Award Disclosures
Third-Party Recognitions and Rankings
From time to time, CWA may be recognized or ranked by independent third party rating services or publications, summaries of which may be included on our website. Such recognitions or rankings are generally based on information prepared or submitted by the recognized advisory firm, and are usually limited only to those advisory firms who choose to participate in such surveys. Any third party recognition or ranking that may be included on our website should not be construed as a guarantee that any client or prospective client will experience any specific level of investment performance or receive any specific level of customer service, as a result of such recognition or ranking. Furthermore, any such recognition or ranking should not be construed as an endorsement by any of CWA’s clients. As such, clients and prospective clients should not put undue reliance on any of these statements.
Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America
The methodology for the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America rankings for 2017 through 2023 is as follows: The company must (i) have generated revenue by March 31, 2019, (ii) have generated at least $100,000 in revenue by 2019, (iii) have generated at least $2MM in revenue in 2022, and (iv) be privately held, for-profit; based in the U.S., and independent (not a subsidiary or division of another company). As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine rankings were calculated to four decimal places. For more information regarding this methodology, please click on the following link: https://incmagazine.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000101666-What-are-the-eligibility-criteria-for-the-Inc-5000-
Inc. Regionals: Fastest Growing U.S. Companies in the Southeast
The methodology for the Inc. Regionals: Fastest Growing U.S. Companies in the Southeast for 2021 through 2023 is as follows: Companies on the Inc. Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2021. To qualify in 2023, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent–not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies–as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired). The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. For more information regarding this methodology, please click on the following link: https://incmagazine.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048737392-How-are-the-Inc-Regionals-companies-selected- .
Financial Advisor 50 Fastest Growing RIAs
Financial Advisor (FA) RIA survey is a ranking based on assets under management at the year-end of independent RIA firms that file their own ADV with the SEC. To be eligible for the FA Magazine RIA ranking, firms must be independent RIAs who perform financial planning services to individual clients. Firms must have at least $500 million in assets under management as of December 31, 2022, to be included in the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine’s 2023 RIA survey. Firms with under $500 million will be included the FA’s expanded 2023 online RIA survey. For more information, please click on the following link: https://www.fa-mag.com/news/2023-ria-survey—ranking–consolidation-crunch-hits-rate-reality-73828.html?section=133
Financial Advisors’ America’s Top RIAs
The data is as of 12/31/23 unless noted otherwise on the survey. The data was compiled by Financial Advisor (FA) magazine through the information provided to them by the firms that completed and submitted a survey.
FA’s RIA survey is a ranking based on assets under management at year end of independent RIA firms that file their own ADV with the SEC. FA’s RIA ranking orders firms from largest to smallest, based on AUM reported to us by firms that voluntarily complete and submit FA’s survey by our deadline. We do our best to verify AUM by reviewing ADV forms. To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms must have at least $1 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023, to be included in the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine’s 2024 RIA survey. Firms with under $1 billion will be included in FA’s expanded 2024 online RIA survey.
Hybrid RIA firms, corporate RIA firms and investment advisor representatives (IARs) are not eligible for this survey. A corporate RIA is a registered investment advisor most often formed by a broker-dealer that files an ADV with the SEC. Advisors who are affiliated with the broker-dealer or other entity’s corporate RIA may offer investment advice. They are considered Investment Advisor Representatives (IARs) of the corporate RIA. All of the assets under management of the IARs are included in the corporate RIA’s ADV filed with the SEC.
Five Star Wealth Manager
Some of our investment advisory representatives have been awarded the Five Star Wealth Manager award. The Five Star Wealth Manager program is one of the largest and most widely published wealth manager awards program in North America. Five Star award winners do not pay a fee to be included in the research or on the final list of award winners. Five Star award winners may pay fees to Five Star for marketing and advertising support of the award. For the purpose of the program, wealth managers are defined to be those individuals who help their clients prepare a financial plan and/or implement aspects of their financial plan.
To receive the Five Star Wealth Manager award, a wealth manager must satisfy 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria that are associated with wealth managers. Required eligibility criteria are: (1) credentialed as an investment advisory representative, (2) actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years, (3) favorable regulatory and compliant history review, (4) fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards, and (5) accepting new clients. Considered evaluation criteria are: (6) one year client retention rate, (7) five year client retention rate, (8) non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered, (9) number of client household’s served, and (10) education and professional designations.
Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager is no guarantee as to future investment success nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded the Five Star Wealth Manager in the future. The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided by the firm. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Gulfshore Business Best of Business
The methodology for the Gulfshore Business Best of Business is as follows: Each year (since 2012), Gulfshore Business readers cast votes for hundreds of locally owned and operated businesses in Southwest Florida online via a survey requiring participants to provide their name and email address, so each respondent could only cast one ballot. Winners are listed for each of the 29 categories, followed by the two runner-up finalists (listed in alphabetical order), for each business type. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/best-of-business-2023/
Naples Illustrated The Naples 100
The methodology for the Naples Illustrated The Naples 100 is as follows: Each year (since 2020), The Naples 100 recognizes the most influential residents in Collier County, Florida. From icons to up-and-comers, we want to feature locals who shape how we live, work, play, and give back. Our editorial team selects those to be included based on several factors: longevity in the community, company/business success, reputation, and community involvement/philanthropy, leadership. For more information, please click on the following link: https://www.naplesillustrated.com/naples-100-main/
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
The methodology used for the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors is as follows: The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2022/04/07/methodology-forbes-best-in-state-wealth-advisors-2022/?sh=77a103f47fee
Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals
The methodology used for the Forbes Top Financial Security Professional is as follows: The SHOOK begins by scouring the financial services industry—life insurance companies, banks, brokerages, agencies, custodians, and others for nominations. SHOOK accepts professionals who meet pre-determined minimum thresholds and acceptable compliance records.
Financial Security Professionals (“FSP”) refers to professionals who are properly licensed to sell life insurance and annuities. FSPs may also hold other credentials and licenses which would allow them to offer investments and securities products through those licenses.
Basic requirements: 7 years as an FSP, minimum 1-year at current firm with exceptions (acquisitions, etc.), recommended and nominated by their firm, completed an online survey, primary focus on individuals, not institutions, and an acceptable compliance record.
Quantitative elements: Production/premiums, death benefits, and assets under management (weightings assigned for each), and client-related trends and data, such as persistency rates. Portfolio performance is not a factor; audited returns among professionals are rare, and differing client objectives provide varying returns.
Qualitative elements: Telephone and in-person meetings with nominees, professionals that exhibit “best practices” within their practices and approach to working with clients, compliance records and Form U4s, FSPs that provide a full client experience (including service model, planning process, and breadth of services), credentials and years of service, use of team and team dynamics, level of community involvement, and discussions with management, peers and competing peers.
Compliance issues: Infractions that are denied or closed with no-action, complaint that arose from a product, service or advice initiated by a previous professional or former member of the team, length of time since last complaint, complaints related to product failure, settled complaints, meritless complaints, and actions taken due to administrative error or failure.
For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2024/07/10/methodology-americas-top-financial-security-professionals-2024/
