Financial Planners in Chattanooga

June 15, 2026

Choosing a financial planner in Chattanooga means selecting a long-term guide for retirement, investments, taxes, and estate decisions, so the advisor’s incentives and credentials matter as much as any single recommendation. Chattanooga is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 185,783 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its blend of established families, business owners, and professionals across the Tennessee River valley supports a strong field of advisory firms. A local planner can meet face to face, coordinate with a client’s accountant or estate attorney in the area, and understand the financial circumstances of households throughout the Chattanooga metro.

A point that surprises many consumers is that financial planners are not regulated through a single state occupational license. The oversight runs through registration instead. Investment adviser firms that manage $100 million or more in assets register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, while smaller firms register with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Securities Division. The people who give advice, known as investment adviser representatives, generally pass the Series 65 exam (the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination) or the Series 66, and stockbrokers who sell securities are registered through FINRA after passing the Series 7. Identifying which category an advisor occupies clarifies how that advisor is paid and what standard of conduct applies.

Credentials and compensation are the two main filters. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation is a respected voluntary credential earned through coursework, an exam, experience, and ongoing ethics obligations, and many Chattanooga advisors also hold the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) marks. On compensation, fee-only advisers are paid solely by their clients, often as a percentage of assets managed or a flat or hourly fee, and many belong to the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA); they are held to a fiduciary standard that requires putting the client’s interest first. Commission-based advisers may instead earn payments from the products they sell. Neither model is inherently superior, but understanding the difference is important before signing on.

Verification is simple and worth the effort. The SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system (IAPD) at adviserinfo.sec.gov shows a firm’s Form ADV, services, fee schedule, and any disciplinary history, and FINRA BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org covers brokers and brokerage firms. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), addresses deceptive practices, and the TDCI Securities Division handles complaints about investment advisers and securities. Reviewing a firm’s Form ADV Part 2 and its client relationship summary (Form CRS), confirming credentials, and asking directly how the advisor is paid are practical steps before entrusting anyone with long-term financial decisions.

Top Financial Planners Providers in Chattanooga

1. Patton Albertson & Miller

Address: 605 Chestnut Street, Suite 900, Chattanooga, TN 37450
Phone: (423) 414-2100
Website: https://www.pattonalbertsonmiller.com
Services: financial life management, wealth management, retirement planning, tax planning, trust and estate planning, business succession planning, risk management
Description: Patton Albertson & Miller, known as the PAM Group, is a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm in downtown Chattanooga on Chestnut Street. The firm was founded in 2003 by Jimmy Patton, Marc Albertson, and Bill Miller and has built a practice serving high-net-worth individuals and families, with the firm reporting assets under management of roughly $1.3 billion. Its team includes CPAs and legal expertise, allowing it to integrate tax, estate, and business succession planning with investment and wealth management. The firm maintains offices in Chattanooga along with Atlanta and Macon, Georgia, and its planning is structured around a comprehensive financial life management approach rather than commission-based product sales.

2. Integra Wealth

Address: 101 West 21st Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: (423) 664-0344
Website: https://www.integrawealth.com
Services: financial planning, retirement income strategies, investment advisory, tax strategies, college planning, wealth management
Description: Integra Wealth is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning and investment advisory firm located on West 21st Street in Chattanooga. The firm was founded in 2000 by David A. Hodges, a CFP professional, and it provides advice on a fee-only basis without commissions. Integra is a member of the Fee-Only Network and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), affiliations that reflect its fiduciary, client-paid model. Its services combine retirement and retirement income planning with investment advisory work, tax strategies, and college planning, oriented toward households that want coordinated, conflict-free financial guidance from a single local advisor.

3. Evergreen Advisors

Address: 1206 Pointe Centre Drive, Suite 160, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 933-1814
Website: https://www.evergreenadvisors.com
Services: financial planning, retirement planning, ongoing portfolio management, family financial guidance, client advisory services
Description: Evergreen Advisors is an independent, fee-only firm in Chattanooga that operates as a fiduciary, committed by law and principle to put clients’ interests first. Founded more than 30 years ago, the firm pairs planning and accounting expertise, including Jim Place, a CFP and financial advisor, and partner Kyle Bryant, a CPA and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), supported by a dedicated compliance officer and client services staff. The firm emphasizes personalized financial planning and ongoing portfolio management rather than product sales, with retirement and family financial guidance at the center of its work. Its long operating history in the area reflects a practice oriented toward enduring client relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Planners in Chattanooga

Q: Do financial planners in Chattanooga need a state license?

Financial planners are not licensed through a single state occupational license. They register as investment advisers instead: firms managing $100 million or more register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, while smaller firms register with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Securities Division. The individuals who give advice generally pass the Series 65 or Series 66 exam, and brokers who sell securities register through FINRA after the Series 7.

Q: What does fee-only mean, and why does it matter?

A fee-only advisor is paid solely by clients, typically as a percentage of assets managed or a flat or hourly fee, and earns no commissions from selling products. This structure reduces the conflicts of interest that can arise when third parties pay the advisor. Many fee-only advisors belong to NAPFA and act as fiduciaries, meaning they must place the client’s interest ahead of their own. Commission-based advisors can be skilled, but the difference in compensation is worth confirming early.

Q: What is a CFP, and should my Chattanooga advisor have one?

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation is a respected voluntary credential requiring education, an exam, experience, and an ethics commitment. It is not legally required, but it signals broad training across retirement, investment, tax, insurance, and estate planning. Many Chattanooga advisors also hold the CPA or CFA designation. Asking which credentials an advisor holds, and verifying them, is a reasonable step before hiring.

Q: How can I check an advisor’s background before hiring?

Use the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system (IAPD) at adviserinfo.sec.gov to review a firm’s Form ADV, services, fee schedule, and any disciplinary history, and FINRA BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org to check brokers and brokerage firms. Reviewing the firm’s Form ADV Part 2 and its client relationship summary (Form CRS) shows how the firm is paid and what conflicts it discloses.

Q: How are financial advisors typically paid in Chattanooga?

Common arrangements include a percentage of assets under management (often roughly 0.5% to 1% annually, sometimes lower for larger accounts), flat planning fees, hourly fees, or commissions on products sold. Some firms combine these, and some set a minimum annual fee. A fee-only firm uses only client-paid fees, while a commission or fee-based firm may also earn product compensation. Requesting the fee schedule in writing and reviewing Form CRS clarifies the total cost.

Q: Where do I file a complaint about a financial advisor in Chattanooga?

Complaints involving an investment adviser or securities can go to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Securities Division. Broader complaints about deceptive business practices can go to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). For brokers, FINRA also accepts complaints. Keeping account statements, the signed advisory agreement, and written communications strengthens a complaint.