional (RICP) designations. However, advisors at the firm may earn commissions for selling insurance products. The firm may also receive compensation related to affiliated private funds in certain client situations. Though these arrangements represent a potential conflict of interest, fiduciary duty binds each advisor to act in the best interest of the client.

Services include active asset management, third-party money manager program oversight, financial planning and consulting, due diligence consulting, bookkeeping, tax services, insurance product recommendations and solicitation for affiliated private funds. Financial planning may address estate planning, business planning, education planning, retirement planning, income tax planning and risk management.

Seaside builds model portfolios that range from conservative to aggressive, depending on client needs and risk tolerance. Portfolios generally include ETFs and mutual funds. When appropriate, the firm may also use alternative investments, short-term and long-term purchases and covered options. 

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Omnistar Financial Group is a fee-based firm that's been in business since 2006, making it the oldest firm on this list. As a fee-based practice, some advisors may earn commissions for selling insurance products. While this is a conflict of interest, they must still comply with the firm's fiduciary obligation to put client interests first.

Omnistar works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans and charitable organizations. The minimum account size is $250,000.

Team members hold a variety of credentials, including the CFP®, ChFC, CFA and RICP designations, among others. 

The firm offers wealth management, financial planning and pension consulting services. The firm's wealth management offering may include lifestyle planning, cash flow planning, estate planning, retirement income planning, family governance, investment oversight and more. 

The firm's investment strategies include tactical equity-focused portfolios, as well as ETF-based portfolios that range from conservative to aggressive allocations. Client portfolios may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, municipal securities, U.S. government securities, and in some cases, digital asset-related vehicles.

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Masonboro Advisors is a fee-based advisory firm founded in 2007. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, nonprofits and other registered investment advisors through sub-advisory relationships.

The firm, whose legal name is Glasgow & Associates, LLC but does business as Masonboro Advisors, does not require a minimum account size. The Masonboro team includes advisors who hold the CFP, CFA, ChFC and CPA designations. While the firm is headquartered in Wilmington, it also maintains offices in Chapel Hill and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as well as a pair of locations in California.

However, advisors at the firm may earn commissions for selling insurance products through an affiliated insurance portal. This is a potential conflict of interest, but the advisors are still bound by fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the client.

Services offered at Masonboro Advisors include discretionary investment management, financial planning, sub-advisory investment management, held-away account management and a Yield Enhancement Strategy (YES) that primarily uses structured notes. Financial planning can cover retirement planning, education planning, long-term care, estate planning and tax liability analysis. The firm also offers tax services through an affiliated entity.

The firm's investment philosophy generally centers on asset allocation across multiple asset classes and long-term portfolio construction rather than market timing. Portfolios may be tailored from aggressive to conservative based on a client’s financial profile, objectives and restrictions. Portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, individual bonds, structured notes and alternative investments.

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Ascendor Wealth is a fee-based advisory firm that works primarily with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans. 

The Ascendor team includes professionals with the CFP®, Juris Doctor (JD) and Master's in Taxation credentials, although some employees may earn commissions when clients implement insurance products. While this constitutes a potential conflict of interest, fiduciary duty requires the firm and its advisors to act in the best interest of the client. 

The firm offers access to the SEI Investments Management sub-advised program, whose minimums generally range from $25,000 to $1 million. The firm and/or SEI may waive minimums, and household account aggregation may be used to meet requirements.

Services offered at Ascendor Wealth include wealth management, comprehensive, modular and consultative financial planning, asset management, retirement planning, retirement plan services, rollover recommendations, cash management and insurance product recommendations.

Investment strategies may involve long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading and alternative strategies through money managers or mutual funds. These strategies may include short sales, margin transactions, hedges and options. Accounts are generally rebalanced at least quarterly according to the client’s investment policy statement.

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Lumina Wealth Management is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charities, insurance companies and corporations.

Founded in 2017, Lumina has a minimum account size requirement of $150,000 and charges a minimum annual fee of $1,500. Both of these requirements may be negotiable under certain circumstances.

Some advisors at the firm earn commissions for selling insurance products. This is a potential conflict of interest, but the advisors are still bound by fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the client at all times. The small team of advisors includes one CFP® professional and one accredited asset management specialist (AAMS). 

Services offered at Lumina include portfolio management, access to third-party wrap programs, consulting and financial planning. Financial planning can cover risk management, retirement planning, education funding, portfolio design and more.

Before investing any of your assets, Lumina Wealth Management will work with you to determine what kind of investor you are. This involves putting together a financial outline that's specific to you, as it will detail your risk tolerance, time horizon and financial goals. Investment choices at Lumina can include separate account managers, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, stocks, options, annuities and life insurance. When appropriate, the firm may also invest in alternative assets, including hedge funds and private placements. 

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Counterweight Private Wealth rounds out our list of the top financial advisors in Wilmington. This fee-only firm was founded in 2023, making it one of the youngest practices on this list.

The firm works primarily with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, small businesses and retirement plans. The minimum account size is $1 million, although the firm may negotiate this requirement under certain circumstances. For clients with less than the minimum, financial planning services can be offered for a fixed fee that ranges from $2,500 to $50,000.

The firm provides asset management and financial planning services that address retirement planning, tax planning and preparation services, risk management, estate planning, college savings, insurance reviews, cash flow and debt management. Comprehensive financial planning is available for ongoing support.

Members of the Counterweight team hold the following credentials: CFP®, CPA, RICP and chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

Counterweight Private Wealth's investment philosophy combines fundamental analysis, technical analysis and modern portfolio theory. The firm constructs portfolios using asset allocation models that range from conservative income to aggressive growth. Portfolios are designed to align with each client's goals, time horizon and risk tolerance, with rebalancing as needed. Investments typically include mutual funds, ETFs, equities and fixed income securities. While accounts are actively managed, the firm emphasizes diversification and long-term planning.