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Top 10 Best Financial Advisors in Seattle, Washington

Best Financial Advisor in Seattle

Are you in search of professional financial advisors in Seattle? Many people in Washington keep searching for “best wealth advisors near me” on Google. To be honest, it’s pretty understandable why they do so.

Hiring a financial advisor is an important decision because you are trusting a firm or an individual within a firm within your assets. You’ll never want to go wrong with protecting your money and investing it for wealth accumulation or retirement.

But, how can you ensure that your money is in the right hands? How can you gather the right knowledge about the fee structure of financial advisors to analyze its impact on your savings or retirement plan in the long run?

Why Do You Need Financial Advice?

There are a lot of options available for financial advisors when it comes to investing your money. Whether you are in the transition phase, just starting your business, or looking for a risk-free retirement plan, you need a sound strategy to do so.

That’s why a lot of people seek the advice of Seattle financial planners to navigate smoothly through sudden events of life like marriage, divorce, childbirth, quitting a job, switching a job, or shifting towards entrepreneurship.

Besides that, if you are in the phase of selling your business, it often results in needing an entirely different approach. During this process, you need a good business broker and financial planner to help you make the best choices.

Thus, every stage of your life demands a new approach to saving, investing, and planning your money. It entirely depends on your circumstances.

How Can You Accomplish Financial Planning

There are many different ways to accomplish financial planning. The two major ones are:

1. Signing up with an online do-it-yourself investment company

When you choose an online do-it-yourself firm, it allows you to handle everything without any human advice. This option comes with a lower cost or price. It’s because no human being is involved in doing research or making transactions in the investment.

2. Hiring a financial advisor

Just like hiring a Seattle CPA, hiring your own wealth manager or financial planner comes with higher costs but with lucrative results.

Financial analysts say that you can expect 2% to 4% better results when you work with a financial planner as compared to handling it all alone.

Payment Structures of Seattle Financial Advisors

It’s true that involving a financial planner in wealth management to get greater returns comes at a higher cost. So, you must first analyze if it will work in your favor or not.

To get a better understanding of this, learn how Seattle financial advisors make money. It will help you analyze how they work to make you money.

The most commonly used payment structures when hiring financial advisors in Seattle are:

  • Hourly: The investor is charged for time use on his behalf, regardless of assets.
  • Retainer: A scheduled fee (usually monthly or annual) makes the Financial Advisor available, on-call for the advisory services the retainer covers.
  • Flat fees: A set price for financial planning and asset management services. The fees have nothing to do with the amount of the investor’s account, big or small. It’s like ordering off a menu of services.
  • Commission: The financial advisor receives a percentage of the money spent buying high-performing investments, usually charged per transaction.
  • Asset management: The investor is charged a fee based on how much money is invested and fees usually are paid directly from the investor’s account.

Which Payment Structure is  Best?

In order to make the best choice, know that a conflict of interest can arise if you go with the wrong structure that does not meet your needs.

For example, if a financial advisor charges an hourly fee and is less concerned about helping you make more money, that person is more likely to spend time on another account. When they make more money, more investments and assets grow in an Asset Management account.

Besides that, financial advisors in Seattle can transfer money unnecessarily if they get a flat fee per transaction.

So, in our view, choosing the commission-based fee structure can boost results. It involves taking a portion of the growth of the investment.

How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor in Seattle

How can you analyze that the financial advisors in Seattle are not suggesting you make investments that suit their interests more than yours?

The best way to understand this is to ask your potential financial planner, “Do you have a fiduciary responsibility to my investments?”

If the financial planner is licensed, he/she will be bound by ethics and regulations to must first invest in your best interest even if they do not benefit from it.

On the other hand, if a financial planner does not take fiduciary seriously, he/she could lead you to a riskier path. However, this path can also end up with a higher payoff. Nobody knows.

So, it’s hard to determine which choice is the best. It truly depends on your situation. You can try both options and decide later which one works best for you.

The safer side? Have a meeting with your potential financial planner first and get to know him/her. Make sure you feel comfortable with the plan they have created for you. It should be tailored to the results you want to achieve.

10 Best Financial Advisors in Seattle

Here is the list of the top 10 best financial advisors in Seattle for you. We have done detailed research and selected these companies based on their reviews, experience, ratings, and professional services. Have a look:

1. Charles Schwab

editors choice

The Charles Schwab Corporation is a leading financial services company providing a full range of brokerage, banking, and financial advisory services to clients across the United States. With its headquarters in San Francisco, Charles Schwab operates through its subsidiaries, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB.

The Charles Schwab Company has a rich history of delivering exceptional customer service, and its commitment to transparency and straightforward answers is evident in its approach to business.

The Seattle Branch of Charles Schwab offers access to many investment services and products, including Schwab brokerage accounts, deposit and lending services, and more. The Financial Consultants take the time to understand each client’s unique needs and circumstances, providing guidance and support.

Charles Schwab
508 Union St
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-287-3816
www.schwab.com

2. Merriman Wealth Management

Merriman Wealth Management is a fee-only investment advisory firm established in 1983 with a mission to deliver excellent service and intelligent investing strategies to clients. With over $3.5 billion in assets under management, the firm serves clients across the United States with a focus on long-term goals.

In 2012, Merriman Wealth Management became a member of Focus Financial Partners, a prestigious alliance of independent wealth management companies. This partnership provides access to best practices and insights from other Focus partners who prioritize clients’ interests. In 2016, Merriman acquired the advisory business of Summit Capital Management, LLC; in 2017, the firm acquired Carter and Carter Wealth Strategies.

Merriman Wealth Management helps clients achieve their goals by providing a full range of services, including investment planning, taxes, estate planning, insurance, risk management, and charitable giving.

Merriman Wealth Management
920 5th Avenue, Suite 2720 
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206.285.8877
www.merriman.com

3. Decker Retirement Planning Inc.

Decker Retirement Planning Inc. is a leading provider of financial planning services designed to help individuals achieve their retirement goals. The company was founded on the belief that successful retirement planning can be achieved through a math-based and principle-driven approach.

All of Decker Retirement Planning’s financial planners are fully committed to acting as fiduciaries, ensuring that clients receive unbiased and objective advice. The company’s proprietary strategies are designed to meet the unique needs of each individual, while its focus on effective income distribution helps clients achieve their goals with greater ease.

Decker Retirement Planning also offers various cutting-edge financial planning services, including Social Security optimization strategies, Tax Minimization strategies, and a Safer Distribution Plan. These innovative solutions are designed to help clients navigate the complex financial landscape of retirement while minimizing risk and maximizing returns.

Decker Retirement Planning Inc. 
Columbia Tower – 701 5th Ave, 42nd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 717-7474
https://www.deckerretirementplanning.com

4. Ignite Financial Planning

Ignite Financial Planning is a comprehensive financial planning firm based in Seattle, Washington, offering services to clients both locally and nationwide. The company is owned and operated by Riley Poppy CFP, a highly qualified professional with numerous certifications, including Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Student Loan Professional, Behavioral Financial Advisor, and Certified Tax Specialist.

The focus of Ignite Financial Planning is to help working professionals and growing families achieve their financial goals through various services, including goal planning, student loan management, employee benefits planning, risk management, home buying, investment management, tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning.

The team at Ignite Financial Planning tracks clients’ action items, goals, and important deadlines to ensure that their plans are implemented effectively. With their extensive knowledge and expertise, they work closely with clients to help them navigate the complexities of their financial lives and achieve their goals.

Ignite Financial Planning
500 Yale Ave N
Seattle, WA
Phone: 206-486-6240
www.ignitefinancialplanning.com

5. Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers Inc

Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers is a leading independent wealth management firm that has been serving high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, and foundations for the past 50 years.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, our mission has always been to put our clients first by tailoring our services to their unique needs and providing them with compelling wealth preservation strategies and growth opportunities.

The Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers‘ experienced and multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to provide a range of wealth management services, including wealth transfer planning, asset protection, investment management, cash flow planning, college planning, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, foundation management, risk management, legacy planning, and philanthropic planning.

Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers Inc
1420 Fifth Avenue Suite 3200
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 623-6172
www.badgley.com

6. Brighton Jones

Brighton Jones is a nationally-recognized wealth management firm founded in 2000 with a vision of empowering individuals to live richer lives.

At Brighton Jones, the team takes a Personal CFO approach to wealth management, collaborating across the clients’ balance sheets to build and implement a holistic plan that aligns their wealth, passions, and purpose.

In addition to the investment philosophy, Brighton Jones offers a suite of programs designed to help clients network, volunteer, learn, and share their passions in life. It understands that individual financial decisions impact the clients’ big-picture goals, and its in-house experts work together to build a plan that supports their unique aspirations.

Brighton Jones
2030 1st Avenue, 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206.258.5000
www.brightonjones.com

7. Baird Private Wealth Management

Baird Private Wealth Management is a trusted provider of wealth management services with a legacy of over 100 years. With a focus on putting its clients first, the company has built a reputation as a reliable, long-term investment partner.

Baird Private Wealth Management is deeply committed to helping its clients achieve their financial goals as an independent, employee-owned firm. Its approach is designed to be personal and collaborative, putting clients at the center of all business and aligning its core interests with its clients.

At Baird Private Wealth Management, it is about creating a plan for the life the clients want, both now and in the future. Its experts work closely with clients to understand their unique circumstances, identify their dreams and goals, and help them build customized plans tailored to their needs and risk tolerance.

Baird Private Wealth Management
925 Fourth Avenue Suite 3600
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 664-8850
www.seattle.bairdwealth.com

8. BBJS Financial Advisors, LLC

BBJS Financial Advisors, LLC is a trusted financial planning and wealth management firm that offers a client-centered approach to help individuals achieve their financial goals. The firm is a subsidiary of Bancroft Buckley Johnston & Serres LLP (BBJS LLP), a well-established CPA firm that offers a wide range of tax and attestation services.

This strategic partnership allows BBJS Financial Advisors, LLC to provide a seamless and comprehensive approach to financial planning that considers the impact of taxes on investment decisions.

BBJS Financial Advisors LLC offers a broad range of services: investment management, investment portfolio review, retirement planning, college education funding, mortgage review, tax planning, compliance, insurance planning, estate planning, and stock options/shares planning.

BBJS Financial Advisors, LLC
1501 Fourth Avenue Suite 2880
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 682-4840
www.bbjsadvisors.com

9. Laird Norton Wealth Management

Laird Norton Wealth Management offers a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the clients’ evolving needs. Its investment management services are tailored to each individual and family, with portfolios constructed using a unique blend of traditional and alternative investments.

Laird Norton Wealth Management services are designed to ensure that clients’ wealth is structured in a tax-efficient manner and that their financial goals are aligned with their investment strategies.

Whether developing a retirement plan, addressing equity compensation, or managing the distribution of assets, Laird Norton Wealth Management is dedicated to ensuring that clients’ wealth is aligned with their financial goals.

Laird Norton Wealth Management
801 Second Avenue, Suite 1600
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 464-5100
www.lairdnortonwm.com

10. Millennial Wealth, LLC

Millennial Wealth, LLC is a Seattle-based financial planning firm focused on helping Millennials across the country take control of their money and future. Founded by Millennials for the Millennials, the team understands the struggles and successes of their clients and the impact that financial planning can have the earlier it starts. With a focus on virtual financial planning, the firm is dedicated to making its services accessible to young adults everywhere.

At Millennial Wealth, LLC, the team believes that everyone has the power to control their financial future. Regardless of their current situation, clients are given the tools and guidance to make informed decisions about their money and build wealth over time. The firm offers various services, including financial planning, education, and investment management.

The team at Millennial Wealth, LLC is dedicated to upholding a standard of excellence in serving its clients. They strive to continue learning and growing as financial planners and maintain their commitment to integrity and dedication toward their clients.

Millennial Wealth, LLC
3518 Fremont Ave N,
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (509) 287-7900
www.millennialwealthllc.com

Note

The team providing this Top Ten financial advisors in Seattle list believes smart people make smart decisions because they educate themselves on the choices they are preparing to make.

We hope we’ve helped you become smarter about choosing a financial advisor that meets your unique and specific needs.

We try to provide readers with up-to-date information that will help them make those good decisions for hiring financial advisors in Seattle. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading the information we’ve provided and learned about some of the choices for Financial Advisors in the Seattle area.

No content is intended to constitute professional advice. This content is not responsible or liable for any consequences relating directly or indirectly to any action you take or fail to take based on the information provided. It is very important to do your own analysis, based on your own personal circumstances, before making any investment.

Consult with your own investment, financial, tax, and legal advisers. Readers agree to indemnify and hold harmless the providers of this information, from and against any and all liability, losses, claims, demands, disputes, damages, or costs of any kind.

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