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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Corient vs Cerity Partners LLC

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

The short answer

Corient is the larger of the two, with $165B in regulatory assets to $162B at Cerity Partners LLC, 2% more than its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Corient reports more individual clients (25,963 vs 24,945) and its clients also hold more on average (about $6.1 million each against $4.6 million). Corient is based in Miami, Florida and Cerity Partners LLC in New York, New York.

FigureCorientCerity Partners LLC
Regulatory AUM$165B$162B
National rank#8#9
HeadquartersMiami, FloridaNew York, New York
Individual clients25,96324,945
High-net-worth clients19,57114,561
Average client assets$6.1 million$4.6 million
Accounts113,75226,230
Discretionary90% of AUM90% of AUM
Employees1,5371,529
Advisory staff6201,102
Clients per advisory employee4223
Offices3767
Form ADV filed2026-08-212026-07-13

Corient

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
  • Pension consulting
  • Selecting other advisers
  • Periodicals or newsletters
  • Market timing
  • Educational seminars and workshops

How it’s paid

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

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

Questions

Which is bigger, Corient or Cerity Partners LLC?

Corient, with $165B in regulatory assets under management against $162B at Cerity Partners LLC. Nationally they rank #8 and #9 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Corient and Cerity Partners LLC have?

Corient reports 25,963 individual clients (19,571 high-net-worth) with 620 advisory employees; Cerity Partners LLC reports 24,945 (14,561 high-net-worth) with 1,102 advisory employees.

How do Corient and Cerity Partners LLC charge clients?

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

What services do Corient and Cerity Partners LLC offer?

Corient lists periodicals or newsletters; market timing, which Cerity Partners LLC does not. Cerity Partners LLC lists portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles, which Corient does not. Both offer financial planning; portfolio management for individuals and small businesses; 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: Corient ↗, Cerity Partners LLC ↗. How to check a financial advisor →