What this article covers
Discover financial advisors trusted by Austinites in the only local directory featuring 5-Star Certified Advisor Review ™ recipients and Wealthtender Voice of the Client Award™ winners, recognition earned for exceptional client feedback. Compare fiduciary, fee-only advisors, CFP® professionals, and specialists to find the right fit for your unique financial needs.
Financial Advisor Directory for Austin, Texas
📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Austin
Double-click (or pinch the map on mobile devices) to zoom in and expand the details for financial advisors whose primary office location is in Austin.
📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.
📍 Additional Advisors Who Serve Clients in Austin
In addition to the advisors featured above, these advisors can also meet with you in person in Austin.
Explore nearby city guides
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Key Takeaways
You can compare Austin financial advisors by credentials, specialty and verified client reviews before you contact anyone.
The map shows advisors whose primary office is in Austin, and the section below it lists advisors who also serve Austin clients in person or virtually. Profiles include Certified Advisor Reviews™, designations such as the CFP® and the services each advisor offers.
Austin’s mix of tech employers, state government and the University of Texas shapes the planning help many residents need.
Tech employees often need help managing stock compensation and concentration risk, while state and UT Austin employees face retirement plan elections that can be permanent. Homeowners should also plan around Texas property taxes and Hill Country flash flood risk, since home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage.
Interview more than one advisor and confirm how each one is paid.
Ask about services, fees and whether the advisor acts as a fiduciary, then check their background for free on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website before you hire.
Financial Planning Considerations for Austin Residents
Every city has its own financial landscape. Here are a few local factors worth discussing with an Austin financial advisor.
Tech jobs and equity compensation
Austin’s private-sector payrolls lean heavily on technology. Tesla named its Giga Texas plant in Travis County as its headquarters in 2021, and Tesla, Dell and Amazon each employ 11,000 or more people in the metro area. Tech workers often receive RSUs, stock options or an ESPP, which raises questions about when to sell shares, how vesting affects your taxes and how much of your net worth rides on one company. See our Q&As for Tesla employees and Dell Technologies employees.
State jobs, UT Austin and public pensions
As the state capital, Austin is home to more than 41,000 state government employees and over 32,000 people working at the University of Texas at Austin. State workers typically build retirement and health benefits through the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). At UT Austin, eligible faculty and professional staff have 90 days to choose between the TRS pension and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP), a once-in-a-lifetime, irrevocable decision. Voluntary 403(b) and 457(b) plans each allow up to $24,500 for 2026. Our University of Texas Q&A covers these choices.
No state income tax, but property taxes matter
Texas has no personal income tax, so property taxes carry much of the cost of local government and schools, and Austin-area homeowners feel them. In November 2025, Texas voters raised the school district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, applying beginning with the 2025 tax year, and raised the extra school exemption for homeowners 65 or older or with a disability from $10,000 to $60,000. Qualifying older homeowners also get a ceiling that freezes school taxes at the amount paid in their first year under the exemption.
Flash floods and insurance
The Hill Country around Austin is known as Flash Flood Alley, which the Lower Colorado River Authority describes as having one of the greatest flash flood risks in the United States. Standard home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, and the Texas Department of Insurance notes that most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period, so coverage needs to be in place well before storms are in the forecast. It also helps to keep an emergency fund and copies of insurance records somewhere safe.
The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Austin
Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.
As a resident living in Austin, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.
Who are the largest employers in the Austin area?
Austin’s biggest employers span state government, higher education, retail, manufacturing and health care, based on headcount across the Austin metro area. Highlighted companies link to advisor Q&As about their employees.
- State of Texas (state government) 41,620 employees
- The University of Texas at AustinRead advisor Q&A →32,369 employees
- H-E-B 27,271 employees
- TeslaRead advisor Q&A →21,191 employees
- City of Austin 16,403 employees
- Federal government 16,100 employees
- Dell TechnologiesRead advisor Q&A →13,000 employees
- St. David’s HealthCare 12,639 employees
- Ascension Seton 12,635 employees
- AmazonRead advisor Q&A →11,000 employees
Work for one of these companies or another large employer? Explore our employer Q&As for advice on making the most of your benefits.
Source: Austin Transit Partnership, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Principal Employers (fiscal year ended September 2025). Counts cover the Austin metro area (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties). The report compiles them from the Texas State Auditor’s Office, UT Austin, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the City of Austin budget and the Austin Business Journal (October 2025).
Do you work for one of the largest employers in Austin? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.
When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.
Types of Financial Advisors You’ll Find on Wealthtender
Thousands of people visit Wealthtender each month to find and compare financial advisors based on their location, education, experience, areas of specialization and online reviews. Wealthtender’s Certified Advisor Reviews™ help consumers make informed hiring decisions with important details about the relationship between reviewers and advisors always displayed to ensure you gain the transparency you deserve when your life savings could be at stake.
On Wealthtender, you can explore a diverse range of financial advisors and wealth management firms that include:
- Fiduciary advisors committed to acting in clients’ best interests
- CFP® professionals with advanced financial planning credentials
- Fee-only advisors compensated solely by clients
- Advisors for growing families, people nearing retirement, and business owners
- Specialists across multiple categories (e.g., life stage, occupation, ethnicity, lifestyle, religion)
- Highly-rated advisors with positive client reviews
- Firms of varying sizes with advisors who can meet with you in person or online
- Fee-based advisors who offer access to insurance and alternative investments
How to use this directory: Compare financial advisors in the Austin area based on what matters most to you. Use the directory to:
- View advisor profiles to evaluate credentials, services, and areas of specialization
- Read Certified Advisor Reviews™ to learn what clients value most
- Identify advisors recognized with Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™
- Contact advisors and schedule free introductory video calls
Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™: Top Rated Austin Financial Advisors
Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™ recognize financial advisors and firms that consistently earn exceptional client feedback. Below are Austin-area advisors and firms that have met the criteria for Highly Rated recognition.
| Firm/Advisor | Firm | City | State | Voice of the Client Award | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Klingaman, CFP®, RLP® | Kelly Klingaman Financial Planning | Austin | Texas | 2026 Highly Rated Advisor | Website |
| Archer Investment Management | Archer Investment Management | Austin | Texas | 2025 Highly Rated Firm 2026 Highly Rated Firm | Website |
| Richard J. Archer, CDAA, CFA, CFP®, MBA | Archer Investment Management | Austin | Texas | 2025 Highly Rated Advisor 2026 Highly Rated Advisor | Website |
To qualify for a Highly Rated award, advisors and firms must achieve an average client review rating of 4.75 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) based on a minimum number of eligible client reviews published on Wealthtender within a defined timeframe for each particular award (Timeframe for 2025 Award: 1/1/24 – 12/31/25; Timeframe for Subsequent Year Awards: July 1 of the preceding year through December 31 of the Award Year (e.g., Timeframe for 2026 Award 7/1/25 – 12/31/26). Eligible reviews are limited to clients (as of the review submission date) that advisors/firms must self-attest have no material conflicts of interest and received no compensation in exchange for their reviews. ↗️ View full award methodology & FAQs
Although financial advisors and wealth management firms compensate Wealthtender for marketing services (including eligibility to be considered for awards), Wealthtender’s award criteria is objective and not influenced by compensation. Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards are not a guarantee of future performance or success and client reviews may not be representative of the experience of all past or future clients.
Quick Tips For Hiring an Austin Financial Advisor
Before hiring a financial advisor in Austin, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.
Decide Which Services You Need
Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.
Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:
- Budgeting and money management
- Debt management
- Insurance planning
- Retirement planning
- Other investment planning
- Inheritance planning
- Estate planning
- Tax planning
As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor who specializes in those areas.
Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.
Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences
Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.
If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.
Interview Multiple Financial Advisors
Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:
- What services do you provide?
- What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
- What is your investment strategy?
- How do you measure investment performance?
- How do we communicate about my plan?
Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.
Review Financial Advisor Credentials
Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.
As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.
For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Financial advisors and wealth management firms that consistently receive superior client reviews can also qualify for Wealthtender’s Voice of the Client Awards™ designed to recognize America’s most trusted advisors. Learn More About Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™
Clients and other individuals can submit reviews for financial advisors and wealth management firms that have turned on the reviews feature. Before each review is publicly displayed, financial advisors agree to disclose important information about their relationship with the reviewer to ensure consumers gain the transparency they deserve when their life savings could be at stake. These disclosures also help financial advisors satisfy compliance with industry regulations.
After financial advisors provide the required disclosures, Wealthtender publishes the review with the Certified Advisor Review™ mark. Learn More About Certified Advisor Reviews™
For example, financial advisors who have earned their Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation are fiduciaries. To hold themselves out as a CFP, these credential holders must acknowledge they will adhere to the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct and act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice to their clients. Learn More About Fiduciary Financial Advisors
When viewing financial advisor profiles on Wealthtender, look for the Compensation Methods section that shows ways each financial advisor can be paid for their services, including if they offer fee-only financial planning services. Learn More About Fee-Only Financial Advisors
What Do Financial Advisors Love About Austin?
We invited financial advisors in the Wealthtender community to share their favorite places and things to do in Austin. Here’s what they said.
What does Richard Archer love about Austin?
- Favorite Local Restaurant: Uchi. It’s a tough call, though, since there are many great Austin restaurants now.
- Favorite Local Sports Team: The Longhorns. You’ll also find me regularly cheering my other favorite team Liverpool.
- Favorite Family Activity: Weekend wake and foil surfing on Ladybird Lake
- Favorite Local Attraction: The Alamo Drafthouse. I love movies and their creative preview content
- Favorite Place to Show Out of Town Guests: Tiny Boxwoods Milk & Cookies. Their bakery and coffee are simply amazing.
Please note: Wealthtender may be compensated by financial advisors featured on our site and within this guide. Learn more about how we operate with integrity to earn your trust.
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About the author
Founder & CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Wealthtender
Brian Thorp is the founder and CEO of Wealthtender and its Editor-in-Chief. With more than 25 years in the financial services industry, he is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.
Brian and his wife live in Austin, Texas.
Wealthtender is a trusted, independent financial directory and educational resource governed by our strict Editorial Policy, Integrity Standards, and Terms of Use. While we receive compensation from featured professionals (a natural conflict of interest), we always operate with integrity and transparency to earn your trust. Wealthtender is not a client of these providers. ➡️ Find a Local Advisor | 🎯 Find a Specialist Advisor