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 Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| SEC Form ADV Part 1 | Firm registration, AUM, clients, compensation, conflicts, discipline | Quarterly (March, June, September, December) |
| SEC Form ADV Part 2 | Fee schedules, investment approach, conflicts narrative | Annual + material changes |
| FINRA BrokerCheck | Customer complaints, arbitrations, employment history | Real-time |
| Form CRS | Client Relationship Summary (standardized disclosure) | Annual |
Red Flag Scoring Methodology
Every firm starts at a baseline score of 100 (perfectly clean). Deductions are applied for each risk factor identified in their regulatory filings:
| Risk Factor | Deduction | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Disciplinary event | -15 each | SEC/FINRA/state action indicates regulatory concerns |
| Customer complaint | -10 each | Complaints filed with regulators suggest client dissatisfaction |
| Broker-dealer affiliation | -5 | Creates potential commission conflicts |
| Custody of client assets | -5 | Higher risk if firm controls asset access |
| Fees above 90th percentile | -5 | Outlier pricing may indicate excessive charges |
| Insurance licensed | -3 | May incentivize recommending insurance/annuity products |
Score Interpretation
- 🟢 85–100 (Clean) — No significant risk factors. Clean regulatory record.
- 🟡 65–84 (Some Concerns) — One or more mild risk factors. Worth investigating further.
- 🔴 0–64 (Multiple Red Flags) — Significant regulatory concerns. Proceed with caution.
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 one has filed a formal complaint.
- Fee data reflects what firms disclose. Actual fees may vary based on negotiation and account specifics.
- We currently cover SEC-registered advisors only (firms managing $100M+ in assets). State-registered advisors may not appear.
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.