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At the highest levels of wealth management, success is measured by more than investment returns. Advisors tasked with guiding large fortunes must combine technical expertise, strategic foresight, and the ability to serve clients whose financial lives often span companies, generations, and continents.
That’s exactly why CNBC’s Elite Advisors list was created. To identify firms and professionals who exemplify those standards, and to establish a framework for assessing excellence at the pinnacle of the advisory profession.
To help develop the methodology and evaluate participating companies, CNBC consulted with AccuPoint Solutions, an asset management data and research firm specializing in advisor intelligence and industry analysis, and Cerulli Associates, a research and consulting organization focused on the asset and wealth management industry.
Here’s how CNBC selected its 2026 Elite Advisors.
This year’s list included independent registered investment advisers (RIAs) that manage clients with investable assets of $25 million or more in the United States. CNBC solicited information from more than 100 companies, which served as the basis for a detailed quantitative analysis that ultimately determined the list of 25 unranked companies.
Metrics evaluated included organizational scalability; Assets under management belonging to ultra-high-net-worth clients. The breadth and sophistication of customer service and investment strategies. Solid credibility with professional certifications and industry recognition. Overall reputation, including customer retention and tenure. Companies that achieve the highest weighted scores are featured on the list.
Companies also had to pass due diligence checks, including a review of regulatory disclosures on Form ADV filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Companies making such disclosures are excluded from the list.
Our objective was to concentrate on companies that operate outside the traditional brokerage and banking model. This focus has enabled us to more consistently evaluate companies with similar structures and obligations, providing insight into distinct and increasingly influential parts of the advisory landscape.
Elite Advisors represents more than size and scale. They have built lasting relationships with wealthy families, developed a sophisticated ability to address complex financial needs, and earned their place as part of a select group of advisors serving the highest net worth individuals.
CNBC does not receive compensation for listing financial advisory firms on the Elite Advisors list. Additionally, the inclusion of a company or advisor on our list does not imply individual endorsement of the company or advisor by CNBC.
