Top Financial Advisor Firms in Kentucky

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MCF Advisors is a large wealth management and institutional financial advisor firm that leads off our list of the top advisors in Kentucky. While the institutional side of its business serves retirement plans, endowments and more, its wealth management offerings are intended for individuals and their families, as well as business owners. 

There is no minimum investment or account size requirement at this fee-based firm.

MCF employs a number of advisors who hold advisory certifications, including Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPC), certified public accountants (CPA), chartered life underwriters (CLU) and more. However, some advisors on staff are licensed insurance agents who can earn commissions for selling policies. While this is a conflict of interest, the firm is legally required to act in clients' best interest as a fiduciary. 

David Harris Jr. and Robert Sathe founded the firm together in 2003. Today, their business provides offers a range of services, including financial planning, investment management, retirement plan consulting, portfolio monitoring and the selection of independent managers. Clients may also engage the firm for tax preparation, accounting, business advisory and estate consulting support.

Since clients can engage MCF Advisors with any amount of investable assets, investment strategies vary depending on the type of services that the firm determines are best for the client. Advisors use a tactical asset allocation approach when it comes to investing, but they still look to mold their strategies to the particular financial needs of the client. Clients are also permitted to impose some restrictions on how their assets are managed. 

Portfolios are typically built using a mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, individual equities, and fixed income securities. Qualified clients may also access private funds and other alternative investments.

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Headquartered in Lexington, Keystone Financial Group manages over $1.8 billion, mostly on a discretionary basis. With a $10,000 minimum investment requirement, this fee-based advisory firm primarily serves individuals who are not high-net-worth individuals. It also has retirement plans, corporations and business entities as clients.

Toby Jenkins, Mike Kretz and Tim Jenkins founded Keystone in 2008. Today, their firm has a team comprises Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and accredited asset management specialists (AAMSs).

The firm offers portfolio management, retirement plan services, financial planning and consulting that may address areas such as budgeting, tax planning, insurance needs, estate planning and education savings. Its services are tailored to individual circumstances, and clients may place restrictions on investment selections. Some Keystone representatives are also licensed to earn commissions through a broker-dealer, making the firm fee-based.

In addition to Lexington, the firm has offices throughout Kentucky in Ashland, Leitchfield, Mt. Sterling, Somerset and Louisville. 

The practice uses charting, fundamental and technical methods of analysis. It states that “it is not our typical investment strategy to attempt to time the market, but we may increase cash holdings modestly as deemed appropriate based on your risk tolerance and our expectations of market behavior.”

It also notes that it does not primarily recommend one type of security. Instead, Keystone can provide investment advice on mutual funds, ETFs, individual equity securities, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities, futures contracts, options and other assets. 

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KPP Advisory Services, known as Kentucky Planning Partners, is a fee-based firm located in Louisville. KPP works with thousands of clients, all of whom are individuals and high-net-worth individuals. KPP offers investment advisory services via programs that are sponsored by LPL Financial. Clients enrolled in those programs are subject to the following account minimums:

• Optimum Market Portfolios Program (OMP): $1,000
• Personal Wealth Portfolios Program (PWP): $250,000
• Model Wealth Portfolios Program (MWP): $25,000
• Manager Access Select Program: $50,000
• Strategic Wealth Management (SWM): No minimum account requirement
• Separate Account Network (SAN): Depends on portfolio manager

The KPP team includes advisors with various professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) and chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) designations. However, advisors may earn sale commissions for selling insurance or securities, in addition to client-paid fees. Despite KPP being a fiduciary, this form of compensation is a conflict of interest. Sales commissions may incentivize advisors to make certain recommendations over others to generate this additional compensation.  

KPP Advisory Services was founded in 2005 by CEO Robert Davenport and president Ken O'Neil. Davenport and O'Neil remain 50/50 ownership partners. In addition to its headquarters in Louisville, KPP operates branch offices in Somerset, Bowling Green, Lexington and Clarksville, Tennessee.

KPP offers investment management, financial planning, wealth management and retirement plan consultation services. Financial planning may encompass tax and cash flow planning, insurance needs, retirement planning, estate planning, business planning and other areas of a client's financial lives. 

KPP’s investment strategy focuses on achieving long-term objectives through a combination of fundamental analysis, mutual fund/ETF analysis and long-term purchases. Fundamental analysis evaluates economic factors without attempting to predict market movements, which poses the risk of market volatility affecting security prices.

KPP also employs asset allocation, balancing securities, fixed income, and cash to align with client goals, though this may limit exposure to rapid market gains. Mutual fund and ETF analysis assesses fund managers and underlying assets to avoid portfolio overlap, while long-term purchases target undervalued securities or desired asset classes, though these may miss short-term gains or experience value declines.

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Fee-based firm Journey Advisory Group has a client base of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charities, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. All clients must meet a minimum account size requirement of $50,000, and the firm charges asset-based fees, hourly fees and fixed fees.

The firm has advisors on staff who hold a range of professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations. 

Founded in 2014, Journey offers a wide selection of advisory services, including individual portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and educational seminars. However, the firm owns an insurance company called Journey Risk Solutions (JRS), so Journey Advisory Group has a financial incentive to recommend that advisory clients buy insurance from JRS, which is a conflict of interest. 

While based in Covington, the firm also has officies in Blue Ash, Ohio, and Dayton, Ohio.  

Journey generally takes a long-term approach to investing, and designs portfolios with clients' income needs, financial goals and tax situations in mind. 

Portfolios may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, government securities, corporate debt, options and alternative assets such as real estate and commodities. Strategic asset allocation, diversification and periodic rebalancing are emphasized to manage risk and pursue growth.

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Legacy Financial Advisors was founded in 2006 and has been operating as an independent registered investment advisor since 2011. The firm provides advisory and financial planning services to a client base primarily composed of individuals, high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations. 

The firm offers tailored financial planning that covers investment, retirement, and estate planning needs. Services may be delivered on a stand-alone basis or integrated into ongoing investment management, with clients typically required to maintain a $500,000 minimum account, or $200,000 for those in its Protected Outcome Portfolios (POPS).

Several advisors and representatives of the firm hold professional credentials, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified exit planning advisor (CEPA) and registered financial consultant (RFC) designations.

The firm is fee-based, as its advisors may receive commissions through an affiliated insurance company when clients purchase insurance products through them (when they are acting in their capacity as insurance agents). While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests. 

Legacy’s investment philosophy emphasizes diversification, tax management and a balance between preserving capital and pursuing growth. Portfolios are designed around each client’s objectives and risk tolerance, using a mix of capital preservation assets (cash and fixed income), growth equity (domestic and international stocks) and alternatives (REITs, commodities, long/short strategies, MLPs and funds of funds).

The firm also offers its proprietary POPS strategies, which incorporate structured products such as structured notes and market-linked certificates of deposit to help manage downside risk while pursuing long-term returns.

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Barlow Wealth Partners, founded in 2021, is a fee-only registered investment advisory firm that serves individuals, high-net-worth families, charities and businesses. Unlike many other firms, Barlow Wealth Partners does not invest in mutual funds or ETFs. Instead it builds portfoliso by investing in individual securities. 

The firm provides investment management, financial planning and consulting services. Areas of support include education funding, retirement planning, estate and tax considerations, charitable giving, risk management and cash flow analysis. 

The firm manages portfolios on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases and sponsors its own wrap fee program, which consolidates investment advice, custody and transaction costs into a single fee. While the firm does not impose a set account minimum, clients may be subject to a minimum annual fee depending on the engagement.

As a fee-only advisor, Barlow Wealth Partners and its advisors do not sell financial products or insurance for commissions. Advisors and representatives on staff hold a variety of professional certifications, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified private wealth advisor (CPWA®) and certified exit planning advisor (CEPA®) designations.

Barlow Wealth Partners follows a long-term, research-driven investment philosophy, relying on fundamental analysis through both top-down and bottom-up methods. Portfolios are primarily invested in individual equities, with some allocation to bonds and, where appropriate, options. The firm does not invest in hedge funds, private equity or other pooled vehicles, emphasizing direct ownership of securities aligned with client objectives.

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The Gleason Group, located in Prospect, is a fee-based firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as corporations and businesses.

The Gleason Group has an annual minimum fee of $10,000 and requires a minimum account balance of $1 million. As a result, it may not be the best fit for people who are just starting their wealth-building journey. 

The advisory team includes the following professional credentials: Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), certified plan fiduciary advisor (CFPA) and certified student loan professional (CSLP). However, advisors may sell insurance and receive commisions in their separate capacities as licensed insurance agents. While this represents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to disclose conflicts and act in clients' best interests. 

Founded in 2015 by owner Gavin T. Gleason, the firm's core services are investment management, financial planning and consulting, as well as wealth management. Specifically, the firm can help clients with retirement planning, education planning, estate planning, beneficiary coordination and risk management.

Other services include:

• Insurance analysis
• Debt analysis 
• Lending solutions 
• Charitable strategies 
• Advisory team coordination 
• Social Security and Medicare guidance

The Gleason Group primarily follows a long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio. They recognize that each client has unique goals, objectives and risk preferences. In managing investments, they also consider potential tax implications and aim to recommend low-cost funds to optimize the client's holdings.

The company mainly invests client assets in various mutual funds, ETFs, index funds and individual debt and equity securities.

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Walker Financial Services, which conducts business as Tony Walker Financial, is a registered investment advisor based in Bowling Green. Founded in 2010, the firm provides investment management and financial planning services, including the creation of investment strategies, asset allocation, portfolio monitoring and guidance on insurance and retirement income planning.

The firm works primarily with individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses. It generally requires a $50,000 minimum to open and maintain an advisory account, though this minimum may be waived in certain cases. However, the firm has a fee-based compensation model, meaning its revenue comes both from advisory fees and commissions on the sale of insurance products such as annuities, life insurance and long-term care insurance. This structure presents conflicts of interest, which are disclosed to clients. 

In addition to its office in Bowling Green, the firm has locations in Louisville and Lexington. 

In managing investments, the firm uses fundamental, which looks at financial and economic data to assess the value of investments, and charting analysis, which studies past price and volume patterns to identify trends. Tony Walker Financial also focuses on making long-term purchases and diversifying across asset types. 

Portfolios may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate investment trusts, annuities and insurance products. Its philosophy emphasizes aligning portfolios with client goals while balancing growth opportunities and risk management.

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Reliant Wealth Planning, another Louisville-based advisor, works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. While this fee-based firm has one charitable organization as a client, its business is mainly geared toward individuals. 

Reliant's advisors do not sell insurance or securities for commissions or other third-party compensation. However, firm earns an asset-based fee from an affiliated broker-dealer who sells financial products. Reliant does not require a minimum account balance to engage in services.

The advisor team holds multiple credentials, which include the certified estate planner (CEP), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), retirement income certified professional (RICP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and accredited estate planner (AEP) designations, among others. 

Headquartered in Louisville, Reliant was founded as a limited liability company in 2017 by Shaun Chelf and Laura Clark. Today, the firm offers financial planning and discretionary wealth management through a wrap fee program. Their financial planning services encompass cash flow analysis, insurance consulting, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, education funding and charitable giving. Meanwhile, the firm's discretionary wealth management combines investment management and transaction fees into a single fee, with portfolios customized using multiple strategy layers based on client objectives. They also provide ongoing portfolio rebalancing and adjustments as needed.

Additionally, Reliant assists clients with estate planning, acting as a liaison with attorneys to ensure estate plans align with client goals, all at no extra cost.

Reliant structures its client portfolios using multiple layers tailored to the client's investment plan. These layers include: 1) A core, with options ranging from conservative to aggressive strategies; 2) A tactical allocation of portfolio assets (TAPA) that dynamically selects asset classes; 3. A liquidity reserve. The number and combination of layers vary for each client, and portfolios are reviewed with the client before implementation and regularly thereafter.

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Atlas Brown, a fee-based located in Louisville, rounds out our list of the top financial advisors in Kentucky. Founded in 2004, Atlas Brown provides family wealth management to individuals, families, retirement plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management along with a suite of family office services. These services include retirement and estate planning, trust and insurance consulting, financial reporting, private foundation management, bill payment and guidance on business succession. The firm emphasizes tailoring its advice to the specific needs and objectives of each client.

Atlas Brown is a fee-based advisory firm. Its compensation comes primarily from asset-based management fees, but some of its advisors may receive separate compensation when recommending insurance products. The firm does not require a minimum account size.

Representatives of the firm hold several different financial certifications, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) and certified employee benefits specialist (CEBS).

Atlas Brown’s investment philosophy centers on a customized, multi-asset approach that incorporates equities, bonds, options, mutual funds, ETFs, and, for accredited investors, private placements such as real estate, venture capital, distressed debt and other alternatives. The firm’s senior portfolio managers use internal and external research to align investments with each client’s stated goals and risk tolerance. Its approach applies institutional techniques across asset classes to build diversified portfolios intended to match long-term objectives.