Best Financial Advisors in Houston, Texas

One of the largest metro areas in the world, Houston has a great deal of financial advisor firms. Choosing the best one for your unique situation can be challenging. Benzinga presents its research to help you narrow down the list to the following top financial advisors in the Houston area. Compare and contrast the pricing and offerings of the following financial advisors in Houston.

Best Financial Advisors in Houston, Texas:

1. Best Approach to Risk: Core Capital Management
2. Best for Retirement Planning: Heritage Wealth Management
3. Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
4. Best for Wide Range of Services: Symphony Financial
5. Best for Tailor-Made Financial Plans: Linscomb Williams
6. Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
7. Best for Comprehensive Financial Planning: Sovereign Wealth Advisors
8. Best for Full Suite of Financial Planning Services: Chilton Capital Management

Core Capital Management & Research has been providing peace of mind for individual and institutional investors for over 30 years. While investment advice is littered with stubborn assumptions and irrelevant correlations, Core Capital Management & Research designs strategies based on predictive factors backed by over 50 years of data.

After a thorough interview process, clients invest in a tax-managed portfolio designed to fit their desired outcomes. This actively managed portfolio is also subject to constant client reviews. Account fees amount to less than industry averages and get charged in arrears only after client approval.

Best for Retirement Planning: Heritage Wealth Management

Heritage Wealth Management has a variety of investment and retirement services. The firm helps its clients to and through retirement by providing them with financial planning, asset preservation, tax planning, 401(k), IRAs, multi-generational planning and more. 

Heritage’s clientele are professionals from the oil and gas industry as well as physicians and dentists. It has over 40 years of experience in successfully helping many in need of advanced financial advice and guidance.

Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance

M1 Finance is a smart money management app that allows you to build, invest and optimize your money. The app has over 100,000 users and manages more than $1 billion. If you want complete control over your investments, this is your one-stop solution.

Available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store, you can create a portfolio with stock or ETFs for free. You can also borrow money at a relatively lower rate, starting from 3.5%. There are no trading commissions or management fees.

The app also makes you feel secure by insuring the securities in your account by up to $500,000 via the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Your checking accounts may also be protected by $250,000  through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

There is also an upgraded option with M1 Plus Account. The account costs $125 annually and has all the benefits mentioned above. The M1 Plus account includes the following perks:

• 1% APY on checking account balance
• 1% cash back on qualifying debit card purchases, no limits
• Access to a 2nd daily trade window
• 2% rate for portfolio line of credit (1.5% reduction)

Best for Wide Range of Services: Symphony Financial, LTD.

Symphony Financial offers a variety of wealth management and planning services. The firm provides wealth management, portfolio management, risk management, tax planning, estate planning and business planning.

Symphony helps you build a strategic wealth management (SWM) portfolio. The portfolio is built based on your investment goals and strategy. Once this is done, your portfolio will be constantly monitored and reviewed by professionals to make sure they are aligned with your goals.

Symphony specializes in keeping its clients regularly updated about financial news through seminars, conference calls, articles and podcasts. The broker has an online portal for its clients to view their accounts, pay planning fees and take a risk survey.

Best for Tailor-Made Financial Plans: Linscomb Williams

Linscomb Williams has been in the financial business for almost 50 years and has one of the most experienced teams of experts in Houston. The firm covers a wide range of services such as wealth management, risk management, asset protection, retirement planning, estate planning, gift and charitable planning and more. You receive a plan tailored to what’s best for you. 

Linscomb Williams charges a one-time, all-inclusive fee. The firm charges a 1% annual fee for every $0 to $2 million. There is no extra fee or 3rd-party commission since it doesn’t sell financial products, which reduces bias. There is also no charge for frequent queries with its advisors since its goal is to also help you improve your own financial literacy. 

Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital

Personal Capital is a 2-in-1 digital management service that gathers all of your account information and tells you exactly where all of your money is invested. This is an excellent option if you want a single platform to manage your money.

Personal Capital is free if you want to manage your multi-asset portfolio with its investment management tools. High-value investors who have more than $100,000 minimum balance can have their accounts managed by a real person. You can get tax optimization strategies and get help on your unique short-term and long-term plans.

Best for Comprehensive Financial Planning: Sovereign Wealth Advisors, LLC

Sovereign Wealth Advisors is a top-quality financial advisor in Houston known for an end-to-end financial planning structure. Its ideal clients are individuals, families, business owners and corporations. 

As an individual, you get services such as financial planning, asset management, private wealth management, retirement and insurance. Sovereign can help you become financially independent so you can be financially strong by the time you hit retirement. Sovereign also has many clients who are successful entrepreneurs and business owners with complex financial circumstances; count on Sovereign to provide necessary hand-holding.

Best for Full Suite of Financial Planning Services: Chilton Capital Management, LLC

Chilton Capital Management has been named ‘Top Financial Advisors’ by The Financial Times in 2015 and ‘Top Wealth Management Firm’ by the Houston Business Journal in 2017. Chilton offers a wide array of financial services. The firm has immense expertise in not just providing wealth advisory and management services but also as a trusted investment advisor. Chilton uses its own software known as Wealth ePath. With this software, it can examine your assets, liabilities, income, expenses and savings to meet the goals you want to set. Whether it is a short-term or long-term goal, this software makes sure that you’re on the right track and will advise if you’re not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which certifications should my financial planner have?

A: The top 3 credentials for a financial planner are CFA, CFP® and PFS. There are many other certifications for financial advisors that are more specific. 

Q: Can financial advisors help debt?

A: Yes, financial advisors are more than equipped to advise you on clearing your debt.

Q: Do I need a financial advisor for retirement? 

A: No, you don’t need one. You can always manage your finances with a robo-advisor. 

Choose the Right Financial Advisor in Houston, Texas

There are a lot of great financial advisors in Houston, Texas. Be clear about your goals and assess your investment knowledge. Do a thorough background check before you visit a financial advisor and make sure you visit a couple of places to make an informed decision.

Methodology

To determine the top financial advisors in Houston we vetted all SEC registered advisory firms who have an office in Houston. To winnow down the list we only included advisors who are registered fiduciaries, have no past disclosures and have minimal personal conflicts of interest. To further break down the list of the top advisors in the area, we gave weight to advisors that offer both investment management and planning, have no conflicts of interest, have offices in multiple states, a wrap-fee program and over $50 million in assets under management.