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At the highest levels of wealth management, success is measured by more than investment returns. The advisors entrusted with guiding substantial fortunes must combine technical expertise, strategic foresight and an ability to serve clients whose financial lives often span businesses, generations and continents.
That’s precisely why CNBC’s Elite Advisors list was created: to identify the firms and professionals who embody that standard — and for us to establish a framework that measures excellence at the pinnacle of the advisory profession.
To help develop the methodology and assess participating firms, CNBC consulted with AccuPoint Solutions, a wealth management data and research firm specializing in advisor intelligence and industry analytics, as well as Cerulli Associates, a research and consulting organization focused on the asset and wealth management industries.
Here’s how CNBC chose the 2026 Elite Advisors:
Independent registered investment advisors, or RIAs, that manage clients with investable assets of $25 million or more in the United States were eligible for this year’s list. CNBC solicited information from more than 100 firms, which served as the basis for a detailed quantitative analysis that determined the final unranked list of 25.
The metrics assessed included organizational scalability; assets under management attributable to ultra-high net worth clients; breadth and sophistication of client services and investment strategies; firm credibility through professional certifications and industry recognition; and overall reputation, including client retention and tenure. Firms that achieved the highest weighted score earned spots on the list.
Firms also had to pass a due diligence check, which included a review of regulatory disclosures on their Form ADV filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Firms with any such disclosures have been excluded from the list.
Our aim was to concentrate on firms that operate outside the traditional brokerage and banking model. This focus allowed for a more consistent evaluation of firms with similar structures and obligations, providing insight into a distinct and increasingly influential part of the advisory landscape.
The Elite Advisors represent more than size or scale. They have built enduring relationships with affluent families, developed sophisticated capabilities to address complex financial needs and earned a place among a select group of advisors serving the highest tiers of wealth.
CNBC receives no compensation from placing financial advisory firms on our Elite Advisors list. Additionally, a firm’s or advisor’s appearance in our list does not constitute an individual endorsement by CNBC of any firm or advisor.
