Top Wealth Managers 2012: About This Year's Survey

This is the 12^th year that Investment Advisor and AdvisorOne.com (and their predecessor publications, notably Wealth Manager magazine) have surveyed wealth managers across the U.S., creating from the survey the Top Wealth Managers list and ranking.

To qualify as one of our 100 Top Wealth Managers for 2012, wealth managers must be investment advisory firms registered with the SEC that provide wealth management services to high-net-worth individuals. Top Wealth Manager firms must also have client assets under management of at least $100 million and file a Form ADV.

In addition, this year we invited RIA firms with AUM of less than $100 million that are SEC- or state-registered to participate as well to cast a wider net on the wealth management industry and to learn more about the industry at large. Firms submitted their own data as of Dec. 31, 2011, online at AdvisorOne from May 1 through June 20, 2012.

The AdvisorOne editorial staff reviewed the submissions for accuracy and gave participants the opportunity to confirm their submissions, but have not independently confirmed that data through review of Form ADVs or other methods. Rankings by total AUM and average AUM per client of the 280 firms that participated and met these criteria can be found at AdvisorOne, along with past rankings, additional analysis and data, and full qualifying criteria.