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Newsweek Top Financial Advisory Firms 2025

 

December 6, 2024

This award recognizes Destiny Wealth Partner’s commitment to providing access to top-line service and capabilities, and to staying ahead of the curve to help clients simplify the complexities inherent in the unique financial challenges they face.

Destiny Wealth Partners has been recognized as one of America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group, who partnered to identify what they called the “best of the best” after conducting a large-scale study that analyzed over 15,000 financial advisories registered with the SEC. The study identified the top 750 advisory firms in the U.S. based on criteria which included long and short-term asset performance, client performance, advisor expertise and client ratio, and breadth of service offerings.

“In today’s financial landscape, Americans want more than just advice—they want a trusted partner to help them achieve their financial goals,” said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief of Newsweek. “Newsweek and market-data research firm Plant-A Insights are proud to introduce America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms 2025, highlighting companies that exemplify what it means to be a financial leader in today’s market.”

“Recognition by Newsweek and Plant-A-Insights Group is a result of the dedication and commitment of our entire team,” said Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners. “I believe it is due in no small measure to the depth and breadth of the capabilities and service we offer our clients, including the select access we offer to accredited investors and qualified purchasers to invest in innovative, high-growth industries through alternative, direct and co-investment offerings, our unwavering determination to put our clients first in everything we do, and our proactive decision never to be complacent. We are innovators and problem solvers who are always on the lookout for new ways to improve the service and the experience we provide our clients.”

Destiny Wealth Partners, which conducts business as Destiny Family Office, Ruggie Wealth Management, Nichols Wealth Partners, and Destiny Wealth, has more than $1.2B in assets managed. The firm was also recognized as the InvestmentNews RIA Team of the Year in 2024 (10 Advisors or More), and among Forbes 250 Top RIA Firms. Ruggie, an entrepreneur and 30+ year veteran of the financial industry, is also ranked #1 in North Florida on the list of Forbes 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors and has been named to the list of Barron’s Top 1200 Advisors 12 times.

Investment advisory services offered through Destiny Wealth Partners, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Destiny Wealth Partners also conducts business under the names Ruggie Wealth Management, Destiny Family office, Nichols Wealth Partners, and Destiny Wealth. Recognitions are specific to Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, or Destiny Wealth Partners and its firms. Listing in any publication is not a guarantee of future investment success. These recognitions should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client. Additional disclosures and important information at www.destinywealthpartners.com/disclosures.

 

Thomas Ruggie Named to InvestmentNews 2024 Hot 100

Thomas Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners, named to the InvestmentNews Hot 100 for 2024! 

A 30+ year financial-industry veteran, innovator, entrepreneur, and thought leader, Tom is setting new standards in wealth management, offering sophisticated investment opportunities, and helping empower clients to reach their financial destinies.

Explore how Tom and his team are transforming wealth management. Read the full profile now.

Forbes Names Destiny Wealth Partners to List of Top 250 RIA Firms

 

2nd Year in a Row for this Prestigious Recognition

Destiny Wealth Partners has been named to the third annual Forbes ranking of America’s Top RIA Firms, developed by SHOOK Research.
The ranking, published by Forbes on October 8, 2024, highlights the top 250 advisory firms that have “strong track records when it comes to stewarding client wealth and preserving it for the long term.”

Destiny Wealth Partners is an independent RIA based in Central Florida, which conducts business as Destiny Family Office, Ruggie Wealth Management and Nichols Wealth Partners. Founded by CEO Thomas Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, a 30+ year veteran of the financial industry, the firm has also been ranked #1 in North Florida in the list of Forbes 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, and was recently named the 2024 InvestmentNews RIA Team of the Year.

Shook Research’s focus on how each client is actually treated by their independent advisor has led them to measure processes that are inherent in each client relationship, the team’s purpose and the underlying culture seen at all levels. They look closely at the leadership who is primarily responsible for shaping the client’s experience, and question, “Would we recommend this firm (or individual) to a friend or family member?

“Quality is always first; if we’re going to include a firm (or advisor) on our rankings, we have to make sure everyone is of the highest quality.”
The Forbes ranking, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. The algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
 
For the full list and more, visit www.forbes.com/lists/top-ria-firms

Destiny Wealth Partners named “InvestmentNews RIA Team of the Year”

We’re excited to announce that Destiny Wealth Partners was named “RIA Team of the Year (10 Advisors or More)” in the prestigious InvestmentNews 2024 Awards of Excellence. Winners were announced at a black-tie, red-carpet gala held June 20 at the elegant 583 Park Avenue in New York City.

Destiny Wealth Partners, which does business as Destiny Family Office, Ruggie Wealth Management and Nichols Wealth Partners, currently manages approximately $1.1B in assets, and helps wealth creators, wealth inheritors and their families better navigate the complexity in their financial lives so they can have more time to focus on what they are most passionate about.

“The one word that comes to mind is, ‘Gratitude’,” said Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners. “I am so grateful for the clients who put their trust and confidence in us, to our team who shows an unwavering commitment to those we serve and to our dedication to never being complacent, which continually challenges us to do more and at ever-higher levels of excellence. We are truly honored to stand alongside a stellar group of peers.”

Our firm is focused on challenging the status quo in wealth and investment management, seeking to enable clients to achieve their destiny as a result. The InvestmentNews Awards honor the remarkable contributions and outstanding achievements of financial advisors and brokerages who have demonstrated steadfast dedication, exceptional professionalism, and unwavering commitment to their clients’ success.

Judging for the Awards was conducted by an expert panel of industry leaders and senior representatives. The category “Team of the Year” recognizes the significant work and achievements of the nation’s most outstanding advisory team for their excellence over the past 12-months in areas including client service and innovation. Finalists are selected based on their response to questions across a range of qualitative and quantitative criteria and performance metrics. The judging process is independent and rigorous.

Investment advisory services offered through Destiny Wealth Partners, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Destiny Wealth Partners also conducts business as Destiny Family Office, Ruggie Wealth Management and Nichols Wealth Partners. Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Destiny Wealth Partners is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of Destiny Wealth Partners by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines, and others, may base their selections on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser. Additional disclosures and other important information at www.ruggiewealth.com/disclosures.

 

Early Adopter Who Understands Collectibles

May 16, 2024
By Emily Douglas
InvestmentNews

Thomas Ruggie with Muhammed Ali’s boxing trunks worn during the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ with George Foreman
Alternative investments are going to continue to play a key role, even for the mass affluent market. Destiny Family Office Founder and CEO Tom Ruggie knows this well. As a world-class collector of autographed baseball cards and sports memorabilia, one unique trend close to Tom’s heart is the interest in collectibles as an asset class. Read the full story here.

Tom Ruggie Tops Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor List

Tom Ruggie Ranked No. 1 in North Florida
by Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors 2024

7th time for independent RIA and Family Office Founder – every year since recognition’s inception

We’re excited to announce that Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, founder and CEO of Ruggie Wealth Management and Destiny Family Office, both Destiny Wealth Partners firms, has earned the No. 1 spot in North Florida in the Forbes/SHOOK 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking. Ruggie has been included in this prestigious list of the nation’s top advisors for seven consecutive years—every year since the ranking’s inception. In 2023, Destiny Wealth Partners, which surpassed $1B in managed assets, was also recognized among Forbes 250 Fastest-Growing RIA Firms.

“We are honored to be recognized by industry leaders such as Forbes and SHOOK Research alongside an exceptional group of industry peers and professional colleagues,” said Tom. “Our rise to the top of the list of North Florida’ leading firms, is both humbling and a result of the dedication and commitment of our entire team. I couldn’t be prouder of them. I believe our ongoing presence in this annual ranking speaks to the depth and breadth of our capabilities, to our refusal to be complacent and to strive for the continuous self-improvement of our team, our services, our infrastructure and technology, and to our unwavering focus on putting our clients first in everything we do.”

Ruggie is an entrepreneur who enjoys spending his time helping clients solve problems inherent in their financial and business situations, and giving them back the time and peace of mind they need to pursue the things they are most passionate about.

He began his career in 1991, and subsequently founded Ruggie Wealth Management. In 2016, he founded Destiny Family Office to bring high-impact “single-family” office capabilities and services to his ultra-high-net-worth client families, helping these wealth creators, wealth inheritors and their families overcome the challenges that come from managing significant resources.

Destiny Family Office provides access to sophisticated traditional, alternative, direct, and co-investment management solutions. An avid collector, Ruggie has earned deepening prominence in the collectibles space, helping other top-tier collectors incorporate their collections in every part of their financial, tax and wealth transfer planning.

In 2023, Boca Raton-based Nichols Wealth Partners also joined Destiny Wealth Partners.

About Forbes and SHOOK Research: Forbes/SHOOK Research Best-in-State Wealth Advisors are selected based on quantitative and qualitative data, and are assessed on a variety of criteria, including interviews, years of experience, client retention, compliance records and assets under management. SHOOK “scours the financial services industry—advisory firms, banks, brokerages, custodians, insurance companies, and clearing houses, among others—for nominations”. To date, 44,990 nominations have been received. Of these, 23,876 advisors were invited to complete the online survey, 20,412 telephone interviews were conducted, 4,926 in-person interviews took place at advisors’ offices, and 1,507 virtual interviews were scheduled. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives a fee in exchange for rankings.

Recognitions are specific to Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®. Listing in any publication is not a guarantee of future investment success. These recognitions should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client. The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes or SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Barron’s rankings are based on factors including assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work.

Additional disclosures and important information at www.ruggiewealth.com/disclosures.

Thomas Ruggie, CHFC®, CFP® Named To Barron’s 1200 Top Financial Advisors for 12th Time

Ruggie Wealth Management announced that Founder and CEO Thomas H. Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, has been named to Barron’s list of America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: 2024, the 12th time Ruggie has earned this distinction, and the 10th straight year.

As Barron’s explains, they publish their annual Top 1200 Advisors by State compilation to recognize advisors demonstrating exceptional professionalism, client service and community involvement. Among the factors the “Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors” ranking takes into consideration are quality of practice, assets under management, revenues, and philanthropic work.

“It is an honor to again be ranked among our nation’s top financial advisors by one of the most respected names in the financial industry,” said Ruggie of the ranking which recognizes both an elite group of independent financial professionals and large wirehouses.

“I believe our clients turn to us because of our dedication to placing their interests above ours, for the strength of our processes and collective wisdom of our team, and for our unwavering focus on helping them achieve the financial goals they’ve been dreaming of and working for their whole lives. To once again be named among Barron’s Top Advisors is an honor that reinforces that what we are doing on our clients’ behalf brings real value to our relationship with them.”

Ruggie Wealth Management provides services to individual and corporate clients, as well as to a select group of endowments and foundations. As one of the flagship companies of Destiny Wealth Partners, Ruggie Wealth Management offers a broad range of services and products to help clients achieve their financial goals.

The firm has offices in Tavares, Winter Park and The Villages®, FL. Destiny Wealth Partners also conducts business under the name Destiny Family Office in Winter Park, FL, and Nichols Wealth Partners in Boca Raton, FL.

The Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors is a select group of individuals who are screened on a number of different criteria. Rankings are based on data provided by over 6,000 advisers from across the nation. Factors included in the rankings: assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work. Portfolio performance is not a factor. Please see www.barrons.com for more information. Ruggie Wealth Management has not paid a fee to be eligible for this award. Barron’s does not require membership or payment in order for award participants and/or applicants to be considered for an award designation.

Investment advisory services offered through Destiny Wealth Partners, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.

Destiny Family Office Named 2024 Family Wealth Report Awards Finalist for Third Consecutive Year

Prestigious Annual Award Recognizes Exceptionalism in Wealth and Investment Management 
Destiny Family Office, a Destiny Wealth Partners firm, has been named a finalist in the prestigious Eleventh Annual Family Wealth Report Awards in the Multi-Family Office category (up to and including $2.5 Billion in Assets Under Management/Assets Under Advisement) for a third year in a row. According to ClearView Financial Media, publisher of Family Wealth Report, independence, integrity, and genuine insight are focus areas for the judging process, which is conducted by expert panels that consist of judges from family offices, private banks, trusted advisors, consultants, and other professional service providers with deep industry experience.
“We are honored to have been recognized again and to stand alongside a special group of peers. We founded our firm with a mission and purpose forged by what we saw as an unanswered need in the marketplace: families seeking advocacy, compelling wealth and investment management capabilities and services, and consistent execution—without compromise. This recognition highlights the incredible commitment and dedication of our team who strive to deliver an exceptional client experience that is tailored to the unique situations, goals, and aspirations of those we serve,” said Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Destiny Family Office.
The firm works to help wealth creators, wealth inheritors and their families better navigate complexity and achieve peace of mind, by helping to protect what is most important to them and by helping position them for continued success and prosperity spanning generations.
Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Media’s CEO, and publisher of Family Wealth Report, was the first to congratulate all finalists, “Every winning entrant has been subjected to a rigorous and independent judging process and should be rightly proud of the success they have achieved this year. These awards give organizations and individuals the opportunity to clarify their strategic thinking, have it independently validated, be recognized internally and externally and to celebrate in style with their peers. I offer my congratulations and best wishes for the future to all winners and highly commended firms—they are all worthy recipients who join the prestigious list of wealth management professionals who form the global elite of Family Wealth Report winners.”
Finalists are selected based on entrants’ submissions and their response to questions across a range of qualitative and quantitative criteria and performance metrics. The judging process is rigorous and independent. Winners will be announced May 2, 2024, at the Eleventh Annual Family Wealth Report Gala at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City.

Ruggie Wealth’s Morgan Hatfield Re-Elected to SECO Energy Board of Trustees

Ruggie Wealth Management Senior Wealth Advisor & Partner Morgan Hatfield was recently re-elected by SECO energy members living in District 9 to serve as their Trustee on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. Voting took place during the District 9 meeting held January 30, 2024 at Spring Creek Elementary School in Paisley.

A SECO member since 2019, Morgan currently holds the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. She attained the Director Gold credential, which is the highest level of achievement through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s Board of Trustees. The Board meets monthly to monitor the cooperative’s financial status while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

“I want to thank all District 9 members for attending and showing your interest in participating as SECO members,” said Morgan during the District meeting. “I am eager to continue working with my fellow Trustees as we do our best to serve our members with an outstanding product supported by industry-leading service.”

Board President Gerald Anderson stated, “Congratulations, Ms. Hatfield, on your re-election as District 9 Trustee. I am grateful to the District 9 members who attended the Meeting and participated in our cooperative’s governance process. On behalf of our fellow Board members and peers, we are excited to support SECO Energy’s Mission and Vision through our Board service.”

Curtis Wynn CEO stated, “The Board of Trustees and the SECO Energy membership are grateful to all Trustees who give generously of their time and experience. We are very happy to have Ms. Hatfield continue with her leadership and strong contributions to the success of SECO Energy in her role as a Board Trustee and her expanded responsibilities as Secretary/Treasurer. Thank you, District 9 members, for your attendance at the meeting and your interest in SECO Energy and the strategic direction in which the board, executive leadership team and employees are taking your electric cooperative.”

Investment News Ranks Destiny Wealth Partners Among Nation’s Top 75 Fastest Growing RIAs

We’re excited to announce that our independent RIA Destiny Wealth Partners has been ranked among the 2023 75 Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAs.

According to Investment News, “these firms are being celebrated for the growth they’ve achieved and assets they’ve attracted since July 2020. While all 75 winners are trusted and reliable partners for their clients, each firm has its own unique strategy and operating methods.”

Destiny Wealth Partners is our independent RIA founded by 30+ year financial veteran Tom Ruggie, ChFC, CFP, which also  conducts business as Ruggie Wealth Management, Nichols Wealth Partners, and Destiny Family Office. Ruggie founded the family office in 2016 to meet the unanswered needs of the ultra-high-net-worth, as they were seeking to better navigate the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of their family, wealth, and aspirations.

The firm’s culture is rooted in a shared vision to continually innovate, working collaboratively as a closely integrated team with third parties to create solutions that empower individuals, families, and foundations.

As of July 2023, Destiny Wealth Partners had $1 billion in AUM. The firm’s success has been driven by targeting three key areas:

  1. presenting a compelling sphere of investments through the Destiny Alternative Fund and access to direct and co-investment opportunities for UHNW families seeking opportunities for greater returns
  2. creating a niche focus on high-end collectors: Tom Ruggie’s unique insights and perspectives, based on his own lifelong passion for collecting, have resulted in his expertise and thought leadership on this subject, as well as on alternative investments as a whole
  3. private trust capabilities: becoming a trust representative office for the nation’s largest trust company
    ​

Ruggie says, “Simply put, we have a growth mindset. We set big goals and have big expectations for ourselves in many areas, starting with the delivery of an exceptional client experience, the desire to continually innovate, and a commitment to invest in ourselves, in strategic partnerships, and in the capabilities and services we provide.” Clients experience deep strategic thinking tailored to their situations, needs, and goals, such as:

  • purpose and passion
  • attention to detail
  • integrity
  • continual innovation and growth of the team, services, capabilities, technology, etc.
  • a focus on understanding clients’ “why”
  • a willingness to act as clients’ personal CFO
  • well-thought-out planning for the long term
  • a growth mindset
  • quiet leadership
  • financial strategies that simplify lives

“We believe our most compelling metric continues to be our ability to turn success into personal significance for our clients and their families. We also believe doing so has led to an exemplary client retention rate across time,” says Ruggie. “Clients surveyed say that’s a factor of well-thought-out investment strategies and investment management processes, unique planning tools, constant attention to detail, desire to challenge convention, willingness to seize opportunities, and quiet leadership.”

In addition to being named among InvestmentNews’ Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAs of 2023, Ruggie and his firm have received other recognitions, including:

  • Forbes/Shook Research Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (6x)
  • Forbes/Shook Research 250 Top RIA Firms (2023)
  • Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors (11x)
  • Financial Advisor Top RIA Firms (11x)
  • USA Today/Statista 500 Best Financial Advisory Firms in the US (2023)
  • Family Wealth Report Awards Finalist in the category up to and including $2.5 billion in AUM (2022 and 2023)

As Ruggie reflects on all he and his team have accomplished thus far with and for the clients they serve, he remains focused on the ever-evolving needs of clients and how he can best serve them. There are plans to expand the firm’s family office offerings, pursue select M&A opportunities, and launch GenNext, an initiative targeting the younger client demographic.

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