Top Financial Professionals in the USA Demonstrate Sophistication and Foresight Amid Market Volatility
February 25, 2026 — InvestmentNews has released its prestigious list of the Top Financial Professionals in the USA for 2026, highlighting individuals and firms that excelled in managing client assets through the complexities of a turbulent market environment during 2025. While major indexes such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite produced strong annual returns of 16% and 20% respectively—marking the best three-year performance since the dotcom era—the true challenge lay in navigating volatility with discipline and strategic foresight.
Evaluating Success: Growth, Assets, and Client Base
The Top 100 financial professionals were ranked based on a weighted formula reflecting three key metrics:
- Total assets under management (AUM) in 2025 (50%)
- AUM growth during the evaluation period (25%)
- Client growth during the evaluation period (25%)
Growth in AUM was notably influenced by large Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and technology-enabled platforms that have leveraged consolidation, alternatives, and operational scalability to capture a disproportionate share of new assets. This combination allows advisors increased bandwidth for client development while attracting more high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs).
Strategic Integration of Alternative Investments
A 2025 McKinsey report cited by InvestmentNews reveals that about half of active ETF flows are the result of shifting from traditional vehicles like mutual funds, with the remainder driven by new demand for active management strategies. Andrew Blake, Associate Director of Wealth Management at Cerulli Associates, notes that top advisors have deepened their understanding of alternative investments which often exhibit steadier performance amid market volatility compared to traditional equity or fixed-income products.
With market valuations considered elevated and signals suggesting the economy’s late-cycle stage, the best advisors emphasize disciplined risk management and thoughtful portfolio construction. Terri McGray, President of Longevity Capital Management LLC, points out that protecting client capital rather than indiscriminately chasing gains is essential to maintaining effective financial plans, especially in uncertain markets.
Profiles of Selected Top Performers
Jerry Davidse, CEO of Presilium Private Wealth
Davidse highlights a proactive, rules-based investment philosophy anchored by the firm’s Investment Policy Statement. Rather than reacting emotionally, the team anticipated volatility, enabling tactical buying during market dips such as the tariff-driven selloff in April 2025. Presilium’s holistic approach extends beyond investments to comprehensive wealth planning, including tax and estate considerations, contributing to a 29% increase in AUM and 21% client growth.
Scott Van Den Berg, President of Century Management Financial Advisors
Van Den Berg’s firm achieved 8% AUM growth and 6% client growth chiefly through broad-market participation and diversification. Unlike firms relying on model portfolios, Century Management tailors investments to individual clients, balancing aggressive equity strategies with conservative fixed-income holdings. A notable contributor to returns was gold, comprising 6–10% of portfolios. Van Den Berg structures funds in buckets to ensure short-term liquidity needs remain insulated from market swings, enabling clients to avoid forced sales during downturns.
Trevor Scotto, Co-founder of Fiduciary Financial Group
Known for his integrated tax and financial planning, Scotto appeals to business owners, retirees, and tech professionals managing concentrated stock positions. His disciplined approach eschews reactive market timing in favor of ongoing tax projections, tax-loss harvesting, and Roth conversion strategies that maximize after-tax returns. The firm’s combined tax and portfolio expertise helped fuel 34% AUM growth and 13% client growth despite market headwinds.
Thomas Ruggie, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners
Ruggie focuses on mitigating client anxiety during volatility, emphasizing psychological discipline alongside strategic asset allocation. His firm’s proprietary alternative investment fund offers access to qualified purchaser-level hedge funds, private equity, and late-stage pre-IPO opportunities—including stakes in companies such as SpaceX, Anthropic, xAI, Databricks, Stripe, and Anduril. This access differentiates the firm for wealth management clients ranging from $1 million to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, supporting a 24% increase in AUM and 5% client growth.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 class of top financial professionals underscores that success in today’s markets depends on more than chasing returns. Sophisticated advisors blend comprehensive planning, alternative strategies, tax efficiency, and psychological support to deliver superior outcomes in a challenging environment. Their ability to remain disciplined and proactive amid volatility positions them to continue delivering value as market cycles evolve.
For a full list of winners and detailed methodology, visit InvestmentNews’ official publication.