The business news organization CNBC published its eighth annual Financial Advisor 100 list on Oct. 8, 2026, a ranking of registered investment advisor (RIA) firms in the United States. The list named Howland Capital Management, based in Boston, as the top-ranked firm for the year.
The ranking was compiled in partnership with AccuPoint Solutions, a wealth management data and research firm. According to CNBC, the process began with an initial list of 41,578 RIA firms from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s database. This list was narrowed to 1,015 firms that met the initial criteria.
Finalists were then surveyed to confirm details about their practices. AccuPoint Solutions applied CNBC’s proprietary weighted criteria to rank the qualifying firms. The methodology considered several factors, including:
The firm’s regulatory and compliance record
The number of years in business
Total assets under management
The number of investment advisors employed
The ratio of advisors to total employees
CNBC stated that firms do not apply or pay to be considered for the list and that it receives no compensation for including an advisory firm in the ranking.
The 100 firms on the 2026 list collectively manage $329.7 billion in assets, according to data provided in the report. The firms have been in business for an average of 35 years.
Following Howland Capital Management, the firms ranked in the top five are Heritage Investment Group, Beaird Harris Wealth Management, ZWJ Investment Counsel, and Wingate Wealth Advisors.
In its announcement, CNBC described the list as a resource for consumers but noted that a firm’s placement in the ranking does not constitute an individual endorsement. The complete list of 100 firms and additional details on the methodology were made available on the organization’s website.
