Registered investment advisors have been growing their businesses steadily over the last couple years. In the current bull market environment more firms also have moved to become independent to take advantage of the growing number of investors looking for advice. Many of today’s investors are seeking fee-only advisors, causing that universe of RIAs to grow by 11% per year. (For more, see: Keys to Going Independent for RIAs.) 

Assets under management run by RIAs have been growing on average by 20% a year since 2009. Part of this great leap in wealth under management is attributable to the tremendous rise of the stock market, and those RIAs who have been enjoying the bull market for the past few years are starting to think about how to maintain their clients’ assets once the market’s growth begins to slow. (For more, see: Tips for Small RIAs Looking to Grow.)

A number of RIAs are looking to grow through acquisition, and according to a 2014 report from Charles Schwab & Co., there were 47 acquisitions of RIAs involving firms with a combined $47.4 billion of assets under management. In 2014, about 28% of advisors said they were looking to buy another firm, compared with just 4% who were trying to sell their firms. Many in the industry believe the RIA space will continue to consolidate. (For related reading, see: Owners Can Be Deal Killers in M&A.)

Leading the Pack

The larger RIAs tend to be the fastest growing. They have set up operational structures and client guidelines that support such growth, while also increasing productivity and profitability. In the current environment, all RIAs will need to adopt best practices if they want to keep up with the competition and remain competitive. By contrast, smaller firms, with less than $1 billion in assets under management, may fall behind as they compete for staff and to create leadership structures within their businesses. They will also need to keep up with the latest technology to boost productivity. (For more, see: How Technology Helps Financial Advisors.)

Below is a list of the 15 fastest-growing RIAs out of the top 100 largest firms, according to a recent study from Financial Planning. The ranking is based on the firms’ three-year compound annual growth rates, or CAGR.

1. Summit Rock Advisors

2014 assets: $9.22 billion

3-year CAGR: 79.25%

2014 accounts: 63

2. Banyan Partners

2014 assets: $4.58 billion

3-year CAGR: 67.72%

2014 accounts: 5,392

3. Aperio Group

2014 assets: $7.06 billion

3-year CAGR: 55.02%

2014 accounts: 1,436

4. Brick Capital Management Inc.

2014 assets: $2.75 billion

3-year CAGR: 40.55%

2014 accounts: 35

5. CM Wealth Advisors Inc

2014 assets: $2.55 billion

3-year CAGR: 39.70%

2014 accounts: 135

6. Halbert Hargrove

2014 assets: $3.97 billion

3-year CAGR: 33.66%

2014 accounts: 3,111

7. Financial Engines Advisors

2014 assets: $88.2 billion

3-year CAGR: 32.75%

2014 accounts: 835,107

8. Finaccess Advisors

2014 assets: $4.07 billion

3-year CAGR: 31.93%

2014 accounts: 233

9. Bahl & Gaynor Inc.

2014 assets: $6.37 billion

3-year CAGR: 27.86%

2014 accounts: 1,719

10.  Savant Capital Management

2014 assets: $3.86 billion

3-year CAGR: 25.64%

2014 accounts: 3,275

11. Chevy Chase Trust Company

2014 assets: $18.20 billion

3-year CAGR: 25.32%

2014 accounts: 2,819

12. Tiedemann Wealth Management

2014 assets: $4.58 billion

3-year CAGR: 24.55%

2014 accounts: 1,210

13. Geller Family Office Services

2014 assets: $2.16 billion

3-year CAGR: 22.58%

2014 accounts: 466

14. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management

2014 assets: $9.03 billion

3-year CAGR: 21.68%

2014 accounts: 12,842

15. Aspiriant

2014 assets: $8.09 billion

3-year CAGR: 21.08%

2014 accounts: 5,241

Bottom Line 

RIAs are continuing to consolidate their business and assets, leaving smaller firms scrambling to find ways to stay competitive. All of these firms will face competition if the current bull market starts to decline. (For related reading, see: Advisors Should Monitor Millennial Inheritance.)