3 Best Wealth Management Firms in 2026

Personal finance really is personal. So when you decide it’s time to outsource your financial management to someone else, it pays to be picky. The best wealth advisor for you will expertly guide you through decisions and simplify your financial life. And who does that best may depend on your stage of life, the types of decisions you see on the horizon or the complexity of your situation.

Below, we’ve listed wealth management firms that offer everything a high-net-worth household might need. At minimum, they provide:

Transparent fees. You can easily lose a fortune to high fees if you’re not careful. Any wealth advisor you consider should carefully go over fees with you before you hire them. That includes fees you’d have to pay on top of management fees and investment expense ratios. For example, some advisors (or their custodians) charge fees on transfers, trades or closing your account.
Fee-only fiduciary advice. Fee-only advisors are paid by you and don’t receive commissions for selling certain investment or insurance products. And fiduciaries are obligated to serve the client’s best interest. That means a fee-only fiduciary is insulated from some of the most harmful conflicts of interest, and you can trust their advice is coming from the right place.
Comprehensive planning. You’re likely looking for a wealth management firm because you have complicated questions and long-term goals. So any wealth advisor you consider hiring should do more than manage your investments for you. They should work closely with you to build your plan, advise you on key decisions that have direct or indirect financial impacts and provide regular updates on progress toward your goals.
Strategic tax planning. We’re not just talking about tax-efficient investing, though that’s important. A wealth advisor should factor taxes into pretty much every aspect of their decision-making and evaluate the tax implications over multiple years. And they should coordinate with your CPA if you can’t (or choose not to) use them for annual tax preparation.

As long as any wealth management firm you consider hiring checks these boxes and feels compatible with you personally, it’s likely you’re making a good choice. But these three wealth management firms stood out to our editorial team when we conducted reviews for 2026.

» Learn more: How to choose a financial advisor

Our list of the best wealth management firms

Best for predictable, low fees → Facet
Best for retirement income planning → Edelman Financial Engines
Best for high-touch service → Mariner

These are the best of the best in 2026. To see the full list, any current promotions and each wealth management firm’s overall star rating (and compare these firms side-by-side), check out our wealth advisors comparison page.

High-earners looking to become high-net-worth individuals are likely navigating complex financial decisions, but they may be perfectly happy with simple investing strategies. offers those, plus guidance about tackling those complex choices, at a low fee that doesn’t increase with the size of your assets under management. For that reason, I think it’s a great starting point if you’re accumulating wealth and encountering financial questions you’ve never had before, like how to balance competing savings goals or how to strategize upcoming windfalls (via employee equity, perhaps, or an inheritance).

What I like about Facet

Predictable fees. Unlike most wealth management firms, Facet charges an annual flat fee for comprehensive planning services. Its top tier most closely resembles the typical wealth advisor and costs $8,700 per year. That doesn’t change based on the size of your portfolio, which gives an advantage to wealthy investors. A member with $1 million in assets under management is effectively paying 0.87% in fees.

Uncomplicated investment strategies. Top-tier members have access to private market investing and direct indexing but low-cost ETFs are Facet’s bread-and-butter. That’s an investing approach that works for most people because it keeps fees low and portfolios diversified. When it comes to building wealth, it’s totally okay — preferred, even! — to be boring.

👉 See how we rate Facet's fees, services and more.

Investment minimum	$0.
Account management, planning or subscription fee	$2,600 - $8,700 annually based on the complexity of the plan.
Advisor access and credentials	All advisors are certified financial planners and fiduciaries. Advisor access and methods of contact are determined by membership tier.
Financial planning services	Depending on the level of membership, Facet advisors can advise on the majority of situations covered by full-service financial planning firms. In addition to tax planning, they now also offer tax filing services.
Investment expense ratios	Average 0.08%
Portfolio construction	Facet portfolios can cover the following asset classes with portfolios build from low-cost ETFs: All U.S. stock types: large cap, small cap, growth, value. An ESG option. Developed non-U.S. Emerging markets. Government, mortgage, corporate and municipal bonds. Asset-backed securities. Commercial mortgage-backed securities. Alternative income (for qualified members only).
Brokerage options	Facet manages discretionary investment accounts and opens accounts with Apex and Fidelity as the custodian.
Accounts supported	Direct management: Non-retirement brokerage accounts Roth, traditional, SEP, rollover and inherited IRAs Revocable living trusts Investment account recommendations provided for workplace retirement plans and guidance provided on managing stock option plans.
Tax strategy	Tax-loss harvesting on all taxable accounts as part of the investment service included in the flat planning fee. Direct indexing is available at the Complete tier with a minimum balance of $200,000. Tax planning, preparation and filing services are available at the Plus and Complete tiers.
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website)	Email support daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern. Phone support can be scheduled at the member's convenience.

Where Facet falls short

Facet’s approach to investment management could be the wrong fit for wealthy investors whose finances are structured in more complex ways. That could mean your wealth is tied up in illiquid assets like businesses or real estate or your estate plans require a customized strategy. Facet’s certified financial planners (CFPs) can address some basic planning needs in these areas. But when more complex needs arise, they will refer clients to third-party specialists (i.e. attorneys or accountants) and won’t play the kind of centralized and proactive role that you might get from an advisor at a high-touch wealth management firm.

Edelman Financial Engines: The best for retirement income planning

The math changes when you’re finished accumulating and ready to start drawing down your savings. If you’re looking for a wealth advisor as you approach retirement, you likely want one that specializes in helping you sail through this pivotal moment. Edelman Financial Engines feels like it’s built to shepherd investors through this transition.

What I like about Edelman

Custodial options with broad appeal. Edelman’s brokerage options include Fidelity and Charles Schwab – two of the most common workplace plan custodians. So, if your nest egg is sitting in accounts with one of these brokerages, you won’t have to jump through hoops to move it over to work with Edelman.

Tiered fee structure that favors high balances. EFE charges an annual fee of 1.75% on the first $400,000 of assets under management (AUM). That’s higher than many other advisors, making it a less competitive option for workers still squarely in the early accumulation phase. But those approaching retirement would likely see a lower effective rate with Edelman. For example, someone with $1 million in AUM would pay an effective rate of 1.39%, and the rate continues to get lower as balances get larger. You can review our star ratings chart below for a full breakdown of Edelman’s tiered fee schedule.

Retirement Paycheck service. Edelman clients can enroll in a service that automatically generates a predictable income stream during retirement. For someone using the service, Edelman moves a portion of assets — about three years’ worth of income — into lower risk investments and leaves the rest in diversified, long-term investments. One potential downside, though, is that the fixed income trades that might be used to execute the Retirement Paycheck service can carry additional fees.

👉 See how we rate Edelman's fees, services and more.

Account minimum	Declined to disclose. Opening an account may be subject to a minimum account size, which is determined based on proprietary models developed by EFE. This minimum may be increased, decreased or waived at the firm's discretion.
Account management, planning or subscription fee	The fee drops the more assets you have under management. 1.75% on the first $400,000. 1.25% on the next $350,000. 1% on the next $250,000. 0.75% on the next $2 million. 0.60% on the next $7 million. 0.50% on the next $15 million. The AUM fee covers financial planning services as well as investment management. But clients who only want a financial plan would pay a one-time fee of up to $10,000.
Advisor access and credentials	All wealth planning clients are supported by a dedicated advisor, who provides unlimited access throughout the year. Advisors are available via email, chat/text, phone, video or in-person meeting.
Financial planning services	EFE provides personalized, comprehensive support for complex financial planning needs, including tax optimization, estate planning, and insurance strategies.
Investment expense ratios	Average 0.14%.
Portfolio construction	95% of portfolios are unique to the individual. EFE wealth advisors work closely with clients to ensure their portfolio is aligned with their unique needs, goals and risk tolerance. The process is intended to create personalized, age-appropriate, diversified portfolios for each client selecting from among thousands of available investment options and maximizing the risk-adjusted returns of these portfolios by optimizing asset-class exposures, manager performance, fund-specific risk and fees.
Brokerage options	EFE managed assets are held with one of its custodian partners, including Fidelity, Schwab and Axos.
Accounts supported	EFE provides comprehensive account management across taxable and non-taxable accounts, including managing assets within most 401(k) plans or other workplace retirement plans.
Tax strategy	Services include asset location and tax-loss harvesting — offered at no additional cost — as well as direct indexing capabilities. EFE also provides tax planning support.

What Edelman Financial Engines doesn’t do as well

Edelman is providing financial services on a very large scale. That requires efficiency. For clients, that means Edelman advisors will likely guide you toward standardized investment models rather than tailor-making your investment portfolio. Take the Retirement Paycheck service as an example. The firm is making decisions about short-term vs. long-term investments for all clients enrolled in the service at the same time. That’s not a bad thing. But it means EFE may not be the right choice for someone who wants a highly customized experience. Edelman can customize portfolios, but that’s an exception, not the rule.

Mariner: The best for high-touch service

In some situations, standardized systems and model portfolios won’t cut it. A high-touch service can give you flexibility when you find that your financial life needs less automation and more personal attention. Of the wealth management firms we review, Mariner seems best poised to deliver that.

What I like about Mariner

Highly customized portfolios. As a client, you could expect a Mariner advisor to design an investment portfolio around your goals rather than following a standardized strategy. It’s the difference between a tailor who will shorten the length of an off-the-rack suit and one who will take your measurements and create a custom piece. This could be important to you for any number of reasons, but here are some potential scenarios:

You have unique needs or preferences that are best addressed with a bespoke portfolio.
The complexity of your financial life is evolving and you need a plan that readily flexes and adapts.
You need an advisor who can coordinate every aspect of your financial life.

Financial services under one roof. Mariner has in-house specialists and next-level services that could allow you to take care of all your financial services needs in one place. Financial planning and consulting services are a standard offering under its AUM fee, with an advisor coordinating with specialists to cover investment and non-investment planning topics. Additionally, Mariner offers family office services (including banking, bill-paying, record keeping, authorizing users and other administrative work) and coordinated tax services.

👉 See how we rate Mariner's fees, services and more.

Account minimum	There's no firmwide minimum, but some investment strategies or custodial platforms may require a starting balance. Mariner offers a complimentary consultation to determine if it's a good fit.
Account management, planning or subscription fee	Fees vary by service. Typical rates are: 1.25% on the first $1 million. 1% on assets of $1 million to $5 million. 0.80% on assets of $5 million to $10 million. 0.60% on assets above $10 million. There's a quarterly minimum fee of $1,875.
Advisor access and credentials	Each client is typically paired with a dedicated advisory team that may include an advisor, investment specialist and planning support staff. Advisors meet a fiduciary standard and may hold CFPs, CPAs, CFAs or JDs. Clients may communicate with their advisory team in person, virtually or by phone.
Financial planning services	Financial plans are customized to address clients' goals, priorities and financial complexity. Services include wealth and investment planning, retirement planning, tax, estate, insurance and trust planning.
Investment expense ratios	Not rated. Investments used and portfolio costs vary.
Portfolio construction	Each portfolio is customized to meet a client’s goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Portfolios can be constructed using individual securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, separately managed accounts and/or limited partnerships when appropriate.
Brokerage options	Mariner clients can hold assets at multiple third-party custodians, including Fidelity, Schwab and Pershing.
Accounts supported	Mariner supports a broad range of account types, including individual, joint and family accounts; retirement accounts (IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k) rollovers); and trust, charitable and business accounts.
Tax strategy	The firm’s advisory teams work closely with in-house tax professionals to help identify potential tax efficiencies. That means: Tax-loss harvesting and asset location strategies may be implemented. Coordination with CPAs and tax professionals. Focus on proactive, year-round tax awareness.

My word of caution about Mariner

It’s hard to pick apart a firm that promises to do anything and everything for you. So, more out of caution than anything else, I humbly suggest that Mariner may be the kind of wealth advisor you graduate to when you’ve worked with someone else for a while and start to stretch the limits of their capabilities or service offerings.