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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Hightower Advisors, LLC vs Focus Partners Wealth, 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 $182B at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC, 9% more than its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Hightower Advisors, LLC reports more individual clients (62,807 vs 61,002) and its clients also hold more on average (about $2.8 million each against $2.6 million). Hightower Advisors, LLC is based in Chicago, Illinois and Focus Partners Wealth, LLC in St. Louis, Missouri.

FigureHightower Advisors, LLCFocus Partners Wealth, LLC
Regulatory AUM$199B$182B
National rank#5#7
HeadquartersChicago, IllinoisSt. Louis, Missouri
Individual clients62,80761,002
High-net-worth clients29,17730,177
Average client assets$2.8 million$2.6 million
Accounts220,222220,585
Discretionary96% of AUM82% of AUM
Employees1,9831,915
Advisory staff9531,025
Clients per advisory employee6660
Offices133113
Form ADV filed2026-09-032026-09-29

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

Focus Partners Wealth, LLC

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for investment companies
  • 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
  • Performance-based fees
  • Other

Questions

Which is bigger, Hightower Advisors, LLC or Focus Partners Wealth, LLC?

Hightower Advisors, LLC, with $199B in regulatory assets under management against $182B at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. Nationally they rank #5 and #7 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Hightower Advisors, LLC and Focus Partners Wealth, LLC have?

Hightower Advisors, LLC reports 62,807 individual clients (29,177 high-net-worth) with 953 advisory employees; Focus Partners Wealth, LLC reports 61,002 (30,177 high-net-worth) with 1,025 advisory employees.

How do Hightower Advisors, LLC and Focus Partners Wealth, LLC charge clients?

Only Focus Partners Wealth, 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 Hightower Advisors, LLC and Focus Partners Wealth, LLC offer?

Focus Partners Wealth, LLC lists portfolio management for investment companies; periodicals or newsletters; 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; other services.

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 ↗, Focus Partners Wealth, LLC ↗. How to check a financial advisor →