In today’s saturated financial advice market, technical savvy and market insight are only part of the equation. Clients are demanding more – transparency, personalization, and a relationship rooted in trust.
Those are just some of the distinguishing hallmarks highlighted among InvestmentNews' 5-Star Independent Advisors, who are highlighted in a special report published Monday.
For advisors hoping to attract and build strong client relationships, that level of dedication is only possible in the independent space. But while there's a lot to be said about breaking away from large institutions with captive models, that leap can be tough to navigate.
“Independent advisors need to spend more time focusing on the nitty-gritty, administrative details – and that’s a challenge,” said Stephen Caruso, associate director of wealth management at Cerulli Associates. "Without the infrastructure of a major wirehouse, independent advisors must juggle multiple roles – from CEO to client service rep – all while staying focused on performance and planning."
Still, that complexity hasn't been enough to discourage a growing class of standout professionals.
To find the 5-Star Independent Advisors for 2025, InvestmentNews invited clients to nominate their most trusted advisors. The final honorees were evaluated on five pillars: communication, portfolio performance, investment knowledge, client trust, and customer service.
The list, drawn from across the US, reflects what clients say they value most in their advisory relationship: responsiveness, long-term thinking, and the ability to customize strategies for personal goals – not a preset corporate playbook.
“Whether it’s building customized portfolios, modeling retirement scenarios, or stress-testing financial plans, I’m not locked into a one-size-fits-all platform,” said Scott Van Den Berg, a veteran financial planning professional operating in Austin, Texas.
That level of flexibility, coupled with a focus on education, holistic service, and going beyond the numbers, translates into peace of mind for clients.
“We do a really good job making sure [our clients are] able to sleep at night and not have to worry about these things, and they can spend their personal time with their families and doing the things they love,” said Kirk Badii, also based in Texas, who brings 15 years of experience to his clientele of high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and multigenerational families.
Among the prestigious crop of Best Independent Advisors, InvestmentNews is casting the spotlight on some standout names:
To learn more about the 5-Star Independent Advisors for 2025, click here.
Chicago-based Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions adds flexPATH's plan-level outsourced fiduciary book, boosting its retirement market reach to $164 billion.
Also, Raymond James's employee advisor channel adds breakaways from Wells Fargo and Stifel, while UBS welcomes an ex-Morgan Stanley duo in Indiana.
It promised guaranteed principal and 10% monthly returns. The SEC says it invested nothing.
Ten years after entering the fee-based annuity market, MassMutual Ascend says nearly half its lifetime sales came in the past two years alone – but barriers remain among fee-only advisors.
Amplify, WealthReach, Zeplyn and Zocks have unveiled partnerships aimed at automating portfolio management, content creation, account opening, and client communication.
Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains
Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income
