A financial advisor can help you create a plan for your future. You need a planner you can trust, so we sifted through financial advisors in Birmingham to select the cream of the crop.
Check out our list of the best advisors in the city to get a head start on your financial journey.
Best Financial Advisors in Birmingham, Alabama Near You:
- Best for Education Resources: Meld Financial
- Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
- Best for Retirement Plan Sponsors: Kassouf Wealth Advisors
- Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
- Best for Career Planning: Edelman Financial Engines
Best for Education Resources: Meld Financial
Meld Financial is a fee-only firm that offers retirement planning, wealth management, financial planning and investment advisory services.
Meld Financial’s 90-minute initial consultation allows your financial planner to formulate your Financial Fingerprint. Your Financial Fingerprint is a holistic financial plan that details your expected income, what you’ll spend and your investments until retirement. Your investment strategy aligns with this plan to achieve maximum income growth.
Meld also puts a priority on education. Meld University offers free educational courses and information through 4 schools: the School of Financial Wellness, the School of Social Security and Medicare, the School of Saving and Investing and the School of Employer Plans.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Educational seminars/workshops
- SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE CONSULTING, INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING AND FINANCIAL WELLNESS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Address
3008 PUMP HOUSE RD. BIRMINGHAM AL, 35243
Phone number
205-967-4200
- Customizable Auto Investing
Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
M1 Finance is a robo-investment advisor that leaves the strategy in your hands. The service offers the convenience of automatic trading and portfolio balancing and individual control over your financial goals.
An M1 Basic account has no management fees and a $100 account minimum. M1 Premium is available after you reach an account balance of $25,000. Premium gives you the added benefit of an afternoon trading window so you have more command over your investments.
M1 has close to 100 portfolio mixes and allows you to customize your own portfolio with low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and individual stocks. M1 utilizes fractional shares as well.
M1 could be a great fit if you have a good handle on your personal investment philosophy but want the efficiency of a digital manager.
Best for Retirement Plan Sponsors: Kassouf Wealth Advisors, LLC
Kassouf Wealth Advisors, LLC is a fee-only firm that provides financial planning and investment management. The firm can help you prepare your portfolio for education savings and retirement or guide you through estate, insurance, and investment planning needs.
Kassouf Wealth Advisors also offers qualified plan services for institutional clients. The firm can act as the retirement plan sponsor for your business. Services include retirement account management and plan administration as well as support for legal compliance requirements.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Publication of periodicals or newsletters
Address
2101 HIGHLAND AVENUE SOUTH SUITE 650BIRMINGHAM AL, 35205-4022
Phone number
205-776-0100
- High Net Worth Individuals
Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
Look no further than Personal Capital if you’re ready to digitize your investment management. This robo-advisor requires a $100,000 account minimum for its wealth management clients.
However, anybody can use Personal Capital as a money tracker — it’s free! You can use this tool to manage your finances even if you’re not quite to the $100,000 mark yet.
Personal Capital is an online service, but you’ll also have access to human advisors. A minimum balance of $200,000 includes 2 financial professionals dedicated to your account. Fees range from 0.89% to 0.49% of AUM depending on your balance.
Best for Career Planning: Edelman Financial Engines
Edelman Financial Engines is an independent fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. It has more than 170 offices nationwide with 1 location in Birmingham, Alabama.
Advisory services include personal finances, family financial matters, retirement planning, and more. Career advice services can help you overcome obstacles like getting laid off or advancing your career to the next level.
The account minimum balance requirement falls between $0 and $50,000. The minimum depends on the services you choose and whether you connect with the firm personally or through a workplace program. Institutional clients need a $500,000 minimum, though that could be negotiable.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Subscription fees (for a newsletter or periodical)
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Other
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Publication of periodicals or newsletters
- Educational seminars/workshops
- GENERAL CONSULTING
Address
1050 ENTERPRISE WAY 3RD FLOORSUNNYVALE CA, 94089
Phone number
408-498-6000
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between financial planning and retirement planning?
Financial planning is a comprehensive outline for making the most of your income while you’re still in the earning phase. Retirement planning aims to implement best practices for financial security after you’re done earning income. Retirement planning usually focuses on continued income growth and tax reduction.
Can financial advisors help mitigate debt?
Yes. Debt management can be part of a comprehensive financial plan. Your advisor can recommend the best ways to tackle debt and use it to your financial benefit.
How do you evaluate a financial advisor?
There are several factors to consider when evaluating an advisor. A good advisor strives to meet your personal financial goals. You may also give weight to professional certifications and the success of client portfolios against pertinent indicators, including the average rate of return.
Find The Right Financial Planner
An expert perspective can help you make the right financial moves whether you just started accumulating income or are thinking about retirement.
Start with our recommended financial advisor firms to find the right fit today.
Methodology
To determine the top financial advisors in Birmingham, we pored through all SEC-registered advisory firms that have an office in Birmingham. We winnowed the list by only including advisors that are registered fiduciaries, have no past disclosures and have minimal personal conflicts of interest. To further break down the list to the true top advisors in the area, we gave weight to advisors that offer both investment management and planning, have no conflicts of interest, have offices in multiple states, have a wrap fee program and over $50 million in assets under management.