CNBC launches elite advisors list for U.S. ultra-wealth market

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Highlights

CNBC's 2026 Elite Advisors list names 25 firms serving ultra-high-net-worth clients with $20 million to $30 million or more in investable assets.
The selected firms, headquartered across 15 states, collectively oversee $2.1 trillion in assets under management and average 31 years in business.
Competition in U.S. wealth management is shifting toward complex services—such as tax, estate, and family governance—beyond traditional investment returns.

Methodology and scope of the 2026 ranking

As reported by CNBC, the new Elite Advisors list identifies 25 investment advisory firms selected for their work with ultra-high-net-worth investors and family offices. CNBC says it accepts no payment for placement, and that the ranking is compiled through data analysis and editorial review with input from AccuPoint Solutions and Cerulli Associates.

CNBC describes ultra-high-net-worth wealth management as a field generally aimed at individuals or families with about $20 million to $30 million or more in investable assets, though thresholds vary by institution. The firms on the 2026 list are headquartered across 15 states and collectively oversee $2.1 trillion in assets under management.

The group averages 31 years in business, according to CNBC. The oldest firm on the list was founded in 1923, while the newest was formed in 2023, underscoring the mix of long-established and newer entrants competing in the segment.

Broader role of advisors in the ultra-wealth sector

Advisors serving the richest U.S. households typically address financial needs that differ sharply from those of the average investor. Alongside traditional investment management, including private, illiquid or concentrated holdings, much of their work centers on more complex planning and coordination needs.

Those services can include tax, estate, trust and risk planning, as well as family governance, business advisory and philanthropy support. Some firms also provide lifestyle-related assistance such as private jet leasing and concierge services, reflecting the broader operating model that has developed around affluent families and multigenerational wealth.

Vlad Golyk, a partner at McKinsey & Co. who leads the consulting firm's wealth management practice in North America, says the work differs from that of a traditional financial advisor. The new ranking points to the scale of competition in a U.S. advisory market where firms increasingly position themselves around complex private wealth services rather than investment returns alone.

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