CNBC Financial Advisor Top 100- 2023

CNBC’s annual FA 100 ranking of registered investment advisors (RIA) was prepared in partnership with data provider AccuPoint Solutions. A variety of core data points from AccuPoint Solutions’ database of RIAs were analyzed, ranging from the firm’s compliance record and years in business to total accounts and assets under management.

The methodology consisted of first analyzing a variety of core data points from AccuPoint Solutions’ proprietary database of registered investment advisors. This analysis started with an initial list of 40,646 RIA firms from the Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory database. The list was eventually cut to 812 RIAs that met CNBC’s proprietary criteria.

CNBC staff sent an extensive email survey to all those firms that met the initial criteria to gather more details. In turn, those advisory firms filled out a comprehensive application in regard to their practice. The CNBC team verified that data with those firms and with the SEC regulatory database. AccuPoint once again applied CNBC’s proprietary weighted categories to further refine and rank the firms, ultimately creating the list of the top 100 firms. The ranking is based on an algorithm of quantitative data. The algorithm weighs factors from compliance records, years in business, numbers of advisors, employees, total assets under management, and total number of accounts.

CNBC receives no compensation from placing financial advisory firms on their list. Additionally, an advisor’s appearance on our ranking does not constitute an individual endorsement by CNBC of any firm. Paragon Capital was recognized on September 13, 2023. The list reflects the 2022 calendar year.

Rankings or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations should not be interpreted as a guarantee of specific results if Paragon Capital provides investment advisory services. Clients or prospective clients should exercise discretion and conduct thorough research before engaging with any investment advisory firm. The decision to invest should be based on a comprehensive understanding of one's financial goals, risk tolerance, and the services offered by the advisory firm.

Neither Paragon Capital Management nor its employees are compensated for a ranking.

CNBC Financial Advisor Top 100- 2024

CNBC’s annual FA 100 ranking of registered investment advisors (RIA) was prepared in partnership with data provider AccuPoint Solutions. A variety of core data points from AccuPoint Solutions’ database of RIAs were analyzed, ranging from the firm’s compliance record and years in business to total accounts and assets under management.

The methodology consisted of first analyzing a variety of core data points from AccuPoint Solutions’ proprietary database of registered investment advisors. This analysis started with an initial list of 40,896 RIA firms from the Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory database. The list was eventually cut to 903 RIAs that met CNBC’s proprietary criteria.

CNBC staff sent an extensive email survey to all those firms that met the initial criteria to gather more details. In turn, those advisory firms filled out a comprehensive application in regard to their practice. The CNBC team verified that data with those firms and with the SEC regulatory database. AccuPoint once again applied CNBC’s proprietary weighted categories to further refine and rank the firms, ultimately creating the list of the top 100 firms. The ranking is based on an algorithm of quantitative data. 

The primary data points used in the analysis were reviewed, either as a minimum baseline or within a range, eliminating those firms that did not meet CNBC’s requirements. Once the initial list was compiled, weightings were also applied accordingly. These data points included:

Advisory firm’s regulatory/compliance record. (Editor’s note: Each advisory firm’s CRD number was checked for validity. Any firm that had a disclosure on its SEC ADV was automatically disqualified from the ranking.)
Number of years in the business.
Number of certified financial planners.
Number of employees.
Number of investment advisors registered with the firm.
The ratio of investment advisors to total number of employees.
Total assets under management.
Percentage of discretionary assets under management.
Total accounts under management.
Number of states where the RIA is registered.
Country of domicile.

CNBC receives no compensation from placing financial advisory firms on their list. Additionally, an advisor’s appearance on our ranking does not constitute an individual endorsement by CNBC of any firm. Paragon Capital was recognized on October 1, 2024. The list reflects the 2023 calendar year.

Rankings or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations should not be interpreted as a guarantee of specific results if Paragon Capital provides investment advisory services. Clients or prospective clients should exercise discretion and conduct thorough research before engaging with any investment advisory firm. The decision to invest should be based on a comprehensive understanding of one's financial goals, risk tolerance, and the services offered by the advisory firm.

Neither Paragon Capital Management nor its employees are compensated for a ranking.

2024 Five Star Wealth Manager Disclosure- Denver

This award was issued on 10/1/24 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/23 through 7/9/24. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2435 Denver-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 224 (9% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2158, 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1/4/21 - 7/30/21; 2020: 2172, 213, 10%, 10/1/20, 1/20/20 - 8/14/20; 2019: 2146, 262, 12%, 10/1/19, 1/21/19 - 8/23/19; 2018: 2255, 267, 12%, 10/1/18, 1/18/18 - 8/21/18; 2017: 1716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15; 2014: 4385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14, 2/19/13 - 8/17/13; 2013: 2083, 607, 29%, 10/1/13, 2/19/12 - 8/17/12; 2012: 1965, 611, 31%, 10/1/12, 2/19/11 - 8/17/11. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria - required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria - considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Rankings or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations should not be interpreted as a guarantee of specific results if Paragon Capital provides investment advisory services. Clients or prospective clients should exercise discretion and conduct thorough research before engaging with any investment advisory firm. The decision to invest should be based on a comprehensive understanding of one's financial goals, risk tolerance, and the services offered by the advisory firm.

Neither Paragon Capital Management nor its employees are compensated for a ranking.