BEST PLACES TO WORK FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORS (2020-2021): Best Companies Group (“BCG”) is an independent research firm and manages Best Places to Work for Financial Advisors. To enter the process, candidates must meet certain criteria. The process includes two (2) surveys to gather detailed data for each participating company. BCG conducts the surveys, analyzes the data, and determines the winners and rankings. Employees of the participating companies offer honest feedback. All participating companies pay a fee to be considered for this award. To view full criteria and rules which the award is based on, you can visit: https://www.inbestplacestowork.com/process.
Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms (2020-2021): Cerity Partners completed a 102-question survey about our practice and submitted it to Barron’s. Cerity Partners did not pay a fee to participate or to become ranked. Barron’s verified the data with the advisors’ firms and with regulatory databases applying their rankings formula to the data to generate a ranking. For the information concerning Barron’s complete ranking process, please go to https://www.barrons.com/articles/barrons-methodology-for-ranking-financial-advisors-51615843316. Cerity Partners does not pay or required to pay Barron’s any fee or other compensation for this ranking.
The rankings are not a recommendation of Cerity Partners, reflection of performance, or a testimonial based on any of Cerity Partners clients’ experiences. Investors should do independent research regarding an Adviser including reviewing the Adviser’s Form ADV Part I, Part 2(a), and Form CRS (collectively “Disclosure Brochures”) for information concerning an Adviser’s fees, conflicts of interests, and services offered. To view Cerity Partners Disclosure Brochures, please visit www.advisrinfo.sec.gov or contact a Cerity Partners representative for your free copies.
FT Top 300 Registered Investment Advisers: The 2015-2020 Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers is an independent listing produced by the Financial Times (July 2020). The FT 300 is based on data gathered from RIA firms, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflected each practice’s performance in six primary areas: assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and online accessibility. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the practice’s future performance. Neither the RIA firms nor their employees pay a fee to The Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 300.
NAPA Top DC Multi-Office Advisor Team (2019-2020): The National Association of Plan Advisors (“NAPA”) is a subset of the American Retirement Association. The award is given to all firms with more than one office/physical location, and with more than $1 billion in defined contribution plan assets under advisement. Receipt of a NAPA Top DC Multi-Office Advisor Team award is not necessarily indicative of any particular client’s experience or a guarantee that the firm will perform in the future as it did during the period evaluated by NAPA. Neither the adviser firms nor their employees pay a fee to National Association of Plan Advisors in exchange for consideration or selection of the award.
Top Retirement Plan Advisors Under 40: The National Association of Plan Advisors (“NAPA”) is a subset of the American Retirement Association. Established in 2014, this list – unofficially, “young guns” – this year has been rebranded as “Aces”. Selection for this award is based on applications received from nominees designated by NAPA Broker-Dealer/RIA Firm Partners. Those applications are vetted by a blue ribbon panel of senior advisor industry experts based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data submitted by the nominees, as well as a broker-check review. There were over 600 nominations for this award (a 20% increase from a year ago), and of those, 100 were selected as winners. 2020 NAPA Aces: Top Retirement Plan Advisors Under 40 award is not necessarily indicative of any particular client’s experience or a guarantee that the advisor will perform in the future as it did during the period evaluated by NAPA. Neither the adviser firms nor their employees pay a fee to the National Association of Plan Advisors in exchange for consideration or selection of the award.
March 2018 401k Specialist Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes: A survey to determine the outcome of this award is conducted by 401k Specialist Magazine. Candidates are nominated by industry peers and the nomination is open to all industry professionals in the field. The nominees must submit answers to questions regarding criteria such as methods of plan analysis, plan goals and objectives, and managing participant involvement and progress. A panel of experts from 401k Specialist Magazine then chooses a winner for each month, and then from the twelve monthly winners, an overall winner for the year. Nomination or receipt of a Monthly 401k Specialist Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes award is not necessarily indicative of any particular client’s experience or a guarantee that the firm will perform in the future as it did during the period evaluated by 401k Specialist Magazine.
PLANADVISER Top 100 Adviser: The advisers listed are taken from entries for the 2020 PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser and Adviser Team of the Year awards. To enter the awards process, nominees must complete a form providing various details of their practice. The PLANADVISER Top 100 is based solely on quantitative factors. Advisors who are current PLANSPONSOR Retirement Professional designees receive an automatic nomination. Past performance is not indicative of future results and inclusion on this list is not representative of any one client’s experience with an Adviser.
The Worth Leading Wealth Advisor Program: All firms and advisors featured in the Worth Leading Wealth Advisors Program have submitted comprehensive questionnaires that Worth magazine used to evaluate their credentials, disciplinary history and business practices. The advisors included in the Worth Leading Wealth Advisors Program contribute toward the production cost of Worth magazine. Worth magazine utilizes services provided by Paladin Advisor Research in its review of the professionals featured in the Worth Leading Advisors Program. Paladin is an information services website that researches financial professionals for investors.
The Worth Leading Wealth Advisor admittance process is based on, but not limited to, the Advisor’s experience, education, certifications, fiduciary status, compliance record, wealth management services, methods of compensation and scope of current business. Worth does not represent that the financial professionals profiled in its magazine will produce superior results compared to professionals who are not profiled in the magazine and does not make any guarantees about one client’s experience. Financial professionals profiled in the magazine are not endorsed or recommended by Worth.
Crain’s 2019 Notable Women in Banking and Finance: Nominees were submitted by the public and also internally by Crain’s, and Crain’s selected honorees at its sole discretion. The selection criteria included a review of professional achievements, recent press, past awards, civic and philanthropic work, and involvement in organizations (inside or outside their firm) where they mentor other women. Crain’s searched for honorees covering a diverse spectrum of ethnicities, from both big and small firms, and, where possible, from different regions of the New York City metro area. Crain’s did not choose more than three honorees from any given firm. This award is not necessarily indicative of any particular client’s experience or a guarantee that the firm will perform in the future as it did during the period evaluated by Crain’s.
Forbes Top 100 Wealth Managers: The Top 100 Wealth Manager list was compiled using data from RIA database. Candidate firms qualify based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria and are ranked by assets under management for year-end 2014, reported as of March 31, 2015. Members of the list must have managed at least 50% of their assets on behalf of retail clients, cannot run a broker-dealer (they can be affiliated with one), cannot be a bank (trust companies are permitted), and must be performing wealth management services. Firms cannot have had any regulatory, civil or criminal disclosures. Selection as a Forbes Top 100 Wealth Manager is not necessarily indicative of any particular client’s experience or a guarantee that the firm will perform in the future as it did during the period evaluated by Forbes.
2020 Best Marketing or PR Campaign by ClearView Financial Media: The companies listed are taken from eligible applications. To enter the process, applicants must meet certain criteria. The winners in each category are picked by a panel of independent judges based on the materials submitted by the adviser. Neither the adviser firms nor their employees pay a fee to ClearView Financial Media in exchange for consideration or selection of the award. Selection for this is award is not based on any client testimonials, and should not be construed as indicative of any particular client’s experience or a guarantee that the advisor will perform in the future as it did during the award period. To view the full criteria and rules of which the award is based on you can visit: https://clearviewpublishing.com/clearview-awards-business-terms-and-conditions/.
Five Star Wealth Manager Award (2013-2020): Nominees are identified by one of three sources: firm nomination, peer nomination, or pre-qualification. Pre-qualification for the award is identified using internal and external data sources to determine relevant and high-potential candidates who meet certain attributes such as years in industry, fiduciary status and assets administered. Candidates license status and disciplinary history are noted and their regulatory history is reviewed. Five Star Professional conducts a review of each candidate or relies on FINRA BrokerCheck Report, SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website or the firm’s Form ADV. Additionally, Five Star Professional promotes, via local advertising and through their website, the opportunity to submit feedback — including whether a consumer had an unsatisfactory experience — regarding a wealth manager. Nominees who pass review become Candidates and must attest to criteria listed above and must submit information about themselves and their practice. Candidates are required to certify all information provided is correct. Candidates must satisfy ten (10) objective eligibility and evaluation criteria associated with providing quality services to their clients to receive the Five Star Wealth Management award. Neither the adviser firms nor their employees pay a fee to Five Star Professional in exchange for consideration or selection of the award. For complete information regarding the Five Star Wealth Manager Award, you can visit: https://fivestarprofessional.com/ref/research/WM_ResearchMethodology.pdf.