Despite its relatively small population of 250,000 people, Madison, Wisconsin is a hub of economic activity. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is consistently ranked as 1 of the best economic programs in the country, and it drives the city’s money-focused culture.
Financial advisors in the city don't fall short of this standard. Find your match with Benzinga’s list of the best financial advisors in Madison, Wisconsin.
Best Independent Financial Advisor: RMR Wealth Advisors
RMR Wealth Advisors offers holistic, customized wealth management that can be comprehensive or focused on a singular goal like retirement. This firm’s overall goal is to grow and protect your wealth with custom-fit, goal-driven strategy.
The fee-only firm offers the following advisory services:
- Comprehensive financial planning
- Portfolio and cash flow management
- Financial coaching, planning and specific analysis
- Investment manager search and monitoring
- Retirement plan consulting
- Family office services
As your fiduciary, the firm is obligated to act in your best interest. Advisors don’t receive commission for selling specific products, so you’ll receive advice unclouded by bias and conflicts of interest.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
Address
400 INTERLAKE DRIVE SUITE 200MADISON WI, 53716-3808
Phone number
608-663-7676
- Customizable Auto Investing
Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
Want the convenience of a robo-advisor without losing control of the strategy? M1 Finance is a digital investment manager that leaves you to helm your goals and strategy.
You’ll select your investing schedule and allow dynamic rebalancing to handle your portfolio.
There are more than 80 expertly-designed portfolio mixes to choose from. Or customize your own portfolio with low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and individual stocks. M1 utilizes fractional shares as well.
M1 Basic is free and requires an $100 minimum account balance. If you’d like to invest more, M1 Plus offers the choice between morning and afternoon trading windows and costs $125 annually. If you have at least $25,000 invested, you can utilize both windows.
Although M1 doesn’t offer financial planning, you can start shaping your long-term wealth building plan.
Best for Asset Allocation: Mendota Financial Group
Mendota Financial Group is a fee-only firm that offers ongoing wealth management, 1-time financial consulting, asset allocation and financial education.
Asset allocation refers to the strategy of balancing your portfolio by investing in the asset classes of cash, fixed income and equities.
Your Mendota Financial Group advisor will adjust the portion of your investments allocated to these asset classes in response to a variance of factors. These may include risk tolerance, financial goals, your investment time horizon and your assets as whole, including those not under management.
This strategy balances risk and reward to best meet your financial goals.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
Address
634 WEST MAIN STREET SUITE 302MADISON WI, 53703
Phone number
(608) 223-9211
Best for Long-Term Wealth Management: John F. Suby Wealth Management
John F. Suby Wealth Management is a firm that believes building lasting, familiar relationships with clients is crucial to successful wealth management.
Its wealth management services are comprehensive and holistic. The following services are offered:
- Investment management and monitoring
- Retirement planning
- Estate plan review
- Financial statement review
Other services like accounting are available with John. F Suby’s parent company — The Suby Group.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
Address
2901 WEST BELTLINE HWY SUITE 201MADISON WI, 53713
Phone number
608-273-3100
- High Net Worth Individuals
Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
Personal Capital offers wealth management services if you have at least $100,000 in assets. If you’re not quite there yet, you may still use Personal Capital’s free suite of financial tools to gain financial literacy and start building your wealth.
Personal Capital’s advisory services include comprehensive financial planning and investment management. If your accounts fall between $100,000 and $200,000, you’re eligible for investment management by a team of expert human advisors.
Once your account reaches $200,000 to $1 million, comprehensive financial planning is available. At this tier, you’ll develop a relationship with 2 financial advisors dedicated to your account.
Wealth investment management fees range from 0.89% to 0.49%. Your rate depends on the size of your balance.
- Comparing Advisors
Best for Finding Custom Financial Advisors: SmartAsset
Find the right financial advisor to prepare for your future with SmartAsset. SmartAsset's online platform connects investors, soon-to-be-retirees and retirees with financial advisors from across the country.
As the 1st comprehensive solution for easily and securely pairing investors with financial advisors, SmartAsset can help you find an advisor based on your location, assets and personal preferences.
Answer a brief survey regarding your preparedness for retirement, investment style and contact information. Then SmartAsset’s algorithm can match you with the best financial advisor for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can financial advisors help mitigate debt?
A: Yes. Talk to your advisor about debt management if that’s a financial goal. Your advisor can’t directly handle debts for you, but they can advise you on best practices for your specific situation.
Q: What's the difference between financial planning and retirement planning?
A: A comprehensive financial plan often includes retirement planning as a segment. Retirement planning can also be a standalone service. Retirement planning capitalizes on the income you earn throughout your working years to ensure financial security throughout the span of your lifetime. Financial planning can be modular or comprehensive to grow your wealth as much as possible while you’re earning income.
Q: Which certifications should my financial planner have?
A: A planner should be a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®). A CFP is the most comprehensive certification. CPAs specialize in accounting and tax planning. CFA expertise lies in investment and financial analysis.
Find a Financial Advisor
Whether you’re just beginning your professional career or nearing its end, a good financial advisor can do wonders for your financial map. The guidance of an expert can help you identify your financial goals and the best way to meet them. Many advisors offer free 1st time consultations. Get in touch today to start making the most of your income.
Methodology
To determine the top financial advisors in Madison, Wisconsin, we pored through all SEC-registered advisory firms who have an office in Madison, Wisconsin. To winnow down the list we only included advisors who were registered fiduciaries, had 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 offered both investment management and planning, had no conflicts of interest, had offices in multiple states, have a wrap fee program and have over $50 million in assets under management.