Financial Planners in Memphis

June 15, 2026

Hiring a financial planner in Memphis means choosing someone to help navigate retirement, investments, taxes, and estate decisions over the long term, so the advisor’s incentives and credentials deserve as much attention as any single recommendation. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 618,980 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its economy, anchored by logistics, health care, and a base of established family businesses and professionals, supports a mature field of advisory firms. A local planner can meet in person, coordinate with a client’s CPA or estate attorney in the area, and understand the financial realities of West Tennessee households and business owners.

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 actually 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 falls into tells a client a great deal about how that advisor earns money and what standard of care applies.

Two filters separate the field: credentials and compensation. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation is a respected voluntary credential earned through coursework, an exam, experience, and ongoing ethics requirements, and many Memphis advisors also hold the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) 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 first. Commission-based advisers may instead earn payments from the products they sell. Neither approach is automatically better, but understanding the difference is essential before committing.

Verification is straightforward and worth doing. The SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system (IAPD) at adviserinfo.sec.gov shows a firm’s Form ADV, services, fee schedule, and 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 plainly how the advisor is paid are practical steps before handing over long-term financial decisions.

Top Financial Planners Providers in Memphis

1. William Howard & Co. Financial Advisors

Address: 6410 Poplar Avenue, Suite 330, Memphis, TN 38119
Phone: (901) 761-5068
Website: https://www.whcfa.com
Services: financial advisory services, investment advisory services, retirement planning, investment planning, education planning, risk management, tax, estate and gift planning
Description: William Howard & Co. Financial Advisors, Inc. is an independent, fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm founded in 1984 and located in the International Place II building on Poplar Avenue in East Memphis. The firm is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with state notice filings in Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi, and it serves individuals, professionals, business owners, and retirees. Its president, William B. Howard, Jr., holds the CFP and ChFC designations. With roughly four decades of operating history, the firm pairs comprehensive financial planning with investment management, covering retirement, education, and tax, estate, and gift planning under one fee-only structure.

2. RBG Wealth Advisors

Address: 5100 Wheelis Drive, Suite 211, Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: (901) 244-2980
Website: https://rbgwa.com
Services: financial planning, investment and wealth management, tax, estate and charitable gift planning, risk management planning, retirement planning, family office services
Description: RBG Wealth Advisors LLC is a fee-only registered investment advisory firm in East Memphis, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Founded in 2022, the firm grew out of an accounting background, and its leadership reflects that: chief executive officer Greg Davis is a CPA and CFP, and chief investment officer Tim Ellis is a CPA, CFP, and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), with associate advisor Matt Sullivan also a Tennessee CPA. That concentration of accounting and planning credentials supports the firm’s emphasis on integrating tax, estate, and charitable gift planning with investment and wealth management. The firm also offers family office and risk management services for clients with more complex needs.

3. Red Door Wealth Management

Address: 965 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 105, Memphis, TN 38120
Phone: (901) 681-0018
Website: https://reddoorwealth.com
Services: personal financial advising, retirement plan and 401(k) services, family office services, strategic advisory
Description: Red Door Wealth Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser based in East Memphis, compensated solely through client fees rather than commissions. The firm was founded by a group of advisors and serves individuals and small businesses, offering personal advising alongside retirement plan and family office services. Its team holds a range of designations across the firm, including the CFP, CPA, and CFA marks, and it makes its SEC Form ADV Part 2 and Form CRS available to prospective clients. The firm has drawn national recognition in industry rankings, and it imposes no minimum account size, which broadens access for clients building toward larger portfolios.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Planners in Memphis

Q: Do financial planners in Memphis 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 capable, but the difference in how they are paid is worth confirming early.

Q: What is a CFP, and should my Memphis 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 indicates broad training across retirement, investment, tax, insurance, and estate planning. Many Memphis advisors also hold the CPA, CFA, or PFS designation, which is common given the city’s deep accounting community. Asking which credentials an advisor holds, and verifying them, is a sensible step.

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 Memphis?

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. 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 Memphis?

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.