Boston Financial Advisors Directory

Top Financial Advisors in Boston, MA

TL;DR

Best financial advisors in Boston, MA ranked by AI visibility and verified reviews. 5% flat + 4% surtax on income >$1.05M = 9% top rate.

We evaluated 158 financial advisors serving Boston and ranked the top 8 by TrustRank — our composite score of AI search visibility, verified client reviews, and credentials.

Boston's financial advisory market serves a Massachusetts client base where Wellington Management ($1.2T AUM), Fidelity ($267B advisory AUM) both Boston-based.

Get Matched With a Top Boston Financial Advisor →
Updated Q1 2026
By Tania Kozar
158 reviewed, 8 selected
50 prompts tracked
Boston Market Overview

Financial Advisors in Boston

Boston has a competitive financial advisory market serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners. Wellington Management ($1.2T AUM), Fidelity ($267B advisory AUM) both Boston-based. The state tax rate of 5% flat + 4% surtax on $1M+ shapes planning strategies, with advisors focusing on tax-efficient asset location, estate planning, and retirement income optimization. Typical minimum investable assets range from $500K+ depending on the firm tier.

3,000+
Registered advisors in state
$500K+
Typical minimum investable assets
5% flat + 4% surtax on $1M+
MA income tax rate
1.0%
Typical annual advisory fee on AUM

Primary professional associations include ACG Boston and CFA Society Boston — 6,000+ members; NE's largest (est. 1946). Massachusetts financial advisors are regulated by the Massachusetts Securities Division.

ACG BostonCFA Society Boston — 6,000+ members; NE's largest (est. 1946)NAIFA Massachusetts

How TrustRank Works

Our independent scoring system for financial advisors in Boston

TrustRank is not a paid placement. We independently evaluated 158 financial advisors serving Boston across three measurable dimensions. No firm can pay to appear or improve its rank.

Component 1 — 55%

AI Visibility Score

We tracked 50 prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude asking about financial advisors in Boston. The % of prompts where each firm appears.

Component 2 — 25%

Review Score

Aggregate ratings across Google, Clutch, and the ProCloser.ai verified review system. Weighted by volume and recency of verified client reviews.

Component 3 — 20%

Content Authority

Depth, accuracy, and credibility of published content, case studies, and thought leadership demonstrating sector expertise in Boston.

Top 8 Financial Advisors in Boston, MA

1
Edelman Financial Engines
Serves Boston, MA
94%
AI Visibility
4.5
Fee-Only Est. 1986 Min: $250K AUM

America's largest independent RIA with a strong Boston presence, offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management to households at every wealth level.

best financial advisor Bostonfee-only advisor Bostonretirement planning Boston
Retirement PlanningInvestment MgmtTax Planning
2
Creative Planning
Serves Boston, MA
91%
AI Visibility
4.7
Fee-Only Est. 1983 Min: $500K AUM

Top-ranked national RIA with Boston advisors offering holistic wealth management including tax, legal, and investment services under one roof.

holistic wealth management BostonCreative Planning Bostonfinancial planning Boston
Wealth ManagementTax PlanningEstate Planning
3
Fisher Investments
Serves Boston, MA
88%
AI Visibility
3.8
Fee-Only Est. 1979 Min: $500K AUM

Large independent investment counselor with Boston representation, managing equity portfolios for high-net-worth individuals using a top-down macro investment approach.

Fisher Investments Bostonequity portfolio manager Bostoninvestment counselor Boston
Portfolio ManagementHNW ClientsEquity Investing
4
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Serves Boston, MA
84%
AI Visibility
4
Fee-Based Est. 1914 Min: $250K AUM

Full-service wealth management firm with multiple Boston offices, offering investment advisory, banking, and estate planning to a broad range of clients.

Merrill Lynch Bostonwealth management Bostonfull service financial advisor Boston
Full-ServiceBanking IntegrationEstate Planning
5
Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management
Serves Boston, MA
80%
AI Visibility
4.2
Fee-Based Est. 1857 Min: $100K AUM

Integrated financial planning firm with a large Boston advisor network, combining insurance, investment, and retirement planning services.

Northwestern Mutual Bostonfinancial planner Bostoninsurance advisor Boston
InsuranceRetirementInvestment Planning
6
Edward Jones
Serves Boston, MA
77%
AI Visibility
4.1
Fee-Based Est. 1922 Min: $50K AUM

Nationwide brokerage with dozens of Boston offices, offering personalized investment advice to individual investors and small business owners through a local advisor model.

Edward Jones Bostonlocal financial advisor Bostonsmall business advisor Boston
Individual InvestorsRetirementSmall Business
7
Fidelity Wealth Services
Serves Boston, MA
73%
AI Visibility
4.4
Fee-Only Est. 1946 Min: $250K AUM

Dedicated wealth management arm of Fidelity Investments serving Boston clients with comprehensive planning, digital tools, and low-cost investment management.

Fidelity wealth advisor Bostonlow cost financial advisor BostonFidelity Boston
Digital ToolsLow-Cost InvestingRetirement
8
Vanguard Personal Advisor Services
Serves Boston, MA
70%
AI Visibility
4.6
Fee-Only Est. 1975 Min: $50K AUM

Digital-forward advisory service from Vanguard, pairing Boston clients with CFP professionals for financial planning at an industry-leading 0.3% advisory fee.

Vanguard advisor Bostonlow fee financial advisor BostonCFP Boston
Low FeesCFP AccessDigital Planning

Financial Advisors Market Overview — Boston, MA

Boston is one of the densest financial advisory markets in the US, driven by old-money Brahmin wealth, a massive biotech and life sciences corridor along Route 128, and a large base of university endowment professionals. The city has over 620 registered RIAs — the fifth-highest density per capita nationally.

Market Indicator Data Point
Registered RIAs620+
State Income Tax5.0%
Median Client AUM$510K
Biotech/Life Sci Clients%28 of market

Regulatory & Licensing Environment

Massachusetts RIAs with under $100M AUM register with the Massachusetts Securities Division (MSD). Massachusetts imposes one of the strictest state-level fiduciary frameworks in the country — the Massachusetts Fiduciary Duty Rule (950 CMR 12.207) requires broker-dealers to act in client's best interest, going beyond SEC Reg BI. Verify registration at sec.state.ma.us.

Financial Advisors Fees in Boston, MA

Fee Type Typical Range
AUM Fee (typical)0.90–1.40%
Flat Annual Retainer$5,000–$12,000
Hourly Consulting$325–$550/hr
One-Time Financial Plan$3,500–$8,000

Boston's high COL and concentration of ultra-HNW old-money clients pushes average AUM fees higher than comparable cities. Advisors serving biotech executives frequently charge separate project fees for IPO lockup and pre-IPO planning.

How to Choose a Financial Advisors in Boston, MA

  • Biotech/IPO expertise: The Route 128 corridor (Moderna, Biogen, Boston Scientific) creates a constant pipeline of pre-IPO equity planning needs. Ask advisors specifically about handling lockup expiration, Rule 144 sales, and tax stacking from RSU vestings at IPO.
  • Massachusetts fiduciary standard: MA imposes a stricter-than-SEC fiduciary standard on broker-dealers. Verify any advisor's Form CRS to understand their duty standard — an RIA is legally superior to a broker-dealer in this state.
  • Academic wealth management: Harvard, MIT, and Boston University employees often have TIAA-CREF and 403(b) plans requiring specialized knowledge. Look for advisors who list university employee retirement planning as a specialty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about choosing financial advisors in Boston, MA.

Does Massachusetts have a stricter fiduciary rule than federal law?+
Yes — Massachusetts 950 CMR 12.207 requires broker-dealers to meet a best-interest standard that exceeds SEC Regulation Best Interest. This means even non-RIA brokers face a higher duty in Massachusetts than in most other states. However, a fee-only RIA still provides the highest protection.
How does Boston's biotech sector affect financial planning?+
IPO lockup periods, pre-IPO RSU and stock option planning, and Rule 144 sale restrictions are daily concerns for advisors serving Cambridge and Route 128 biotech employees. The 2024–25 wave of biotech IPOs created significant concentrated position problems for early employees.
What is the Massachusetts state income tax rate for investment income?+
Massachusetts taxes most investment income at 5.0% (flat rate), but gains on assets held under one year are taxed at 8.5% under the state's short-term capital gains surcharge. This makes tax-loss harvesting and long-term holding strategies particularly important in Boston.
Are there advisors in Boston who specialize in university faculty retirement?+
Yes — several RIA firms near Harvard Square and Kenmore Square specifically serve academic faculty with TIAA-CREF, 403(b), and supplemental 457(b) plans, including advice on the complex annuity-vs-mutual-fund decisions within TIAA.
What is the cost of financial planning in Boston compared to national averages?+
Boston runs 20–35% above national averages for hourly fees and retainers due to COL and market concentration. Hourly rates of $325–$550 are typical; AUM fees average 1.0–1.2% vs. the national 0.85–1.0% range.

Reviewed by: Tania Kozar, CFP® — ProCloser.ai Research  |  Last Updated: April 2026  |  Sources: SEC IAPD, FINRA BrokerCheck, state regulatory filings, ProCloser.ai primary research.

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