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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Edelman Financial Engines vs Hightower Advisors, LLC

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

The short answer

Edelman Financial Engines is the larger of the two, with $326B in regulatory assets to $199B at Hightower Advisors, LLC, 64% more than its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Edelman Financial Engines reports more individual clients (477,170 vs 62,807), while Hightower Advisors, LLC’s clients hold more on average (about $2.8 million each against $380,000). Edelman Financial Engines is based in Santa Clara, California and Hightower Advisors, LLC in Chicago, Illinois.

FigureEdelman Financial EnginesHightower Advisors, LLC
Regulatory AUM$326B$199B
National rank#3#5
HeadquartersSanta Clara, CaliforniaChicago, Illinois
Individual clients477,17062,807
High-net-worth clients45,65629,177
Average client assets$380,000$2.8 million
Accounts1,517,156220,222
Discretionary100% of AUM96% of AUM
Employees1,6791,983
Advisory staff553953
Clients per advisory employee86366
Offices132133
Form ADV filed2026-07-242026-09-03

Edelman Financial Engines

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
  • Educational seminars and workshops

How it’s paid

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

Hightower Advisors, 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
  • Other services

How it’s paid

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

Questions

Which is bigger, Edelman Financial Engines or Hightower Advisors, LLC?

Edelman Financial Engines, with $326B in regulatory assets under management against $199B at Hightower Advisors, LLC. Nationally they rank #3 and #5 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Edelman Financial Engines and Hightower Advisors, LLC have?

Edelman Financial Engines reports 477,170 individual clients (45,656 high-net-worth) with 553 advisory employees; Hightower Advisors, LLC reports 62,807 (29,177 high-net-worth) with 953 advisory employees.

How do Edelman Financial Engines and Hightower Advisors, LLC charge clients?

Only Edelman Financial Engines lists subscription fees on Form ADV. Fee schedules and minimums are in each firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure.

What services do Edelman Financial Engines and Hightower Advisors, LLC offer?

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

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: Edelman Financial Engines ↗, Hightower Advisors, LLC ↗. How to check a financial advisor →