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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Hightower Advisors, LLC vs Cresset Asset Management, LLC

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

The short answer

Hightower Advisors, LLC is the larger of the two, with $199B in regulatory assets to $79B at Cresset Asset Management, LLC, 2.5 times the size of its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Hightower Advisors, LLC reports more individual clients (62,807 vs 4,746), while Cresset Asset Management, LLC’s clients hold more on average (about $15 million each against $2.8 million). Both are based in Chicago, Illinois.

FigureHightower Advisors, LLCCresset Asset Management, LLC
Regulatory AUM$199B$79B
National rank#5#15
HeadquartersChicago, IllinoisChicago, Illinois
Individual clients62,8074,746
High-net-worth clients29,1773,667
Average client assets$2.8 million$15 million
Accounts220,22232,894
Discretionary96% of AUM98% of AUM
Employees1,983496
Advisory staff953187
Clients per advisory employee6625
Offices13325
Form ADV filed2026-09-032026-08-13

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

Cresset Asset Management, 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
  • Fixed fees
  • Performance-based fees

Questions

Which is bigger, Hightower Advisors, LLC or Cresset Asset Management, LLC?

Hightower Advisors, LLC, with $199B in regulatory assets under management against $79B at Cresset Asset Management, LLC. Nationally they rank #5 and #15 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Hightower Advisors, LLC and Cresset Asset Management, LLC have?

Hightower Advisors, LLC reports 62,807 individual clients (29,177 high-net-worth) with 953 advisory employees; Cresset Asset Management, LLC reports 4,746 (3,667 high-net-worth) with 187 advisory employees.

How do Hightower Advisors, LLC and Cresset Asset Management, LLC charge clients?

Only Hightower Advisors, LLC lists hourly charges; other forms of compensation on Form ADV. Only Cresset Asset Management, LLC lists performance-based fees. Fee schedules and minimums are in each firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure.

What services do Hightower Advisors, LLC and Cresset Asset Management, LLC offer?

Hightower Advisors, LLC lists other services, which Cresset Asset Management, LLC does not. Cresset Asset Management, LLC lists educational seminars and workshops, which Hightower Advisors, 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.

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: Hightower Advisors, LLC ↗, Cresset Asset Management, LLC ↗. How to check a financial advisor →