Following an exhaustive nomination and selection process with hundreds of names put forward, InvestmentNews is honored to introduce the 5-Star Wealth Management Teams for 2026.
The recognition comes as firms across the wealth management industry navigate a continuously evolving landscape, with clients prioritizing trust and long-term alignment over novelty. According to global wealth research from EY, North American clients report investment performance satisfaction at 87%, with satisfaction around access to products and services reaching 90%, effectively placing the region at the front of the global pack.
Brian Dunham, partner and wealth and asset management strategy lead at KPMG, says investment prowess isn't the only thing that gives top-performing teams their edge.
"Beyond that, the best teams are good listeners, very transparent with clients, and constantly learning so they can connect people to what matters," he said.
Across InvestmentNews' survey, the best performers among the 5-Star Wealth Management Teams for 2026 tended to be diversified and specialist-led while functioning as a single, coordinated unit – bringing together tax, planning, investment, and credit expertise under one roof.
Valley National Financial Advisors, based in Bethlehem, PA, manages $1.325 billion in AUM across a team with 202 combined years of experience. The firm has operated independently for 40 years and handles financial planning, wealth management, and tax preparation in-house.
CEO Matthew Petrozelli attributed the firm's staying power to its independence from outside corporate influence. "We've stayed true to our clients and employees with our independence and making sure we don't have conflicts with other corporations or a white ivory tower somewhere telling us what to do or what to sell – and that really has been a differentiator for us," he said.
Altamonte Springs, FL-based Certified Financial Group, founded in 1976, holds the CEFEX certification, a rigorous annual fiduciary audit held by an estimated 1% of US firms. Its founder, Joseph Bert, is one of the earliest CFP professionals in the country.
"I've been in this business now for 50 years and have seen a lot going back to Black Monday, but I've always prided myself in trying to look beyond the horizon and to see what's coming," Bert said.
Los Angeles-based Team Holmes at Signature Estate & Investment Advisors manages $1.7 billion in AUM with 108 combined years of experience. Jared Chase, an advisor on the team, said the past year of market turbulence has been a crucible for the firm to test out its long-term planning discipline.
"Over the last 12 months, the level of uncertainty across markets, interest rates, and geopolitics has reinforced the importance of having a disciplined, long-term approach," he said.
Among this year's 5-star wealth management teams, InvestmentNews is proud to shine the spotlight on:
To see all recipients of the InvestmentNews 5-Star Wealth Management Teams recognition for 2026, visit the full report.
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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
