Best Financial Advisors
Some of the financial advisors below can match you with a local advisor, while others operate online and meet with clients virtually, via phone or video call.
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The best financial advisors let you pay for the services you want and skip paying for the ones you don't. They charge reasonable fees, adjust their approach to meet your specific needs, and offer a variety of ways to get in touch, including virtual meetings.
How we pick the best financial advisors for this list
First of all, all of the below firms are fiduciary financial advisors, which means they're required to put your interests above their own.
Some of the companies we've included have in-house financial advisors. Others operate a network of participating advisors all over the country.
In many cases, working with an advisor through these firms is cheaper than finding a traditional local advisor, but you'll still have a 1-to-1 relationship with an advisor who knows your financial situation and understands your needs.
Also on our list of the best advisors are a few companies that manage your portfolio for you and offer you access to a team of financial advisors on an as-needed basis. In most cases, you'll talk to a different advisor each time, but you'll pay an even lower fee if you opt for one of these services.
We've categorized our list into services that match you with a dedicated financial advisor for more comprehensive advice, and lower-cost services that offer a team of advisors.
Below are our picks for the best financial advisors in both categories, as well as how to decide which financial advisor is best for you.
The best financial advisors let you pay for the services you want and skip paying for the ones you don't. They charge reasonable fees, adjust their approach to meet your specific needs, and offer a variety of ways to get in touch, including virtual meetings.
How we pick the best financial advisors for this list
First of all, all of the below firms are fiduciary financial advisors, which means they're required to put your interests above their own.
Some of the companies we've included have in-house financial advisors. Others operate a network of participating advisors all over the country.
In many cases, working with an advisor through these firms is cheaper than finding a traditional local advisor, but you'll still have a 1-to-1 relationship with an advisor who knows your financial situation and understands your needs.
Also on our list of the best advisors are a few companies that manage your portfolio for you and offer you access to a team of financial advisors on an as-needed basis. In most cases, you'll talk to a different advisor each time, but you'll pay an even lower fee if you opt for one of these services.
We've categorized our list into services that match you with a dedicated financial advisor for more comprehensive advice, and lower-cost services that offer a team of advisors.
Below are our picks for the best financial advisors in both categories, as well as how to decide which financial advisor is best for you.
The most common financial advisor fee is 1% of your assets under management (the amount of money the advisor will manage on your behalf). Some of the advisors below charge less because they operate online, which keeps their own costs down.
Best Financial Advisors
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Fees | Account minimum | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zoe Financial Learn more on Zoe Financial's website AD Paid non-client promotion | Reviewed in: Oct. 2023 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023 | Varies by Advisor (free initial consultation) | $150,000 | 3- | Learn more on Zoe Financial's website AD Paid non-client promotion |
 Facet Learn more on Facet's website AD Paid non-client promotion | Reviewed in: Oct. 2023 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023 | $2,000 and up per year (free initial consultation) | $0 | Get $200 reward into Facet brokerage account for new members who transfer at least $5,000 within the first 90 days of their Facet membership. *Limited time offer available July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024. | Learn more on Facet's website AD Paid non-client promotion |
 Vanguard Personal Advisor Learn more on Vanguard's website AD Paid non-client promotion | Reviewed in: Oct. 2023 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023 | 0.35% management fee | $50,000 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn more on Vanguard's website AD Paid non-client promotion |
 Betterment Premium Learn more on Betterment's website AD Paid non-client promotion | Reviewed in: Oct. 2023 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023 | 0.40% management fee | $100,000 | Get 1% match of your net Roth and traditional IRA contributions until December 30, 2024. Terms apply. | Learn more on Betterment's website AD Paid non-client promotion |
 J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors Learn more on J.P. Morgan's website AD Paid non-client promotion | Reviewed in: Jan. 2024 Period considered: Aug. 2023 - May 2024 | 0.5% - management fee | $25,000 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn more on J.P. Morgan's website AD Paid non-client promotion |
Our pick for
1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
These services will match you dedicated financial advisor who meets your needs — in most cases, you'll have free introductory meetings with a few advisors before choosing the one for you. You'll work with the same advisor on an ongoing basis, meeting virtually or in person if the advisor is local and offers that service.
5.0
/5Reviewed in: Oct. 2023
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023
on Zoe Financial's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
Varies by Advisor (free initial consultation)
$150,000
3-Month Satisfaction Guarantee
Pros
Advisors offer free initial consultations.
Access to a range of services, including investment management and financial, tax and estate planning.
No fee for using Zoe Financial to find an advisor.
Cons
Difficult to know financial advisor fees upfront.
$150,000 investment minimum.
Why We Like It
Zoe Financial isn't actually a financial advisory firm — the company connects clients to financial advisors. Zoe's account minimum is fairly high at $150,000, but the advisor access is excellent, and advisors hold at least a CFP, CFA or CPA designation. The typical fee ranges from 0.5% - 1.5%, but because each advisor has their own fee, you may not know exactly what you’ll pay until you contact the advisors.
5.0
/5Reviewed in: Oct. 2023
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023
on Facet's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
$2,000 and up
per year (free initial consultation)
$0
Get $200 reward
into Facet brokerage account for new members who transfer at least $5,000 within the first 90 days of their Facet membership. *Limited time offer available July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024.
Pros
Comprehensive, full-service financial planning.
Meetings are held virtually, via phone or video call.
Access to a dedicated certified financial planner.
Flat fee means you pay only for what you need.
Cons
Wide fee range makes it difficult for potential customers to estimate costs.
Why We Like It
Facet's financial planning services start at $2,000 per year and include customized financial guidance and investment management from a dedicated CFP. Facet advisors can work with you on the majority of situations covered by full-service financial planning firms.
5.0
/5Reviewed in: Oct. 2023
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023
on Harness Wealth's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
Up to 1%
per year
$250,000
$250 off
one year of financial or tax planning
Pros
Advisors offer free initial consultations.
Access to a range of services, including investment management and financial, tax and estate planning.
No fee for using Harness Wealth to find an advisor.
Cons
Difficult to know financial advisor fees upfront.
Firms require a $250,000 investment minimum for investment management. (No minimum for a one-time financial plan.)
Why We Like It
Harness Wealth isn't itself a financial advisory firm — the company serves to connect clients to carefully vetted firms. Advisors on the platform typically charge a 1% management fee, but flat-fee financial planning services and tax help are also available.
Our pick for
Access to a team of financial advisors
These services offer unlimited access to a team of financial advisors — which means you may work with a different financial advisor each time. That generally comes at a lower cost, but you'll still be able to speak to an advisor and receive guidance as needed. Some of these advisors, including Vanguard, offer a dedicated advisor for clients who meet minimum investment requirements.
4.3
/5Reviewed in: Oct. 2023
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023
on Vanguard's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
0.35%
management fee
$50,000
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
Low portfolio management fee.
Comprehensive advice with goals-based financial planning tools.
Unlimited access to financial advisors.
Solid investment selection with Vanguard’s suite of funds.
Cons
$50,000 investment minimum.
Portfolios use only Vanguard funds.
Why We Like It
Vanguard Personal Advisor offers unlimited access to financial advisors for a fee not much higher than a simple robo-advisor. The $50,000 account minimum is high, but the low-cost tax strategy and financial planning may make it worthwhile if you're planning on investing that much anyway.
4.1
/5Reviewed in: Oct. 2023
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023
on Betterment's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
0.40%
management fee
$100,000
Get 1% match
of your net Roth and traditional IRA contributions until December 30, 2024. Terms apply.
Pros
Unlimited access to certified financial planners.
Low management fee.
Innovative savings and retirement planning tools.
Cons
Clients don't receive a dedicated advisor.
Advisors available by phone and email only.
$100,000 investment minimum.
Why We Like It
Betterment Premium offers a powerful combination of goal-based tools, affordable management fees and no account minimum. Betterment Premium has a required minimum balance of $100,000 and charges a 0.65% annual fee for unlimited phone access to a team of certified financial planners. Premium's CFPs can help you with basic financial planning but not more complex situations, such as business planning.
3.7
/5Reviewed in: Jan. 2024
Period considered: Aug. 2023 - May 2024
on J.P. Morgan's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
0.5% - 0.6%
management fee
$25,000
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
$25,000 investment minimum is low compared to similar services.
Low investment expense ratios.
Those with $250,000 in assets or more get access to a dedicated individual advisor.
Cons
Limited brokerage and portfolio management options.
Limited access to certified financial planners.
Why We Like It
J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors provides holistic financial planning with guidance from human advisors with lower account minimums and expense ratios than other advisory services. Unfortunately the portfolio options and number of accounts supported are more limited than competitors. INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
Finding the best financial advisor for you
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you review this list of financial advisors and compare options:
1. Your budget for advice. As noted above, simple, digital-only services will be less expensive; holistic financial planning will be more. It's a good idea to know what you're comfortable spending before you dive in.
2. What services you need. Maybe you just want help picking investments, or maybe you need advice on more advanced topics, like estate planning or insurance needs. These requirements will help you choose what type of financial advisor you need — typically, a robo-advisor is a good fit for investment management, but you'll need a financial advisor for advanced planning. (View our picks for the best robo-advisors.)
3. Whether you want in-person or online advice. If you don’t mind meeting with your advisor virtually, you'll often save money with an online service. These services also typically have lower account minimum requirements than traditional investment advisors. No matter what option you choose, it's always important to check qualifications and make sure they follow a fiduciary standard, which means your needs come first.
» Need more information? Learn how to choose between financial advisors
Last updated on August 14, 2024
Methodology
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Financial Advisors
- Zoe Financial: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- Facet: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- Vanguard Personal Advisor: Best for Access to a team of financial advisors
- Betterment Premium: Best for Access to a team of financial advisors
- J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors: Best for Access to a team of financial advisors
- Harness Wealth: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- Wealthramp: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium™: Best for Access to a team of financial advisors
- Ellevest Private Wealth Management: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- Merrill Guided Investing with advisor: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
Frequently asked questions
A financial advisor helps people manage their investments, plan for retirement and save money for their financial goals. Financial advisors also suggest strategies, investments or other assets that will help their clients’ money grow.
Financial advisors come in many varieties, from in-person advisors to online financial services and robo-advisors. They all serve the same purpose: to help you figure out what to do with your money. Here’s more about what financial advisors do.
If you find taking care of your finances and planning for the future to be overwhelming, a financial advisor can certainly help. If you feel confident investing your money, you may not need one.
While financial advisors aren’t for everyone, they can help you navigate the tricky and often confusing waters of how to organize your finances. If you recently had a big life change (you got married, had a child, lost a family member), it can be helpful to work with a financial advisor to help you understand your new financial landscape.
» Looking for a local advisor? Here's how to find a financial advisor near you.
This really depends on what you’re willing to spend, and what products you’re looking for. There are a couple robo-advisors — digital investment management services — that charge no management fees. Others charge around 0.25% of your account balance.
Then, there are online financial advisors and traditional in-person financial advisors. Traditional financial advisors will often charge 1% of your assets or a flat fee — for example, you might pay $2,000 for a comprehensive plan. Online advisors like the ones on this list typically charge a bit less than that — Vanguard's fee is .35% and Betterment Premium charges .40% — or a flat annual or monthly fee.
We have a full overview of financial advisor fees here.
The difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner is like the adage about squares and rectangles: A financial planner is an advisor, but an advisor isn’t necessarily a planner.
Financial advisors are a larger category of individuals who help people manage their finances. A certified financial planner has gone through extensive training, taken an exam and is legally obligated to act in their client’s best interest. It is important when you are looking for a financial advisor to thoroughly vet them, no matter what they call themselves.
We suggest working with financial advisors who are fee-only fiduciaries. Fee-only advisors charge flat fees or a percentage of the assets they manage; they do not accept commissions for recommending specific investments. (Note: This is not the same as fee-based advisors, who may earn commissions on products they sell and charge clients a fee or percentage of assets.) A fiduciary is legally obligated to act in the client's best interest. Many financial advisors are also investment advisors, meaning they are registered with a regulating body such as their state or the SEC.
What you look for in a financial advisor will have to do with your needs and priorities. Online advisors are (for the most part) less expensive, but some people prefer to meet with a local advisor; a face they can come to know and trust.
It might also depend on what you want your advisor to do. For example, if you’re concerned with creating a specific type of portfolio or investing in alternative assets like cryptocurrency, you might prioritize finding an advisor who knows that strategy. But if staying within your budget comes first, and if you’re just starting to build an investment account, it often makes sense to go with a low-fee robo-advisor.
Learn more about how to choose a financial advisor.
What sort of service you choose to take care of your money is a matter of your needs and comfort level.
Financial advisors have the advantage of being able to develop a relationship with you over time. They might know more about your family, your job and your life in general — thus giving them better insight into your financial needs. Unfortunately, they’re typically more expensive than a robo-advisor, but that cost premium may be worth it to you.
Robo-advisors are a great choice if you only want investment management.
A financial advisor’s value depends on what they bring to your financial life. If you don’t have a lot of assets to manage, it might be better to try to manage them yourself or use a robo-advisor. As your assets grow and become more complicated — maybe you own a house, have an investment portfolio and are trying to pay off debt — it can be worthwhile to seek help from either a traditional or online advisor.
