Boutique or Institution?
Finding the Right Fit – Boutique or Financial Institution?
For many wealth owners, one of the key questions in selecting the proper wealth advisor is to decide whether you want to be a client of a smaller boutique firm that is independently owned by a group of principals that may include management, employees and/or family clients, or served by a group within a larger, comprehensive financial institution that is publicly held and has a global reach, but also has products to sell you as a part of their process. Both ownership structures have their advantages and disadvantages relating to sustainability, ability to attract and retain talent, client service delivery model, resources available, and objectivity. These factors must be weighed based on your needs and preferences.
Your preference regarding this issue will send you down one of two paths, as shown in the chart below, which is a sample of both boutique and institutional firms meeting the criteria required to be in the FOX Leading Wealth Advisors Directory.
| Boutiques (Managment Contolled) | Wholly or Partially Owned by a Financial Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Argos Partners, LLC | Pathstone Family Office | Abbot Downing (Wells Fargo) |
| Arlington Partners | Pitcairn | Atlantic Trust PWM (Invesco) |
| Ballentine Partners, LLC | Sand Aire Ltd. | Convergent Wealth Advisors (City National Bank) |
| Covenant Multi Family Offices, LLC | SCS Financial Services, LLC | Credit Suisse Family Wealth Management |
| Glenmede Trust, N.A. | Silver Bridge Advisors | Fiduciary Trust International |
| Highmount Capital Global Wealth Management | Silvercrest Asset Management Group, LLC | GenSpring Family Offices (Sun Trust Bank) |
| Kerr Financial | Threshold Group | Harris myCFO (BMO) |
| Lau Associates, LLC | Tolleson Wealth Management | Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth |
| Manchester Capital Management, LLC | Vogel Consulting | Mirador Family Wealth Advisors (Fifth Third Bank) |
| Massey Quick & Co., LLC | Wealth Strategist Partners LLC | Rockefeller Financial (Société Générale) |
When you have $20 million U.S. or more, you need a team of trained professionals who are paid to look out for your best interests to help you manage all of the moving parts in a coordinated manner. The Leading Wealth Advisors Directory is an important tool to help you navigate the ever-changing wealth management landscape and find integrated wealth management solutions.