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The 7 Best Financial Advisors in Virginia (2023 UPDATE!)
Our focus at Covenant Wealth Advisors is on providing tailored retirement planning, investment management, and tax planning services to clients over the age of 50 who have saved $1 million or more.
However, we understand that while we are great fit for those who fit the above description, we may not be the best fit for others - therefore, this post celebrates other experienced financial advisors in Richmond VA, Northern VA, and Virginia Beach who offer a wide range of high-caliber services.
Are you looking for the best financial advisor Virginia has to offer in 2022?
We’ve got you covered! This comprehensive guide features a carefully-curated list of the top professionals, plus an amazing free resource that helps retirement savers find qualified advisors. Get ready – it's time to get serious about your finances with one of these savvy and knowledgeable experts!
Before you dive into your reading adventure, why not grab these awesome free resources? Get them now and make the most out of your experience!
While I am passionate about assisting people in Virginia retire with confidence by ensuring they pay the lowest taxes, optimize their investments, and create a steady stream of income for retirement; not everyone is a good fit.
Sometimes, there will be times when my firm may not have the exact expertise needed for an individual's needs.
A young physician may need help to reduce student loans while a military family may need help understanding the complexity of military retirement benefits.
In these cases and others, rather than offer subpar service that won't truly meet one's requirements- I'd prefer instead to recommend other qualified advisors located across Virginia so they can get precisely what they need!
Just like you wouldn’t see an Ophthalmologist for brain surgery – nor would you want to work with a financial advisor who doesn't specialize in your particular situation.
That's why this list of the best financial advisors in Virginia will be helpful to you.
How I Know Some of the Top Financial Planners in Virginia
With two decades worth of experience under my belt, I've had the honor of building relationships with an abundance of financial planners all over Virginia (and the United States).
Whether it was at a professional gathering or through the many years I spent training financial advisors on investment strategy and practice management.
Each connection has been invaluable to me and continues to help shape my career today.
For Example:
Being a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Planners (NAPFA) or attending financial planning conferences.
Working in a leadership position for Buckingham Strategic Partners (Formerly Loring Ward)
Speaking at dozens of financial advisor conferences across the country
Let me introduce you to a few of the leading financial minds across Virginia that are working hard every day to ensure their clients' success. I believe that these professionals have mastered the art of personal finance, and I'm excited to provide some insight into who they are and what they offer.
THE 7 BEST VIRGINIA FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO CONSIDER IN 2023
Here is the list of the best financial advisors in Virginia. Please keep in mind that this is just my personal opinion and should not be considered a testimonial or endorsement of any particular advisor.
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISORS IN NORTHERN VA
Miye Wire, Miye Wire LLC – Reston, VA
Miye's mission is to simplify your financial life. No matter the financial issue, she wants to be your go-to resource! Miye's team prides itself on creating long-term relationships with their clients built upon trust and open communication. She can provide support in a wide range of areas including college funding, investing, risk management and more - assisting even if it falls outside of her specialty by connecting you with qualified pros who have expertise in that field.
Specialty: Helping Microsoft employees with all aspects of their financial life.
Matt Brennan, Acorn Financial - Reston, VA
Matt is a proudly certified CFP® professional and has been offering financial planning advice since 2003. He joined the Acorn team in 2014, following experiences at Dominion Wealth Management Inc., Legacy Advisors LLC (now Spire Investment Partners). Matt graduated from the College of William & Mary with dual majors in Economics & Government back in 2003. Originally hailing from Massachusetts' North Shore, he now lives Ashburn with his wife Allison and two sons Andrew and Connor - all three die-hard sports fans!
Assaf Pinchas, Allegiance Financial - Vienna, VA
Assaf is a seasoned financial professional dedicated to assisting his clients in achieving their desired outcomes. He listens intently, carefully assessing and understanding what matters most to them before coordinating any necessary steps toward reaching these goals. With more than twenty-five years of experience, Assaf's expertise includes holding the Certified Financial Planner™ certification and being an active member of the Financial Planning Association - powered by his Bachelor’s degree from McIntire School of Commerce at University Virginia. Along with Shawn Williamson, he co-founded Allegiance Financial Group LLC back in 2001!
Specialty: Working with Israeli investors now living in the United States
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISORS IN RICHMOND, VA
Wendell Fuller, Fuller Wealth Advisors - Richmond, VA
Wendell brings a wealth of diverse knowledge to the table when it comes financial management. From portfolio design and allocation, managing concentrated equity positions & stock options to orchestrating investment strategies for addressing tax planning issues - his expertise is unparalleled! He also understands how cash flow and retirement planning can affect you in real ways coupled with budget-friendly education funding plans that suit your needs plus meaningful philanthropic gifting advice. On top of all this, Wendell's mastery extends into business development as well as guiding clients through life event decisions like acquiring properties or making other big purchases.
Specialty: College education planning and acquiring properties
Lauren Zangardi Haynes, Spark Financial Advisors - Richmond, VA
As income and wealth increase, money management becomes more complex. To make the most of financial opportunities while avoiding costly mistakes, it helps to have a reliable plan in place. It was this insight that inspired Lauren over 17 years ago to launch Spark Financial Advisors with an emphasis on combining thoughtful planning methods with sophisticated investment strategies for business owners looking at life’s big picture – not just their bottom line. When Lauren is done crunching numbers or attending conferences you can find her exploring new locales through travel, tending her garden or baking delicious treats!
Specialty: Advising business owners
Andrew Belasco, College Transitions - Richmond, VA
College Transitions is a distinguished admissions consulting provider that stands out among its peers. Andrew's team of counselors, academics, and former admission officers are dedicated to helping students take their college application journey one step further by providing them with a competitive edge during the process. Drawing from their quantitative background as well as an extensive professional network in higher education over the past decade alone they have helped thousands gain entry into hundreds of top-tier colleges across America - and beyond!
Specialty: College admissions
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISORS IN VIRGINIA BEACH
Paul D. Allen, Redeployment Wealth Strategies, Virginia Beach, VA
After decades of service in the US Navy, Paul and Sean retired to find their own way. After a few attempts at different paths, they each founded independent financial advising firms - unknowingly beginning down similar roads that would eventually lead them to unite as one. By 2017 it was clear: their unique interplay made for perfect synergy; Redeployment Wealth Strategies came into being in 2018 with tremendous success since then! The team's dedication is inspiring as we continue to serve clients alongside propelling this firm forward through skilled talent and hard work.
Specialty: Advising military families
HOW COVENANT WEALTH ADVISORS IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FINANCIAL PLANNERS IN RICHMOND VA
Covenant Wealth Advisors sets itself apart from other firms you may be considering with three key distinctions that you should consider.
We specialize in empowering those over the age of 50 to plan for their retirement. With expert guidance and support from our knowledgeable team, you can have confidence that your retirement planning is in not just good, but great hands.
We put the utmost importance on tax planning so our clients can enjoy their retirement years with greater peace of mind and fewer taxes to worry about. Surprisingly, many retirees find that they pay higher taxes than when they were in full-time employment!
Our focus is on quality, not quantity. We're proud to keep our client-to-advisor ratio at 50:1 or better so we can provide the highest level of service and personalized advice possible - all with a view towards maximum benefits for you!
If you're considering retirement and trying to determine the best plan for your situation, it might be worth exploring our One-Time Retirement and Tax Plan - an approach tailored to meet individual needs.
WHAT DO THE BEST FINANCIAL ADVISORS HAVE IN COMMON?
Most are fee-only. Fee-only means they don't receive commissions or third-party payments from product companies.
They serve as fiduciaries. This means that they are required by law to always put your interests ahead of their own.
They are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals. The CFP® designation is arguably the gold standard for financial advisor professional designations.
Finding the right financial advisor can be daunting, but it's an essential step in achieving your financial goals. To help ensure that you find the best financial advisor for you, we suggest doing research beyond this article to discover a qualified advisor in Richmond VA, Northern Virginia, or Virginia Beach who meets all of your needs. Don't forget: Investing some extra effort up-front pays off long term!
WHAT ARE THE BEST QUESTIONS TO ASK A FINANCIAL ADVISOR?
So, what's the best way to get started with finding a financial advisor? Start by identifying three advisors who fit your criteria and schedule an intro call. During that call be sure to ask them a lot of questions.
We've written an extensive article on the best questions to ask a financial advisor before you hire. You can also download our comprehensive list of 25 questions to ask a financial advisor here. It's a great resource.
Here are my top three favorite questions in case you just want to save time:
How are you compensated? While there are advisors on this list who can receive commission payouts from product companies, generally we recommend that you engage with an advisor who is either fee-only, or commit to only charging fees rather than receiving commissions for product sales. This helps reduce conflicts of interest.
What do you specialize in? It's important to find an advisor who has experience working with people just like you. Your advice will be better and the experience will be too.
How old are you and how much experience do you have? For example, a lot of clients hire us because we have decades of experience, but we are also middle-aged (in our 40s) and thus will still be around (god willing) to help our clients to and through retirement. We're not going to retire when they do!
Well, that's it. I hope you enjoyed our summary of the best financial advisors in Virginia.
If you are aged 50 plus with over $1 million in retirement savings and investments, and you are concerned about retirement, it's possible we could be a good fit.
Request a free, one-time retirement plan here to help us learn more about each other.
Disclosure: Covenant Wealth Advisors does not endorse any financial advisor outside of Covenant Wealth Advisors. This article is for information purposes only. Covenant is a registered investment advisor with offices in Richmond and Williamsburg, VA. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. The views and opinions expressed in this content are as of the date of the posting, are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This content contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Please note that nothing in this content should be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in any security or separate account. Nothing is intended to be, and you should not consider anything to be, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. If you would like accounting, tax, or legal advice, you should consult with your own accountants or attorneys regarding your individual circumstances and needs. No advice may be rendered by Covenant Wealth Advisors unless a client service agreement is in place. Hypothetical examples are fictitious and are only used to illustrate a specific point of view. Diversification does not guarantee against risk of loss. While this guide attempts to be as comprehensive as possible but no article can cover all aspects of retirement planning. Be sure to consult an advisor for comprehensive advice.