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Independent RIAs in North Carolina

As of October 2, 2026, 608 independent wealth management RIAs based in North Carolina reported $134.3 billion in regulatory assets under management; the largest by assets was Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, with $17.2 billion.

Include wirehouses and broker-dealer firms

Independent wealth management RIAs
608
SEC-registered
216
State-registered
392
Regulatory assets under management
$134.3 billion
Client accounts
288,627
Median firm size
$60.8 million
Broker-dealer affiliated firms, not included
25, with $94.2 billion

North Carolina has not adopted IAR continuing education. Status from NASAA's IAR CE map, checked October 5, 2026. IAR CE in North Carolina.

Top firms in North Carolina

Largest independent RIAs by assets under management

Rank Firm City RAUM
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte $17.2 billion
2 Bragg Financial Advisors Inc Charlotte $4.7 billion
3 Salem Investment Counselors Inc Winston Salem $4.2 billion
4 Biltmore Family Office, LLC Charlotte $3.5 billion
5 Colony Family Offices, LLC Charlotte $3.4 billion
6 Smith Salley Wealth Management Greensboro $2.9 billion
7 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh $2.7 billion
8 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius $2.5 billion
9 Cornerstone Wealth Huntersville $2.5 billion
10 Novare Capital Management Charlotte $1.9 billion

Top 100 in North Carolina

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over one year

Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Strathmore Capital Advisors Charlotte 76.6% $455.9 million
2 Sapere Wealth Management, LLC Matthews 74.7% $346.2 million
3 Colton Groome Financial Advisors, LLC Asheville 63.3% $444.0 million
4 Crown Wealth Group LLC Charlotte 58.7% $316.5 million
5 Strategic Advisory Partners Greensboro 54.1% $124.3 million
6 Integrated Wealthcare, LLC Durham 50.6% $144.9 million
7 Beacon Capital Advisory Group Charlotte 47.3% $151.7 million
8 Blue Financial Charlotte 44.5% $100.4 million
9 Lifeplan Group Raleigh 36.6% $238.6 million
10 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius 35.6% $1.8 billion

Top 100 in North Carolina

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over three years

Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Tilia Fiduciary Partners, Inc. Wilmington 41.7% $141.9 million
2 Tradewinds, LLC Raleigh 39.6% $242.5 million
3 Colton Groome Financial Advisors, LLC Asheville 36.9% $282.3 million
4 Verum Partners LLC Charlotte 36.5% $398.9 million
5 Crown Wealth Group LLC Charlotte 35.1% $203.7 million
6 Family Wealth Partners, LLC Matthews 35.0% $159.4 million
7 Lifeplan Group Raleigh 34.9% $132.8 million
8 Strathmore Capital Advisors Charlotte 32.9% $342.7 million
9 Cornerstone Wealth Huntersville 30.5% $1.1 billion
10 Sjbenen Advisory, LLC Durham 29.7% $183.3 million

Top 100 in North Carolina

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over five years

Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh 79.0% $149.4 million
2 Crown Wealth Group LLC Charlotte 35.1% $111.5 million
3 IP Financial Advisory Services LLC Charlotte 33.2% $114.7 million
4 Verum Partners LLC Charlotte 31.2% $260.5 million
5 Colton Groome Financial Advisors, LLC Asheville 30.9% $188.9 million
6 Cornerstone Wealth Planning Charlotte 29.0% $135.9 million
7 Raleigh Capital Management Inc. Cary 27.5% $117.9 million
8 Tilia Fiduciary Partners, Inc. Wilmington 27.0% $122.0 million
9 Tagstone Capital, Inc. Charlotte 25.6% $118.2 million
10 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius 25.4% $804.6 million

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the biggest asset gains over one year

Rank Firm City Increase
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte $3.2 billion
2 Bragg Financial Advisors Inc Charlotte $766.8 million
3 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh $691.7 million
4 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius $655.0 million
5 Smith Salley Wealth Management Greensboro $549.3 million
6 Cornerstone Wealth Huntersville $378.7 million
7 Colony Family Offices, LLC Charlotte $372.9 million
8 Strathmore Capital Advisors Charlotte $349.1 million
9 Salem Investment Counselors Inc Winston Salem $343.3 million
10 Financial Symmetry Inc. Raleigh $330.0 million

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the most clients

Rank Firm City Most clients
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte 45,535
2 Planvision, LLC Fuquay-Varina 14,740
3 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius 8,553
4 Verity Asset Management Durham 5,843
5 SLP Wealth Durham 3,446
6 Cornerstone Wealth Huntersville 2,556
7 Founders Financial Alliance, LLC Raleigh 2,413
8 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh 2,262
9 IP Financial Advisory Services LLC Charlotte 2,001
10 Woodard & Co Asset Management Group Inc Bermuda Run 1,832

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the fastest client growth over one year

Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Planvision, LLC Fuquay-Varina 132.7% 6,334
2 Physicians Financial Services, Inc. Raleigh 98.2% 222
3 Strathmore Capital Advisors Charlotte 74.0% 288
4 Gragg Financial Shelby 45.3% 450
5 Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC Cary 44.4% 187
6 Colton Groome Financial Advisors, LLC Asheville 41.6% 327
7 Whitener Capital Management, Inc Rocky Mount 40.7% 605
8 Blue Financial Charlotte 37.9% 235
9 SLP Wealth Durham 37.6% 2,505
10 Peace of Mind Wealth Management Raleigh 36.0% 242

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the most accounts

Rank Firm City Most accounts
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte 45,002
2 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius 15,795
3 Verity Asset Management Durham 7,603
4 Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC Charlotte 7,111
5 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh 5,387
6 Financial Symmetry Inc. Raleigh 5,370
7 Founders Financial Alliance, LLC Raleigh 4,229
8 Smith Salley Wealth Management Greensboro 3,203
9 Salem Investment Counselors Inc Winston Salem 3,120
10 Providence Capital Advisors, LLC Charlotte 2,745

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the most advisory staff

Rank Firm City Most advisory staff
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte 247
2 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius 130
3 IP Financial Advisory Services LLC Charlotte 112
4 Verity Asset Management Durham 54
5 Cornerstone Wealth Huntersville 50
6 Founders Financial Alliance, LLC Raleigh 31
7 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh 30
8 Novare Capital Management Charlotte 18
9 Financial Transparency Greensboro 16
10 Bragg Financial Advisors Inc Charlotte 15

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the most high net worth clients

Rank Firm City Most high net worth clients
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte 15,578
2 Planvision, LLC Fuquay-Varina 5,100
3 Bragg Financial Advisors Inc Charlotte 743
4 Founders Financial Alliance, LLC Raleigh 711
5 Smith Salley Wealth Management Greensboro 683
6 Colony Family Offices, LLC Charlotte 631
7 Salem Investment Counselors Inc Winston Salem 601
8 Financial Symmetry Inc. Raleigh 546
9 Phoenix Wealth Advisors Inc. Chapel Hill 545
10 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh 474

Top 100 in North Carolina

Independent RIAs with the most CFP professionals

Rank Firm City Most CFP professionals
1 Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC Charlotte 73
2 Financial Symmetry Inc. Raleigh 14
3 Cornerstone Wealth Huntersville 13
3 Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC Raleigh 13
5 Alphastar Capital Management Cornelius 12
6 Bragg Financial Advisors Inc Charlotte 10
6 Novare Capital Management Charlotte 10
8 Smith Salley Wealth Management Greensboro 9
8 Hilltop Wealth Advisors, LLC Chapel Hill 9
10 Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC Charlotte 8

Top 100 in North Carolina

Newest independent RIAs

Rank Firm City Amount
1 Mauney-Pitt Financial Management, Inc. Shelby $418.0 million
2 Gibert Wealth Management Charlotte $316.0 million
3 Oak Harbor Wealth Partners Raleigh $288.4 million
4 Safebridge LLC Denver $205.3 million
5 BSG Advisers Apex $134.8 million
6 Kucharo Wealth Charlotte $123.7 million
7 Tolley Financial Group, LLC Raleigh $121.9 million
8 West Financial Strategies, Inc. Sanford $121.0 million
9 TRG Capital Management, Inc. Raleigh $118.2 million
10 Passport Wealth Management Cornelius $115.3 million

Top 100 in North Carolina

Over time

From the SEC's yearly files: SEC-registered independent RIAs based in North Carolina, from October 2018, each snapshot classed from its own Form ADV answers.

FirmsSEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
0100200300201820202021202320242026216October 1, 2018: 122October 1, 2019: 123October 1, 2020: 132October 4, 2021: 147October 3, 2022: 158October 5, 2023: 155October 1, 2024: 164September 2, 2025: 174October 2, 2026: 216
Data table
As ofFirms
October 1, 2018122
October 1, 2019123
October 1, 2020132
October 4, 2021147
October 3, 2022158
October 5, 2023155
October 1, 2024164
September 2, 2025174
October 2, 2026216
Regulatory assets under managementSEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
$0$50B$100B$150B201820202021202320242026$125BOctober 1, 2018: $73.4 billionOctober 1, 2019: $75.6 billionOctober 1, 2020: $88.7 billionOctober 4, 2021: $70.0 billionOctober 3, 2022: $83.3 billionOctober 5, 2023: $73.8 billionOctober 1, 2024: $89.2 billionSeptember 2, 2025: $86.5 billionOctober 2, 2026: $125.0 billion
Data table
As ofRegulatory assets under management
October 1, 2018$73.4 billion
October 1, 2019$75.6 billion
October 1, 2020$88.7 billion
October 4, 2021$70.0 billion
October 3, 2022$83.3 billion
October 5, 2023$73.8 billion
October 1, 2024$89.2 billion
September 2, 2025$86.5 billion
October 2, 2026$125.0 billion
Client accountsSEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
0100K200K300K400K201820202021202320242026256KOctober 1, 2018: 321,847October 1, 2019: 355,825October 1, 2020: 360,178October 4, 2021: 169,618October 3, 2022: 185,320October 5, 2023: 191,045October 1, 2024: 210,911September 2, 2025: 182,013October 2, 2026: 256,360
Data table
As ofClient accounts
October 1, 2018321,847
October 1, 2019355,825
October 1, 2020360,178
October 4, 2021169,618
October 3, 2022185,320
October 5, 2023191,045
October 1, 2024210,911
September 2, 2025182,013
October 2, 2026256,360
Median firm size (RAUM)SEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
$0$100M$200M$300M201820202021202320242026$281MOctober 1, 2018: $226.4 millionOctober 1, 2019: $232.6 millionOctober 1, 2020: $266.4 millionOctober 4, 2021: $273.1 millionOctober 3, 2022: $275.4 millionOctober 5, 2023: $265.1 millionOctober 1, 2024: $279.7 millionSeptember 2, 2025: $295.6 millionOctober 2, 2026: $280.8 million
Data table
As ofMedian firm size (RAUM)
October 1, 2018$226.4 million
October 1, 2019$232.6 million
October 1, 2020$266.4 million
October 4, 2021$273.1 million
October 3, 2022$275.4 million
October 5, 2023$265.1 million
October 1, 2024$279.7 million
September 2, 2025$295.6 million
October 2, 2026$280.8 million

The market in North Carolina now

Headline figures

MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Firms608216392
Regulatory assets under management$134.3 billion$125.0 billion$9.3 billion
Accounts288,627256,36032,267
Clients175,158152,89022,268
Employees2,7442,148596
Advisory employees2,0741,574500
Investment adviser representatives2,1571,677480
Median RAUM$60.8 million$280.8 million$19.3 million
Average RAUM$255.3 million$600.8 million$29.2 million

Firms by size

Advisers grouped by regulatory assets under management.

MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Firms under $100 million3111310
RAUM of firms under $100 million$8.5 billion$63.7 million$8.5 billion
Firms $100 million to $250 million104968
RAUM of firms $100 million to $250 million$16.6 billion$15.8 billion$834.7 million
Firms $250 million to $500 million54540
RAUM of firms $250 million to $500 million$19.8 billion$19.8 billion$0
Firms $500 million to $1 billion26260
RAUM of firms $500 million to $1 billion$17.0 billion$17.0 billion$0
Firms $1 billion to $5 billion30300
RAUM of firms $1 billion to $5 billion$55.1 billion$55.1 billion$0
Firms $5 billion to $10 billion000
RAUM of firms $5 billion to $10 billion$0$0$0
Firms $10 billion and up110
RAUM of firms $10 billion and up$17.2 billion$17.2 billion$0

Concentration

How much of the market the largest advisers hold.

Concentration: independent RIAsAs of October 2, 2026.
Top 10 share of RAUM 33.9%
Top 100 share of RAUM 79.1%
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Top 10 share of RAUM33.9%36.4%11.1%
Top 100 share of RAUM79.1%84.9%70.4%

How advisers are paid

Share of advisers reporting each form of compensation on Form ADV Item 5.E. A firm can report several.

How advisers are paid: independent RIAsAs of October 2, 2026.
Charge a percentage of assets 91.4%
Charge hourly fees 53.9%
Charge subscription fees 1.0%
Charge fixed fees 66.6%
Receive commissions 2.1%
Charge performance-based fees 3.5%
Other compensation 6.3%
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Charge a percentage of assets91.4%95.4%89.3%
Charge hourly fees53.9%55.1%53.3%
Charge subscription fees1.0%0.5%1.3%
Charge fixed fees66.6%74.1%62.5%
Receive commissions2.1%1.9%2.3%
Charge performance-based fees3.5%2.3%4.1%
Other compensation6.3%6.5%6.1%

Custody

Advisers reporting custody of client cash or securities on Form ADV Item 9.

MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Have custody27.3%57.9%10.5%

Broker-dealer and other affiliations

From Form ADV Items 6 and 7.

MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Broker-dealer affiliated1.3%3.7%0.0%

New firms and successions

New registrations and firms reporting that they succeeded to another adviser's business (Form ADV Item 4).

MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
New registrations702347
SuccessionsNo data0No data

Other measures

MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Firms reporting RAUM526208318
Discretionary RAUM$126.1 billion$117.8 billion$8.4 billion
CFP professionals666503163
25th percentile RAUM$13.2 million$165.9 million$6.9 million
75th percentile RAUM$199.1 million$568.3 million$46.7 million
90th percentile RAUM$539.1 million$1.2 billion$75.2 million
Average account size$465,197$487,483$288,132
Offer financial planning83.4%93.1%78.1%
RAUM growth, one yearNo data44.4%No data

As of October 2, 2026. Definitions of every measure are on the methodology page.

Cities

Cities with at least five independent RIAs.

Data as of October 2, 2026, from Form ADV. Sources: SEC registered adviser data (ia100226.zip) and IAPD compilation reports. How the directory is built.