CNBC ranked Howland Capital Management No. 1 in its 2026 Financial Advisor 100, moving the firm up from seventh place on the 2025 list. The ranking began with 41,578 registered investment adviser firms and was narrowed to 1,015 that met CNBC’s requirements. Together, the firms on the list manage $329.7 billion and have been in business for an average of 35 years.
From a broad pool to 1,015 finalists
CNBC compiled the ranking with AccuPoint Solutions, a firm focused on wealth-management data and adviser research. The process started with registered investment advisers in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulatory database; firms were then screened against CNBC’s requirements and due-diligence checks, including regulatory disclosures.
The remaining firms completed surveys about their practices. CNBC checked their responses against publicly available information, while AccuPoint applied weighted criteria to rank them. CNBC describes the process as a combination of data analysis and editorial review, rather than a contest open to applications or paid placements.
Howland takes the top position
Howland Capital Management rose six places from No. 7 in 2025 to lead the 2026 list. CNBC’s methodology weighs assets under management, industry experience and other metrics, but the supplied material does not provide the firm’s individual score or a full breakdown of how each factor affected its placement.
The overall ranking covers about 1,000 firms, with 1,015 finalists meeting the stated requirements. The list’s combined $329.7 billion in assets and 35-year average business history indicate its scale and the experience of the firms included; those figures describe the group, not Howland alone.
What the ranking can—and cannot—tell clients
CNBC presents the Financial Advisor 100 as a starting point for investors comparing potential advisers, not as a substitute for checking whether a firm fits a household’s needs. A financial adviser may help coordinate investments with retirement saving, taxes, insurance, family protection and estate planning—goals that can compete for the same resources.
There is no nomination process for the ranking, and recommendations are not considered. CNBC says firms do not apply or pay to be included, with placement determined by its methodology. That makes the list a screening tool, but consumers still need to verify credentials, review disclosures and interview candidates before making a decision.
Questions to ask before choosing an adviser
One important distinction is whether an adviser has a fiduciary duty to act in the client’s best interest. Registered investment advisers are bound by a fiduciary standard, while investment brokers follow a suitability standard: a recommendation must be appropriate, but it is not necessarily the best available choice for the client.
Prospective clients can check advisers through FINRA BrokerCheck and the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system; state regulators may also be useful when reviewing smaller firms. The CFP Board recommends asking candidates about qualifications, services, fiduciary obligations, fees and any public disciplinary history. Credentials to consider include CFP, CPA and CFA designations.
Fees and service models vary
Advisers may charge fees, earn commissions or use a fee-based arrangement that combines fees with commissions on some products. Fee-only services can include an annual charge based on assets under management, a one-time project fee, hourly billing or advice without investment management. Commission-based arrangements may involve products such as mutual funds or life insurance, creating a potential conflict that clients should understand.
Digital services offer another option. Robo-advisers use algorithms to invest according to a customer’s risk tolerance and timeline, and some provide features such as automatic rebalancing or tax-loss harvesting. The source material cites a median robo-adviser fee of about 0.25% of assets in 2024, based on Morningstar’s 2025 report covering 16 U.S. platforms; human advice commonly costs around 1% of assets, depending on portfolio size.
Takeaway: Howland Capital Management leads CNBC’s 2026 ranking, but investors should use the list as a starting point and independently check an adviser’s credentials, disclosures, fiduciary duty and fees.
References
- cnbc.com — “Best financial advisors of 2026: CNBC Financial Advisor 100”
- cnbc.com — “Howland Capital Management is CNBC's No. 1 financial advisor”
- Mercer Advisors — “Named #1 RIA Firm by Barron’s for Wealth Management Solutions”
- cnbc.com — “CNBC's Financial Advisor 100 FAQ: Eligibility and methodology”
- Statista Rankings — “Best in Financial Services”
