About AdvisorRanked
Our Mission
AdvisorRanked exists to bring transparency to the financial advisory industry. We believe consumers deserve to make informed decisions about who manages their money — backed by real regulatory data, not marketing.
How We're Different
- •We don't accept payment from advisors. Our rankings are based entirely on public regulatory data.
- •We use government-mandated disclosures. Every data point comes from SEC Form ADV filings and FINRA BrokerCheck — not self-reported profiles.
- •We provide context. Knowing an advisor charges 1.2% means nothing unless you know the median is 0.85% in your city.
Data Sources
| Source | What We Get | Update |
|---|---|---|
| SEC Form ADV Part 1 | Firm registration, AUM, clients, compensation, conflicts, discipline | Quarterly |
| SEC Form ADV Part 2 | Fee schedules, investment approach, conflicts narrative | Annual |
| FINRA BrokerCheck | Customer complaints, arbitrations, employment history | Real-time |
| Form CRS | Client Relationship Summary (standardized disclosure) | Annual |
Trust Score Methodology
Our Trust Score (0–100) evaluates each firm based on publicly disclosed regulatory data. Firms earn points for positive signals and lose points for risk factors:
Positive Factors
- • Years in business (established track record)
- • Client base size (market trust)
- • Fiduciary registration (legal duty to clients)
- • Fee-only compensation (fewer conflicts)
- • Assets under management (scale and stability)
Risk Factor Deductions
- • Disciplinary events (SEC/FINRA/state actions)
- • Customer complaints filed with regulators
- • Broker-dealer affiliation (commission conflicts)
- • Custody of client assets (higher operational risk)
- • Fees above 90th percentile for area
Score Tiers
88-100: Top Rated (~14% of firms) 75-87: Established (~46% of firms) 65-74: Verified (~34% of firms)
Limitations
- • We rank firms, not individual advisors. A large firm may have excellent advisors alongside problematic ones.
- • A clean regulatory record doesn't guarantee good advice. It means no formal complaints have been filed.
- • Fee data reflects what firms disclose. Actual fees may vary based on negotiation.
- • We currently cover SEC-registered advisors only (firms managing $100M+ in assets).
Not Financial Advice
AdvisorRanked is an informational tool. We do not provide personalized financial advice, recommend specific advisors, or guarantee the accuracy of regulatory filings. Always conduct your own due diligence before hiring a financial professional.
Contact
Questions or feedback? Reach us at support@weblabra.com.