Top Financial Professionals in the USA Demonstrate Expertise Amid Volatile Markets in 2025
February 25, 2026 – InvestmentNews
While 2025 proved lucrative for investors with the S&P 500 increasing by 16%—marking the best three-year performance since the dotcom boom—and the Nasdaq Composite outperforming with a 20% annual return, the true challenge for financial professionals lay in managing significant market volatility. Against this backdrop, InvestmentNews’ Top Financial Professionals of 2026 stood out by showcasing skill, foresight, and strategic sophistication in managing client portfolios.
Masters at Work: Navigating Growth and Volatility
Simply achieving asset growth was not the benchmark; the 100 recognized financial professionals adeptly combined growth with discipline and client education. Their performance was evaluated using a weighted system emphasizing total assets under management (AUM), AUM growth, and client growth over the evaluation period:
- 50% — Total 2025 AUM
- 25% — AUM Growth
- 25% — Client Growth
The landscape has seen the largest Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and tech-driven platforms capturing disproportionate inflows, partly by leveraging consolidation and alternative investment opportunities. Technology’s economies of scale freed advisors to focus more on client relationships and business development, attracting more high-net-worth clients.
Incorporation of Alternatives and ETFs on the Rise
Reflecting an evolving investment environment, there has been a growing integration of active ETFs. According to a 2025 McKinsey report, about half of active ETF inflows substitute legacy vehicles like mutual funds, while the other half stem from increasing demand for active strategies, occasionally at the expense of passive funds.
Andrew Blake, associate director of wealth management at Cerulli Associates, highlighted that leading advisors have actively educated themselves on alternative investments, which can deliver steadier performance during volatile periods compared to traditional stocks and bonds.
Terri McGray, President of Longevity Capital Management LLC, underscored the importance of discipline, risk management, and thoughtful portfolio construction, particularly in what many view as a late-cycle market with elevated valuations. "Protecting capital often separates a financial plan that works from one that doesn’t," she noted.
Successes Rooted in Discipline and Tailored Strategies
Jerry Davidse – Presilium Private Wealth
Jerry Davidse, CEO of Presilium Private Wealth, attributes his firm’s 29% AUM growth and 21% client growth to disciplined planning and readiness. During the tariff-driven selloff in April 2025, the firm’s pre-established Investment Policy Statement allowed them to proactively purchase stocks rather than react emotionally.
Davidse emphasizes that their holistic approach extends beyond investments to encompass tax and estate planning for multigenerational wealth preservation.
“Being our own RIA allows us to assist clients on a broader scale beyond investments,” he said.
Scott Van Den Berg – Century Management
Scott Van Den Berg, President of Century Management, reported 8% AUM growth and 6% client growth in 2025. Most of their growth came from broad portfolio appreciation rather than concentrated sector bets. Their tailored portfolios range from conservative fixed-income to aggressively invested equities, with no reliance on model portfolios, enhancing client trust and performance alignment.
The firm’s diversified exposure included strong contributions from gold, which made up 6-10% of portfolios, as well as sectors such as technology, healthcare, and energy.
Van Den Berg employs a "bucket" strategy, segregating funds by investment horizon to reduce risk to near-term cash needs while allowing long-term money to grow despite market fluctuations.
Integrated Tax and Planning Framework Driving Growth
Trevor Scotto – Fiduciary Financial Group
With a 34% gain in assets under management and 13% client growth, Trevor Scotto is recognized for his comprehensive tax and financial planning approach. Serving business owners, retirees, and tech professionals with significant concentrated stock positions, his "ensemble model" involves frequent tax projections and returns preparation to identify actionable savings opportunities.
Rather than speculative maneuvers, Scotto emphasizes disciplined playbooks for handling market drawdowns. His firm leverages Roth conversion strategies and tax-loss harvesting to integrate tax planning deeply into portfolio management.
Managing Client Psychology During Volatile Times
Thomas Ruggie – Destiny Wealth Partners
Thomas Ruggie, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners, focuses on mitigating clients’ emotional responses to market swings, a key factor in their 24% AUM growth and 5% client increase. He aims to reduce irrational decision-making both during market highs and lows by adhering strictly to strategic plans instead of daily market noise.
Ruggie offers clients exposure to a combination of public equities and proprietary alternative investments. His firm’s unique alternative fund includes qualified purchaser-level investments such as hedge funds, private equity, and pre-IPO direct stakes in notable companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, and Stripe—opportunities typically available only to ultra-high-net-worth investors.
“We’re providing wealth management clients access to investments usually reserved for the highest tiers,” Ruggie explained.
Summary
The 2026 roster of InvestmentNews’ Top Financial Professionals exemplifies a blend of tactical growth, risk management, and integrated planning that meets the demands of a complex and volatile market environment. From incorporating alternatives and active ETFs to sophisticated tax strategies and psychological support, these leaders have positioned themselves—and their clients—to thrive well beyond the noise of short-term fluctuations.
For the full list and methodology details, readers are encouraged to consult the InvestmentNews publication and their official PDF report.
This article was sponsored by InvestmentNews.