What this article covers
Find financial advisors across Virginia on one statewide map, then open a city guide for Richmond, Virginia Beach, Arlington and other communities. This guide also covers statewide planning factors such as Virginia’s retirement tax breaks and the federal and military careers behind so many households, the state’s largest employers, top-rated advisors, and tips for hiring the right advisor for your needs.
Financial Advisor Directory for Virginia
📍 Virginia city guides
Find a financial advisor in your Virginia city
Choose a city to see local advisors on a map, along with planning considerations, major employers and hiring tips for that community.
Don’t see your city? The statewide map below includes every Virginia advisor featured on Wealthtender, or search for financial advisors near you.
📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Virginia
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 Virginia.
📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.
Explore neighboring state guides
Keep exploring
Key Takeaways
You can compare Virginia financial advisors by credentials, specialty and verified client reviews before you contact anyone.
The map shows advisors whose primary office is in Virginia. Profiles include Certified Advisor Reviews™, designations such as the CFP® and the services each advisor offers.
Virginia’s retiree tax breaks, federal and military careers, and county-by-county tax bills shape many planning decisions.
Virginia exempts Social Security, offers an age deduction of up to $12,000 and lets military retirees subtract up to $40,000 of retired pay, while most other income reaches the 5.75% top rate quickly. Federal pensions, VRS plan choices, stock awards from large corporate employers and local property taxes and flood risk round out the picture.
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 Virginia Residents
Every state has its own financial landscape. Here are a few statewide factors worth discussing with a Virginia financial advisor.
Retirement tax breaks, with a quick climb to the top rate
Virginia’s top income tax rate of 5.75% applies to taxable income over $17,000, so most households pay it on most of their income, according to Virginia Tax. Social Security is fully exempt, and residents 65 and older can take an age deduction of up to $12,000, reduced once adjusted federal AGI passes $50,000 for single filers or $75,000 for married couples. Military retirees can subtract up to $40,000 of retired pay for 2025 and later, but FERS, CSRS and TSP income don’t qualify.
Federal, military and contractor careers
The U.S. Department of Defense is Virginia’s largest employer, from the Pentagon and Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia to Quantico and the Navy bases of Hampton Roads. Federal civilians plan around the FERS pension, Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan, while service members weigh the Blended Retirement System, Survivor Benefit Plan elections and a second career. Contractor households often pair a 401(k) with stock awards and should plan for contracts that end or change hands. See our Lockheed Martin Q&A.
Corporate stock pay and Virginia’s state pension plans
Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington opened its first phase in 2023 with about 8,000 employees, Capital One is based in McLean, and Newport News Shipbuilding says it employs more than 26,000 people. Stock awards and deferred pay raise questions about vesting, taxes and concentration in one company; see our Amazon Q&A. Most state and local workers who joined the Virginia Retirement System on or after January 1, 2014, are in its Hybrid Retirement Plan, and eligible faculty get 60 days to choose an optional retirement plan instead.
Local tax bills and coastal flood risk
Virginia’s independent cities are separate from the counties around them, so a Falls Church or Manassas mailing address doesn’t tell you which tax bill you’ll get. Rates vary widely: Fairfax County’s real estate rate is $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2026. In Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach voters approved $567.5 million in flood protection bonds in 2021. Standard homeowners policies don’t cover flood, and NFIP policies typically take 30 days to take effect.
The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Virginia
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 Virginia resident, 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 Virginia?
These are the largest employers in Virginia, in rank order, from the state’s own list of its 50 largest employers based on third-quarter 2025 employment. The state ranks employers but doesn’t publish their headcounts. Highlighted companies link to Q&As with advice from financial advisors who work with their employees.
- U.S. Department of Defense
- WalmartRead advisor Q&A →
- Amazon Fulfillment ServicesRead advisor Q&A →
- Sentara Healthcare
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- University of Virginia
- Inova Health System
- Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News Shipbuilding)
- Food Lion
- Fairfax County Government
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Loudoun County Public Schools
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: Virginia Works, Virginia Community Profile, 50 Largest Employers (April 2026; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, third quarter 2025). Virginia Works ranks employers by employment but does not publish counts. Amazon also appears separately as Amazon Logistics at No. 11.
Do you work for one of the largest employers in Virginia? 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Financial Advisors
Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™ recognize financial advisors and firms that consistently earn exceptional client feedback. Below are Virginia-area advisors and firms that have met the criteria for Highly Rated recognition.
| Firm/Advisor | Firm | City | State | Voice of the Client Award | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Brennan, CFP® | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Reston | Virginia | 2025 Highly Rated Advisor | Website |
| Chris Urban, CFP®, RICP®, TPCP® | Discovery Wealth Planning | Vienna | Virginia | 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 a Virginia Financial Advisor
Before hiring a financial advisor in Virginia, 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
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.
How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?
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