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RIA comparison · SEC Form ADV

Vanguard Advisers, Inc. vs Edelman Financial Engines

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

The short answer

Vanguard Advisers, Inc. is the larger of the two, with $345B in regulatory assets to $326B at Edelman Financial Engines, 6% more than its rival, by their latest Form ADV filings. Vanguard Advisers, Inc. reports more individual clients (791,495 vs 477,170) and its clients also hold more on average (about $420,000 each against $380,000). Vanguard Advisers, Inc. is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Edelman Financial Engines in Santa Clara, California.

FigureVanguard Advisers, Inc.Edelman Financial Engines
Regulatory AUM$345B$326B
National rank#2#3
HeadquartersMalvern, PennsylvaniaSanta Clara, California
Individual clients791,495477,170
High-net-worth clients80,15945,656
Average client assets$420,000$380,000
Accounts791,5281,517,156
Discretionary35% of AUM100% of AUM
Employees2,2081,679
Advisory staff1,903553
Clients per advisory employee416863
Offices2,226132
Form ADV filed2026-09-242026-07-24

Vanguard Advisers, Inc.

Full profile →

Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses
  • Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles
  • Portfolio management for businesses and institutions
  • Selecting other advisers

How it’s paid

  • A percentage of assets under management
  • Fixed fees

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

Questions

Which is bigger, Vanguard Advisers, Inc. or Edelman Financial Engines?

Vanguard Advisers, Inc., with $345B in regulatory assets under management against $326B at Edelman Financial Engines. Nationally they rank #2 and #3 among 5,657 independent wealth management RIAs.

How many clients do Vanguard Advisers, Inc. and Edelman Financial Engines have?

Vanguard Advisers, Inc. reports 791,495 individual clients (80,159 high-net-worth) with 1,903 advisory employees; Edelman Financial Engines reports 477,170 (45,656 high-net-worth) with 553 advisory employees.

How do Vanguard Advisers, Inc. and Edelman Financial Engines charge clients?

Only Edelman Financial Engines lists hourly charges; subscription fees; other forms of compensation on Form ADV. Fee schedules and minimums are in each firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure.

What services do Vanguard Advisers, Inc. and Edelman Financial Engines offer?

Vanguard Advisers, Inc. lists portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles, which Edelman Financial Engines does not. Edelman Financial Engines lists pension consulting; periodicals or newsletters; educational seminars and workshops, which Vanguard Advisers, Inc. does not. Both offer financial planning; portfolio management for individuals and small businesses; portfolio management for businesses and institutions; 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: Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ↗, Edelman Financial Engines ↗. How to check a financial advisor →