FA Magazine Names Mission Wealth Among Nation's Top RIAs in 2026 Survey & Ranking
Firm Announcements

FA Magazine Names Mission Wealth Among Nation’s Top RIAs in 2026 Survey & Ranking

Key Takeaway (Overview): Mission Wealth has once again been recognized in Financial Advisor Magazine’s prestigious annual RIA Survey & Ranking, highlighting the firm’s continued growth, client-first philosophy, and long-term commitment to building one of the nation’s leading independent wealth management firms.

Mission Wealth Earns Three National Rankings in Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2026 RIA Survey

Mission Wealth is proud to announce its inclusion in Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2026 RIA Survey & Ranking, one of the industry’s longest-running and most respected annual evaluations of independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firms.

The 2026 survey honored Mission Wealth in three separate categories:

Ranking Recognition
2026 RIA Ranking #47 nationally
RIA Discretionary & Non-Discretionary AUM Ranking #47 nationally
Top 50 Fastest-Growing Firms #50 nationally

Each year, Financial Advisor Magazine surveys hundreds of independent advisory firms to evaluate growth, operational excellence, and overall scale within the evolving RIA industry. As the profession continues to mature, the publication’s 2026 report explores how firms are balancing organic growth, strategic acquisitions, technology investments, and succession planning to build sustainable businesses for the future.

A Growth Story Built on More Than Market Performance

One of the most compelling observations in this year’s report is the distinction between firms that benefit primarily from favorable markets and those that generate meaningful organic growth.

Mission Wealth was highlighted as an example of the latter.

According to Financial Advisor Magazine, the firm has achieved approximately 17% annual organic growth over the past three years, excluding both acquisitions and market appreciation, while growing from approximately $5 billion in assets in 2022 to more than $17 billion today.

The publication notes that Mission Wealth’s success has been driven by intentional investments in leadership development, technology, marketing, and client experience rather than relying solely on market appreciation.

“Our growth has never been about chasing size for its own sake,” said Dannell Stuart, President and Partner at Mission Wealth. “It’s about continually improving how we serve clients, investing in exceptional people, and building systems that allow us to deliver highly personalized advice as our firm grows.”

Long-Term Planning Has Been Part of Mission Wealth’s DNA

The article also highlights something that has differentiated Mission Wealth since its earliest days: intentional succession planning.

According to the feature, Mission Wealth’s founders began thinking about leadership continuity in their thirties—well before succession became a common topic across the advisory industry. That long-term mindset has helped create a durable ownership structure focused on clients, employees, and sustainable growth.

Over the years, Mission Wealth has continued expanding its partnership model while investing in future leadership, technology, and specialized planning capabilities designed to meet increasingly complex client needs.

Investing in a Better Client Experience

The article also highlights Mission Wealth’s ongoing investment in creating a more differentiated digital experience.

As Dannell Stuart shared with Financial Advisor Magazine:

“To clients and prospects, a lot of RIA websites look alike. We spent a lot of time talking to stakeholders and then creating an online welcome mat.”

That philosophy extends well beyond a 2026 website redesign.

Mission Wealth continues to invest in technology that enhances—not replaces—the advisor relationship. From integrated financial planning and investment management to tax strategy, estate planning coordination, philanthropy, and risk management, our goal is to make it easier for clients to access coordinated advice through one trusted team.

Thank You to Our Clients and Team

Industry recognition is meaningful because it reflects the trust our clients place in us every day and the dedication of our talented team members nationwide.

We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to Mission Wealth’s continued growth and are honored to be recognized once again by Financial Advisor Magazine.

As the wealth management landscape continues to evolve, we remain committed to helping clients navigate life’s financial complexities with clarity, confidence, and personalized advice.

Interested in learning how comprehensive wealth planning can help you achieve your financial goals? Contact Mission Wealth to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our fiduciary advisors.

About FA Magazine’s Annual Ranking and Survey

FA’s RIA survey is a ranking based on assets under management of independent RIA firms that file their own ADV with the SEC. This ranking includes firms with AUM exceeding $500 million as of December 31, 2025, for the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine’s 2026 RIA survey. FA’s RIA ranking orders from largest to smallest, based on AUM reported by firms that voluntarily complete and submit FA’s survey. To explore the complete list of top RIAs in America and learn more about the factors contributing to Mission Wealth’s success, visit the Financial Advisor website. There is no fee to participate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Financial Advisor Magazine’s RIA Survey & Ranking?

Financial Advisor Magazine’s annual RIA Survey & Ranking evaluates independent Registered Investment Advisory firms across the United States based on assets under management and other firm characteristics. It is one of the industry’s most recognized benchmarking reports.

2. Why is this recognition important?

The survey highlights firms demonstrating sustained growth, operational excellence, and long-term success within the independent advisory profession.

3. What services does Mission Wealth provide?

Mission Wealth offers comprehensive wealth management, including financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning coordination, charitable planning, risk management, and family office services.

4. How can I work with Mission Wealth?

Prospective clients can schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss their financial goals and determine whether Mission Wealth’s comprehensive planning approach is the right fit.

Mission Wealth is a Registered Investment Adviser. This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Mission Wealth employees providing such comments. It should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Mission Wealth or performance returns of any Mission Wealth client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Mission Wealth manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Michelle Winkles
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

Michelle Winkles is an innovative marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations grow through strategic marketing, brand development, digital transformation, and AI-forward innovation. As Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, she leads the firm’s enterprise marketing strategy, supporting both organic and integration-driven growth while expanding the company’s national reach.

Michelle is known for building modern marketing organizations that combine data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and authentic storytelling to create meaningful client experiences. She has developed a sophisticated marketing technology ecosystem that strengthens brand visibility, improves engagement, and helps transform prospects into long-term client relationships. Today, she is leading Mission Wealth’s AI-forward marketing initiatives, integrating artificial intelligence across content strategy, advisor enablement, digital experiences, and marketing operations to drive scalable growth while keeping the human connection at the center.

Passionate about advancing the marketing profession within wealth management, Michelle is the co-founder of the CMO Collective, the RIA industry’s first peer community dedicated to bringing marketing leaders together to share ideas, challenge one another, and elevate the profession. She also hosts a monthly virtual Marketing Leaders Meetup, where chief marketing officers and senior marketing executives from leading wealth management firms collaborate on emerging trends, best practices, and the future of the industry. In addition, she authors The State of Wealth Management Marketing, a thought leadership series highlighting the evolving strategies, technologies, and conversations shaping the next generation of marketing in the RIA space.

A respected voice in the industry, Michelle is frequently invited to speak at national conferences, participate in executive leadership panels, and join podcasts focused on AI, growth strategy, digital transformation, advisor enablement, and innovation in wealth management.

Michelle’s leadership has earned national recognition. She was named RIA Chief Marketing Officer of the Year at the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards and has been honored by the Pacific Coast Business Times as both a Top Woman in Business and a 40 Under 40 recipient.

She holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Nonprofit Social Business from Antioch University, Santa Barbara.

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