FA's RIA survey is a ranking based on assets under management at year end of independent RIA firms that file their own ADV with the SEC. FA's RIA ranking orders firms from largest to smallest, based on AUM reported to us by firms that voluntarily complete and submit FA's survey by our deadline. We do our best to verify AUM by reviewing ADV forms. To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms must have at least $1 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025, to be included in the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine's 2026 RIA survey. Firms with under $1 billion will be included in FA's expanded 2026 online RIA survey. Hybrid RIA firms, corporate RIA firms and investment advisor representatives (IARs) are not eligible for this survey. A hybrid RIA is registered as both an RIA and a broker/dealer. A corporate RIA is a registered investment advisor most often formed by a broker-dealer that files an ADV with the SEC. Advisors who are affiliated with the broker-dealer or other entity's corporate RIA may offer investment advice. They are considered investment advisor representatives (IARs) of the corporate RIA. All of the assets under management of the IARs are included in the corporate RIA's ADV filed with the SEC.  The 50 Fastest Growing Firms list is created by comparing firms' year-end AUM to the previous year AUM based on the numbers reported to us on firms' surveys. Aviance Capital Partners, LLC ("ACP") did not pay to participate in this ranking, However, ACP paid a licensing fee to use the award's digital badge.