Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 22
CNBC Names 25 Elite Advisors Managing $2.1 Trillion for Clients With $25 Million+
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 22

CNBC Names 25 Elite Advisors Managing $2.1 Trillion for Clients With $25 Million+

2 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 22

Summary

  • Twenty-five firms made CNBC’s inaugural 2026 Elite Advisors list, a ranking of U.S. wealth managers serving ultra-high-net-worth clients and family offices with at least $25 million in investable assets.
  • Those firms are spread across 15 states, average 31 years in business, and range from a 1923 founding to a 2023 launch, reflecting both legacy private-wealth players and newer entrants.
  • Ultra-rich advisory work extends beyond portfolio management into tax, estate, trust and risk planning, family governance, philanthropy, business advice and concierge-style services, according to industry experts cited by CNBC.
  • Cerulli data show why the segment matters: about 442,000 U.S. ultra-high-net-worth households held $22.5 trillion in investable assets in 2024, nearly 25% of the national total, up from 10% in 2010.
  • Fees in the market are typically asset-based—about 95% of advisors use that model—with average ultra-high-net-worth pricing at 0.54% in 2025, or roughly $108,000 annually on a $20 million portfolio.

Insights

Do elite advisors' sophisticated tax strategies for the ultra-wealthy help society or just widen the economic divide?
Can AI ever replace the human judgment required for managing the complex financial and emotional lives of the ultra-wealthy?
As giants like Schwab target the ultra-rich, will competition benefit clients or simply consolidate the industry among fewer, larger players?