Top Financial Professionals in the USA Excel in Navigating Volatility and Growth in 2025
February 25, 2026 — InvestmentNews
The year 2025 proved to be a remarkable yet challenging period for financial professionals managing wealth in the United States. While the markets delivered impressive gains—with the S&P 500 climbing 16%, marking the best three-year return since the dotcom boom, and the Nasdaq Composite surging 20%—the true challenge lay in managing significant volatility with sophistication and foresight.
InvestmentNews’ annual ranking of the Top Financial Professionals in the USA highlights those advisors who not only grew assets under management (AUM) but also did so prudently to protect client wealth. The 100 winners were evaluated based on total 2025 AUM (50%), AUM growth (25%), and client growth (25%). These financial professionals successfully navigated a market environment that differed markedly from previous years.
Managing Growth Beyond the Numbers
Despite robust market gains, the top advisors understood that generating returns was only part of their role. “Clients want their assets to grow, but with a sophisticated understanding and forward-thinking approach,” says Andrew Blake, associate director of wealth management at Cerulli Associates. He notes how top advisors enhanced their expertise in alternative investment products that can perform steadily even during market turbulence.
The broader financial advisory landscape saw large Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and scalable platforms capturing significant new assets, facilitated by consolidation and technology-driven operating models. This shift enabled advisors to free up time for strategic business development and attract more high-net-worth clients.
Active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) also gained prominence. A McKinsey 2025 report estimated that about half of active ETF flows replaced legacy mutual fund vehicles, while the other half was driven by fresh demand for active strategies—sometimes at the expense of passive investing.
Insights From Leading Advisors
Jerry Davidse, CEO of Presilium Private Wealth, exemplifies a rules-based, disciplined investment approach. His firm’s 29% AUM growth and 21% client growth in 2025 were driven by proactive planning, including the use of an Investment Policy Statement to guide portfolio rebalancing and decision-making. During the tariff-related selloff in April 2025, Presilium was prepared to capitalize on buying opportunities rather than responding emotionally.
Jerry emphasizes, “For most families, it’s really not just about their investments but about a holistic, long-term financial plan—spanning tax, estate, gifting, and multigenerational wealth transfer.”
Scott Van Den Berg, President of Century Management Financial Advisors, grew AUM by 8% and clients by 6%. His firm’s success came from diverse portfolio management across a spectrum from aggressive equities to conservative fixed income. Century Management does not use model portfolios, allowing them to tailor investments to client needs and align performance with individual goals.
Van Den Berg highlights gold as a top contributor in 2025, making up 6-10% of portfolios. “The strength came from broad sector participation—communications, technology, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy—all performing well,” he explains. His bucket strategy segments client assets into short-term conservative investments and longer-term growth assets, guarding clients against forced selling during downturns.
Trevor Scotto, co-founding partner of Fiduciary Financial Group, stands out for integrating tax planning tightly into investment management. With 34% growth in AUM and 13% in clients, Scotto’s approach includes routine tax projections, implementing strategies such as Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, and rebalancing to optimize after-tax returns.
He notes, “The majority of our new clients are joining specifically because they are not receiving proactive planning nor tax planning elsewhere. They feel like they are missing opportunities.”
Psychological Resilience and Alternative Investments
Volatility’s psychological impact on investors was a key focus in 2025. Thomas Ruggie, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners, notes that managing client psychology is as important as managing portfolios. With a 24% increase in AUM and 5% client growth, Ruggie’s firm focuses on steady, strategy-driven management to prevent emotional reactions during market swings.
“We don’t focus on day-to-day moves; we focus on a strategy,” he states, citing the rare influx of reactive client calls during a swift 20% market drop.
Ruggie also differentiates his firm through access to exclusive alternative investments. For core clients with $1–$5 million portfolios, public equities are combined with alternatives. High-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth (HNW/UHNW) clients have access to mid- and late-stage pre-IPO direct investments in companies such as SpaceX, Anthropic, xAI, Databricks, Stripe, Anduril, Agility Robotics, and Crusoe. These investments, traditionally reserved for qualified purchasers, are facilitated through Destiny’s proprietary alternative fund, providing a unique value proposition to their clientele.
Conclusion
The 2026 InvestmentNews ranking showcases financial professionals who masterfully balanced growth with risk management and client education in a year typified by market highs and volatility. Their success was rooted not just in capturing returns but in building deep client trust through disciplined planning, tax integration, and smart use of alternative assets. These advisors continue to demonstrate that the future of wealth management lies in sophistication, foresight, and a holistic financial approach.
For full details and the complete list of winners, visit the InvestmentNews website or download the official PDF report.