The FT 100 was developed in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the FT that provides specialised content on asset management.
The top advisers hail from 25 states and Washington, D.C. The average adviser has 24 years experience and manages $1.8 billion worth of assets. This elite group embodies some of the leading trends in the investment management industry: 40 per cent work in the fast-growing independent Registered Investment Adviser sector; 19 per cent are based in New York City, the nation’s top wealth center; and 56 per cent offer holistic financial planning services.
To qualify for the list, advisers had to manage at least $200 million in assets under management (AUM) and have 10 years of experience. Qualified advisers were then scored on six attributes: AUM, AUM growth rate, compliance record, experience, industry certifications and online accessibility.
“It’s clear that women, who make up 51 per cent of the US population, are under-represented in the ranks of financial advisers. That is why we decided it was time to celebrate their achievements,” said Loren Fox, Director of Research for Ignites Research and head of the FT 100 project. “This inaugural edition of the FT 100 highlights the tremendous success of many women financial advisers in the US, achieved through a variety of business models.”
Other findings from the FT 100:
* 55 per cent of the FT 100 advisers manage $1 billion in assets or more
* Listed advisers saw their total assets rise by 18 per cent from mid-2013 to mid-2014
* 96 per cent of the advisers serve ultra-high net worth clients (those with more than $10 million to invest)
