Aspiriant Named to Barron’s Top RIA Firms List

Much of the work behind wealth management happens quietly, in conversations with you and in the planning and collaboration that continue behind the scenes. It’s about understanding what matters today while also preparing for what may come years from now.

That’s one reason Aspiriant’s inclusion on Barron’s Top RIA Firms list feels particularly meaningful to us. Now in our 11^th consecutive year on the list, we appreciate that Barron’s considers both quantitative and qualitative factors in developing its rankings. It offers a broader look at the firm supporting the relationship you have with your advisor. And that relationship is only part of what you’re choosing.

The people around your advisor matter, too. So does how they work together, how the firm is owned and whether it’s built to support you as your life and needs change. Barron’s describes its rankings as a starting point for investors looking for an advisor. We think that’s a useful way to approach a ranking like this. It can help you identify firms worth getting to know. From there, the questions become more personal. Who owns the firm? Who will surround you? What happens when your financial life gets complicated? And does the relationship feel right for you?

A ranking can help you begin your search. Getting to know the firm behind it can help you understand whether it’s the right fit for you.

How Barron’s evaluates top RIA firms

There’s quite a bit that happens before a firm appears on a Barron’s list. According to Barron’s ranking methodology, participants first go through a prequalification process. Those who qualify complete a survey with more than 100 questions and Barron’s verifies information with firms and regulatory databases before applying its ranking formula.

Their formula considers three broad areas: assets, revenue and quality of practice. Within those areas, Barron’s says it looks at additional quantitative and qualitative factors, including growth, client retention, professional experience and credentials, team characteristics, philanthropic work and compliance records. But do note, investment performance is not a ranking criterion.

A ranking is a starting point

Once you’ve found wealth management firms worth considering, your next step can be understanding what it might be like to work with them. You’ll want to understand the practical things such as service fees, investment approach, financial planning and the experience and credentials of the people you may work with. But some of the most important questions may be less obvious at the beginning of your search.

Who owns the firm?

You might not think to ask this question but if you’re looking for a relationship that may last for decades, ownership matters. It can affect what happens when leaders and wealth managers retire, how the firm plans for succession and whether the firm you choose today is built to serve you and your family well into the future.

Aspiriant is 100% employee-owned and we built it that way with the long term in mind. Many of the families and individuals we serve are thinking in decades, and often generations. We believe the firm serving you should be thinking in generations, too.

Who will surround you?

Your wealth manager may be the person who knows you best, but your financial life is unlikely to fit neatly within one area of expertise. And investment questions may have tax implications. Estate planning can raise questions about family and legacy. A major life or financial change can affect several parts of your plan at once.

That’s why it’s worth understanding who else will be there when you need them. Can your advisor bring the right people into the conversation? Do these people already know how to work together? And will you have access to them as your needs change?

At Aspiriant, our advisors work alongside colleagues with deep experience across financial planning, investment management, tax, estate planning, family governance and philanthropy. The goal isn’t to put more people around the table. It’s to bring the right people together in the right moments of your life.

What happens when your financial life gets more complicated?

Sometimes one financial question has a way of becoming five. You may start with a question about a concentrated stock position and find yourself thinking about taxes, charitable giving, estate planning, cash flow and what you want your wealth to make possible. Selling a business, receiving an inheritance or preparing for retirement can bring its own set of interconnected questions.

These moments rarely fit neatly into one area of wealth management. And they don’t always happen one at a time. That’s where thoughtful planning matters. Are your advisors looking at each question separately, or considering how the pieces fit together? Are they thinking ahead to what one choice may mean for another part of your financial life? And are the right people working together as your needs change?

At Aspiriant, that kind of planning and coordination is central to how we work as a team. The aim is not to give you more advice. It’s to help provide clarity while always staying true to your financial plan.

Does the relationship feel right for you?

Some things are easier to compare than others when you’re considering wealth management firms. You can look at service fees, credentials and experience. But eventually, you have to sit down and talk.

Do you feel heard? Can you ask questions without feeling like you should already know the answers? Does your financial advisor take the time to understand what matters to you before offering advice? And can you imagine picking up the phone when the conversation is a hard one?

Over the years, those conversations may extend well beyond investments. Retirement. Aging parents. Children finding their footing. The sale of a business. And inheritance. What you want to give away. What you hope to leave behind. The right relationship should give you room to talk about all of it.

As you meet with potential advisors, pay attention to the answers you receive. But pay attention to the questions they ask, too. The questions can tell you a lot about how interested someone is in understanding you before helping you plan what comes next.

Looking beyond the ranking

A ranking can introduce you to a firm. Getting to know the people behind it is different. You can ask how the firm is owned and how it’s preparing for the future. Understand who will be there when your needs become more complex. Look for people who plan thoughtfully, work well together and take the time to understand what matters to you. And notice how the conversation feels.

You may be choosing people who will be alongside you through some of the most important moments in your life. The ones you plan for, and the ones you never could. That’s why we think getting to know a wealth management firm should go beyond what you can learn from a list.

If our name on Barron’s 2026 Top RIA Firms list brings you to Aspiriant, we hope you’ll get to know us beyond the recognition. Ask us questions. Tell us what matters to you, what you’re working toward and what feels complicated. Let’s see what you’d like your wealth to make possible. That’s where our relationship can begin.

If you’d like to get to know Aspiriant, we’d be honored to talk with you.