If you live on the right side of the Golden Arch and are looking for a financial advisor, you’ve come to the right people. Benzinga took stock of the best financial advisors in St. Louis, Missouri, to help you make the most informed selection.
Quick Look: Best Financial Advisors in St. Louis, Missouri Near You
- Best for Estate Planning: Clayton Financial Group
- Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
- Best for Women Investors: Clarity Financial Planners
- Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
- Best for Family Wealth Planning: Matter Family Planning
- Best for Finding Custom Financial Advisors: SmartAsset
Best for Estate Planning: Clayton Financial Group
With 50 years of collective experience among its managing partners and clients in 29 states, Clayton Financial Group (CFG) offers a wealth of expertise to its clients. CFG’s motto is “Expect More,” meaning it goes above and beyond in all aspects of financial planning.
A fee-only firm, CFG will advise you on investment planning, financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, risk management, and 401(k) planning. Individuals, high-net-worth individuals, business entities, as well as retirement plans and retirement plan sponsors compose the firm’s client base.
The firm considers estate planning an integral part of any financial plan — and one that is mistakenly underprioritized. After identifying your goals, CFG will work side by side with your estate planning attorney to ensure your plan is legally compliant.
The firm will go even further (Expect More!) by drawing from its network of estate lawyers to link you with one that fits your needs.
- Customizable Auto Investing
Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
- Best For:Customizable Auto InvestingRating:Read Review
Brokerage products and services are offered by M1 Finance, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of M1 Holdings, Inc. ✝Your free trial (a $30 value) begins the date you enroll in the M1 Plus subscription, and ends 3 months after (“Free Trial”). Upon the expiry of the Free Trial, your account is automatically billed a monthly subscription fee of $10 unless you elect annual billing of $95 or cancel your subscription under your Membership details in the M1 Platform
M1 Finance is a robo-advisor that keeps in you command of the investment strategy. M1 uses automatic rebalancing to align with your chosen portfolio mix.
An M1 Basic account has no management fees and a $100 minimum. A minimum balance of $25,000 gives you access to M1 Plus, which is $125 per year. Plus has the benefits of Basic but affords you further command over your finances by providing 2 trading windows per day.
You can choose from nearly 100 portfolio strategies or customize with low-cost, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and fractional shares.
M1 is a favorite for experienced investors looking for the convenience of a robo-advisor. But that doesn’t mean you should shy away if you’re a beginner — people who like to teach themselves new skills may find M1 to their liking.
Best for Women Investors: Clarity Financial Planners
Clarity Financial Planners is an advisory firm that trains a keen eye on the unique needs of women investors. Clarity is a fee-only firm offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management.
Financial planning by Clarity may include retirement planning, structuring business sales and personal cash flow analysis, among other services. Investment strategy is customized and evidence-based. Strategies include modern portfolio theory, focusing on long-term asset allocation for high returns and low risk, tax optimization, as well as investing in mutual funds and ETFs.
The firm empowers female investors to take an active role in wealth management, giving you “clarity and confidence in your financial future” by engaging you in the planning process from start to end.
Clarity applies this client-first perspective to its entire client base, which includes trusts, businesses and individuals.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Educational seminars/workshops
Address
8820 LADUE ROAD SUITE 203ST. LOUIS MO, 63124
Phone number
314-548-2260
Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
- Best For:High Net Worth IndividualsRating:Read Review
Personal Capital is a robo-advisor that provides you a holistic view of your finances to give you a clear vision of how your portfolio is working.
To access a team of advisors from Personal Capital, you’ll need $100,000 to begin. At $200,000, Personal Capital assigns 2 financial advisors for a more dedicated approach. Fees range from 0.89% or 0.49% of AUM.
Comprehensive financial planning is available to all clients, but Personal Capital restricts estate planning to users with at least a $1 million account balance. Portfolio strategy focuses on alignment with clients goals, tax optimization and diversification.
Personal Capital is for investors who would like an advisor to take the wheel but want an unclouded view of the management and performance of their investments.
Best for Family Wealth Planning: Matter Family Planning
Matter Family Planning is a firm with offices in St. Louis as well as in Denver, Colorado, and Dallas, Texas. Matter offers advisory services with 3 main components: Investment Management, Wealth Planning and Coordination, and Family Culture and Legacy. The firm exclusively serves individuals and their families.
Matter approaches your wealth management by treating your whole family as 1 client though their Family Culture and Legacy services, engaging with each family member to ensure future financial security. The firm considers preparation, communication, and alignment as key pillars to familial financial planning.
Matter will even make an effort to foster open communication with the younger generations of your family to prepare them how to smartly manage inheritance or transition into leadership roles within the family business.
While Matter has a relatively high account minimum, they will take on smaller accounts from time to time. They are a fee-only firm with a structured fee tier ranging from 0.25% to 1.0% of AUM.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Educational seminars/workshops
- CREATE & ADMINISTER LLC'S TO POOL CLIENT FUNDS TO INVEST IN SEPARATELY MANAGED INVESTMENT VEHICLES.
Address
7711 BONHOMME AVENUE SUITE 400CLAYTON MO, 63105
Phone number
314-862-5190
Best for Finding Custom Financial Advisors: SmartAsset
- Best For:Comparing AdvisorsRating:Read Review
Find the right financial advisor to prepare for your future. SmartAsset's platform connects investors, soon-to-be-retirees and retirees with financial advisors from across the country.
As the first comprehensive solution for easily and securely pairing investors with financial advisors, SmartAsset provides you with free and secure access to the financial advisor marketplace and sources advisors that are right specifically for you based on your location, assets and personal preferences.
Answer a brief survey regarding your preparedness for retirement, investment style and contact information, so SmartAsset’s algorithm can match you with the best financial advisor for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I talk to a financial advisor for free?
While financial advisors typically charge for their services, many offer free first-time consultations to prospective clients.
Do I need a financial advisor for retirement?
Hiring a financial advisor to guide you through retirement planning can be helpful. A professional will navigate retirement-specific concerns with you, like reducing your tax obligations and picking low risk investments that will grow your accumulated income.
Which certifications should my financial planner have?
A financial planner should be a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA) or chartered financial analyst (CFA). A CFP® is the most comprehensive financial planning certification. CPAs are specialists in accounting and tax planning. CFAs focus on investment and financial analysis.
Can a Financial Planner Help You?
Whether you have a niche financial goal or generally want to ensure you’re taking the right steps to financial security, a financial planner can offer you professional guidance.
Methodology
To determine the top financial advisors in St. Louis, Missouri, we pored through all SEC-registered advisory firms who have an office in St. Louis. To winnow down the list we only included advisors who were registered fiduciaries, had no past disclosures and have minimal personal conflicts of interest. To further break down the list to the true 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, have a wrap fee program and over $50 million in assets under management.