INVESTINGBest Financial Advisors: 8 Top Picks for 2025
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.
The best financial advisors don't earn commissions for promoting specific investments or other products, which can introduce a conflict of interest. They offer holistic, expert guidance to take the guesswork out of planning for your future goals. They also adjust their approach to meet your specific needs, and they offer a variety of ways to get in touch, including virtual meetings.
NerdWallet's editorial team rated firms on more than 20 data points and applied a lengthy methodology to find the best picks.
More about our methodology
NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks companies that provide financial planning services online or connect users to a financial advisor. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
We collect data directly from providers through detailed questionnaires, and conduct first-hand testing and observation through provider demonstrations. The questionnaire answers, combined with demonstrations, interviews of personnel at the providers and our specialists’ hands-on research, fuel our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance across more than 20 factors. The final output produces star ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).
For more details about the categories considered when rating financial advisors and our process, read our full methodology.
Why trust NerdWallet
Our deep, independent analysis sorts through key details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing a financial advisor. To see our full methodology and learn more about our process, read our criteria for evaluating online financial advisors.
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Over 60 investment account providers reviewed and rated by our expert Nerds.
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More than 50 years of combined experience writing about finance and investing.
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Extensive review of the features that matter most to average investors.
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Dozens of objective ratings rubrics, and strict guidelines to maintain editorial integrity.
How we picked the best financial advisors
Duty to the client. All of the firms on our list are fiduciary financial advisors, which means they're required to put your interests above their own.
Breadth. Some of the financial advisor firms on our list have in-house financial advisors. Others operate a network of advisors all over the country, and they refer you to the financial advisor who is the best fit for your needs. (Not included on this list is NerdWallet Advisory, a registered investment advisor operated by NerdWallet that offers advisor matches. We don't review our own products to avoid conflicts of interest.)
Access. In many cases, working with an advisor through these firms is cheaper than finding a local financial advisor, but you'll still have a 1-to-1 relationship with an advisor who knows your financial situation and understands your needs. However, we've also included a few financial advisor firms that offer 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 generally pay an even lower fee if you opt for one of these services.
Best financial advisors
The best financial advisor for you depends on your financial planning needs. Some of these firms match you with a local advisor, while others operate online and meet with clients virtually or via phone.
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Fees | Account minimum | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zoe Financial | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | Varies by Advisor (free initial consultation) | $150,000 | None no promotion available at this time. | |
 Vanguard Personal Advisor | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | 0.30%management fee | $50,000 | None no promotion available at this time | |
 Facet | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | $2,600 and up per yearper year (free initial consultation) | $0 | None no promotion available at this time. | |
 Harness Wealth | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | Up to 1%per year | $250,000 | $250 off one year of financial or tax planning | |
 Wealthramp | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | Varies by advisor(free initial consultation) | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | |
 Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium™ | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | $30monthly | $25,000 | None no promotion available at this time | |
 Ellevest Wealth Management | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | 0.25% - 1.25% | $500,000 | None no promotion available at this time | |
 Merrill Guided Investing with advisor | Reviewed in: Oct. 2025Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | 0.85%management fee | $20,000 | None no promotion available at this time |
Finding the best financial advisor for you
As you review this list of financial advisors and compare options, keep three things in mind.
1. Your budget for advice. Simple, digital-only services will be less expensive; holistic financial planning will cost more. 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. A robo-advisor may be a good fit for picking investments, but you'll need a financial advisor for advanced planning. (View our picks for the best robo-advisors.)
3. Whether you want in-person advice. If you don’t mind meeting with your advisor virtually versus in an office, you might save money. No matter what option you choose, check the advisor's qualifications and make sure they are fiduciaries, which means they must act in your best interests.
» Need more information? Learn how to choose 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.
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.
Financial advisor FAQs
- Zoe Financial: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- Vanguard Personal Advisor: Best for Access to a team of financial advisors
- Facet: Best for 1-to-1 relationship with a financial advisor
- 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 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
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