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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Cerity Partners LLC vs Mariner

Two independent wealth managers side by side: assets, clients, staff, services and fees, from each firm’s own filing.

The short answer

Cerity Partners LLC is the larger of the two, with $162B in regulatory assets to $125B at Mariner, 29% more than its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Mariner reports more individual clients (54,583 vs 24,945), while Cerity Partners LLC’s clients hold more on average (about $4.6 million each against $2.1 million). Cerity Partners LLC is based in New York, New York and Mariner in Overland Park, Kansas.

FigureCerity Partners LLCMariner
Regulatory AUM$162B$125B
National rank#9#10
HeadquartersNew York, New YorkOverland Park, Kansas
Individual clients24,94554,583
High-net-worth clients14,56122,322
Average client assets$4.6 million$2.1 million
Accounts26,230186,791
Discretionary90% of AUM98% of AUM
Employees1,5291,889
Advisory staff1,102933
Clients per advisory employee2359
Offices67131
Form ADV filed2026-07-132026-08-05

Cerity Partners LLC

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles
  • Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
  • Pension consulting
  • Selecting other advisers
  • Educational seminars and workshops

How it’s paid

  • A percentage of assets under management
  • Hourly charges
  • Fixed fees
  • Performance-based fees

Mariner

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles
  • Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
  • Pension consulting
  • Selecting other advisers
  • Periodicals or newsletters
  • Educational seminars and workshops
  • Other services

How it’s paid

  • A percentage of assets under management
  • Hourly charges
  • Fixed fees

Questions

Which is bigger, Cerity Partners LLC or Mariner?

Cerity Partners LLC, with $162B in regulatory assets under management against $125B at Mariner. Nationally they rank #9 and #10 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Cerity Partners LLC and Mariner have?

Cerity Partners LLC reports 24,945 individual clients (14,561 high-net-worth) with 1,102 advisory employees; Mariner reports 54,583 (22,322 high-net-worth) with 933 advisory employees.

How do Cerity Partners LLC and Mariner charge clients?

Only Cerity Partners LLC lists performance-based fees on Form ADV. Fee schedules and minimums are in each firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure.

What services do Cerity Partners LLC and Mariner offer?

Mariner lists periodicals or newsletters; other services, which Cerity Partners LLC does not. Both offer financial planning; portfolio management for individuals and small businesses; portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles; portfolio management for businesses and institutions; pension consulting; selecting other advisers; educational seminars and workshops.

More comparisons

Where these numbers come from

Every figure is the firm’s own answer on its latest Form ADV, from the SEC’s registered-adviser list as of October 1, 2026: regulatory assets and accounts (Item 5.F), clients by type (5.D), employees (5.A and 5.B), compensation (5.E) and services (5.G). Average client assets divide the assets held for individual and high-net-worth clients by their number. Ranks compare each firm with all US-based independent wealth management RIAs, the same field as The Largest RIAs. Figures can lag recent deals and market moves.

Not an endorsement or a recommendation of either firm. Before hiring an adviser, read its Form ADV Part 2A brochure and check its record on the SEC’s adviser search: Cerity Partners LLC ↗, Mariner ↗. How to check a financial advisor →