Top Financial Professionals in the USA Excel Amid Market Volatility in 2025
February 25, 2026 — InvestmentNews highlights the achievements of the nation’s top financial advisors in its 2026 edition of Top Financial Professionals. The recognition celebrates those who not only grew client assets in a strong-performing year but also demonstrated sophisticated management in navigating market volatility and evolving client needs.
Market Context: Growth with Volatility
2025 saw notable overall gains in equity markets, with the S&P 500 rising 16 percent—marking the best three-year return streak since the dotcom era—and the Nasdaq Composite achieving an impressive 20 percent annual return. Despite robust market advances, managing volatility was the central challenge for financial professionals.
InvestmentNews’ Top Financial Professionals distinguished themselves by combining asset growth with foresight, discipline, and proactive client communication. Clients increasingly valued advisors who balanced opportunity and risk thoughtfully, delivering growth alongside protection.
Evaluation Criteria and Industry Trends
The 100 ranked professionals were assessed using a weighted formula focusing on three key metrics:
- 50% — Total assets under management (AUM) for 2025
- 25% — AUM growth during the evaluation period
- 25% — Growth in client base over the evaluation period
Industry dynamics show large Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and platforms are capturing large shares of new assets through consolidation, alternative investments, and technology-driven operational efficiencies. Technology enables firms to scale, attract high-net-worth clientele, and better integrate innovative instruments such as active exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Research from McKinsey highlights that roughly half of active ETF inflows represent shifts from traditional mutual funds, while the other half reflect new demand for active approaches, even sometimes at the expense of passive strategies.
Embracing Alternatives and Holistic Planning
Andrew Blake, associate director of wealth management at Cerulli Associates, points to an increasing advisor sophistication around alternative investment vehicles, which often offer steadier performance amid market swings. Top advisors have deepened their knowledge of how these alternatives behave differently compared to conventional equity and fixed income products.
Terri McGray, president of Longevity Capital Management, stresses the primacy of risk management and disciplined portfolio construction, especially in markets perceived as late-cycle with elevated valuations. For her, protecting capital is as critical as chasing growth for plans to succeed.
Success Stories: Strategies and Results
Jerry Davidse, CEO of Presilium Private Wealth, credits discipline and preparation for his firm’s success. His team followed a rules-based investment policy that enabled buying opportunities during the April 2025 tariff-driven selloff rather than reacting emotionally. Emphasizing comprehensive wealth planning encompassing tax, estate, and multigenerational considerations, Davidse highlights a 29% AUM growth and 21% client growth.
Scott Van Den Berg, president of Century Management Financial Advisors, reported an 8% AUM increase and 6% client growth. His firm’s approach avoids model portfolios, instead tailoring strategies across fully invested equity, balanced allocations, and fixed income portfolios. Broad diversification helped their clients benefit from multiple sectors, with gold serving as the strongest contributor at 6–10% portfolio weighting.
Van Den Berg also employs a “bucket” strategy to align investments with clients’ time horizons, reducing the risk that short-term volatility forces untimely selling.
Trevor Scotto of Fiduciary Financial Group achieved outstanding results with 34% AUM growth and 13% client growth. He emphasizes a highly integrated tax and planning model—executing tax projections multiple times annually and providing actionable tax advice beyond generic strategies. His firm focuses on Roth conversion planning and tax-loss harvesting during market downturns, increasing client confidence through clear, proactive communication.
Thomas Ruggie, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners, notes that managing clients’ psychology amid volatility was as important as managing portfolios. With 24% AUM growth and 5% client growth, his firm utilizes a proprietary alternative investment fund to offer clients access to exclusive hedge funds, private equity, and late-stage pre-IPO companies like SpaceX and Stripe—investments typically reserved for qualified purchasers (QPs). This approach allows affluent clients to participate in unique opportunities usually accessible only to ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Outlook
The 2026 list of InvestmentNews’ Top Financial Professionals underscores an industry trend toward greater integration of alternative products, tax-efficient strategies, and technology-empowered scalability. Advisors combining these elements with disciplined risk management and holistic planning appear best positioned to navigate market uncertainties while growing client relationships.
In a market environment where simple participation is no longer enough, these professionals exemplify how expertise, foresight, and personalized service enable sustained success.