Some RIAs saw market meltdown as an opportunity, not a tragedy

Owners and principals of firms have been forced to contend with myriad issues — everything from a topsy-turvy stock market, to a petrified client base, to sinking employee morale. One wrong move in such tumultuous times can spell disaster. At the same time, one smart move (OK, maybe more than one) can pave the way to unprecedented success. InvestmentNews' latest RIA Rundown highlights just a few of the RIA world's success stories. In order to give you a glimpse into what is going on across the country, we looked at the firms that are thriving in their respective regions. What we found, of course, are examples of firms that saw the stock market's decline — and the economic meltdown that followed — not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to triumph. San Francisco-based Aspiriant LLC, for example, is looking to expand its business to the Midwest. Meanwhile, Savant Capital Management Inc.of Rockford, Ill., also recognizes that now is a good time for expansion. We also found numerous examples of firms that recognize the importance of going the extra mile to guide anxious clients through tough times. For example, Alan David Martin, director of Martin & Company Investment Counsel in Knoxville, Tenn., recounts skipping dinner on a weekend retreat to talk a rattled client out of making asset allocation changes. (Click here to view profiles of some of the top RIAs). The firm's featured on these lists were not handpicked by InvestmentNews. Rather, they emerged from the objective data provided to us by RIA Database, which combs through tens of thousand of ADV forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission each quarter. Behind every firm is a success story, and we are proud to present a few of them to you. Find that data here: The RIA giants: Top fee-only firms ranked nationally by discretionary assets under management Regional Movers and Shakers: Top fee-only regional RIA firms ranked by discretionary assets under management The up and comers: Top fee-only firms with less than $500 million in discretionary assets under management The fastest movers: Top fee-only firms ranked by growth in discretionary assets under management since 2007 Click here to return to the full RIA Rundown special report