NEW YORK: Today, the FT publishes the 2016 edition of the Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisers, which recognises the leading professionals at broker-dealers across the US The FT 400 was developed in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the FT that provides specialised content on asset management. Only half of last year’s top advisors were named again this year, the fourth annual FT 400 list. This turnover reflects the turbulent financial markets of 2015.

The top advisers hail from 38 states and Washington, D.C., and represent 21 different brokerage firms, including Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, which have the most advisers on the list. The average financial adviser in the FT 400 has 26 years of experience and manages $1.6 billion worth of assets.

This elite group embodies some of the leading trends in the investment management industry: 9 out of 10 work in teams, a growing part of the business; 86% are on LinkedIn, up from 70% in 2015; and 60% of the advisers hold advanced industry certifications such as the CFP or CIMA.

To qualify for the list, advisers had to have 10 years of experience and at least $300 million in assets under management (AUM). Qualified advisers were then scored on six attributes: AUM, AUM growth rate, compliance record, experience, industry certifications and online accessibility.

“The need for top-notch investment advice is only growing, as investors grapple with questions about interest rates, China’s growth, global politics and more,” said Loren Fox, director of research for Ignites Research and head of the FT 400 project. “Fortunately, the fourth annual edition of the FT 400 underscores how many experienced and successful financial advisers have reached the pinnacle of the profession.”

The full report is available for viewing at this link.

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For further information please contact:

Michael Ferraro
(212) 542-1223
mferraro@money-media.com

About the Financial Times:

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 780,000. Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving almost half of total traffic.

About Ignites Research

Ignites Research delivers original research and analysis on the retail mutual fund market from experienced analysts. Its research covers the distribution and product topics that asset managers must understand to improve their business. Ignites Research is a sister site to the popular online newsletter Ignites, and is a subsidiary of the Financial Times.

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