Financial Planners in Knoxville

June 15, 2026

Selecting a financial planner in Knoxville means choosing a long-term guide for retirement, investments, taxes, and estate decisions, so the advisor’s incentives and credentials matter as much as any individual recommendation. Knoxville is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 195,185 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its mix of university-anchored professionals, established families, and business owners in East Tennessee supports a solid field of advisory firms. A local planner can meet face to face, coordinate with a client’s accountant or estate attorney nearby, and understand the financial circumstances of households across the Knoxville metro.

A detail 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. Knowing 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 Knoxville advisors also hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) 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 Knoxville

1. ProffittGoodson Private Wealth

Address: 4800 Old Kingston Pike, Suite 200, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-1850
Website: https://www.proffittgoodson.com
Services: investment management, wealth management for individuals and families, estate and trust planning, tax planning, business transition and succession planning, philanthropy and donor-advised funds, services for foundations and endowments
Description: ProffittGoodson Private Wealth is a Knoxville-based wealth management firm on Old Kingston Pike that describes itself as 100% fiduciary, legally and ethically obligated to act in clients’ best interests at all times. The firm has served clients for more than three decades and works not only with individuals and families but also with nonprofits, foundations, and endowments, drawing on more than two decades of institutional experience. Its team includes CFA and CFP professionals, and its services span investment management, estate and trust planning, tax planning, and business transition and succession planning. The firm serves clients across more than 15 states and makes its Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS available for review.

2. Savant Wealth Management

Address: 234 South Peters Road, Suite 102, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 690-1231
Website: https://savantwealth.com
Services: comprehensive wealth management, investment management, financial planning, tax advisory and preparation, accounting and consulting, trust services, family office services, company retirement plan services, estate planning and wealth transfer
Description: Savant Wealth Management is a national fee-only fiduciary registered investment adviser with a Knoxville office on South Peters Road in West Knoxville. The firm has earned recognition on industry rankings of leading independent advisory firms and integrates investment management with financial planning, tax advisory and preparation, accounting, trust services, and estate planning under one roof. Its Knoxville team carries strong credentials, including advisors holding the CFP, CPA, and Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designations, among them Adam T. Kornegay, Joe N. Ottaviano, Daniel Myers, and Suzanne W. Hornick. The firm generally works with clients who have at least $750,000 in investable assets and continues to expand its East Tennessee presence.

3. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners (TVAMP)

Address: 6025 Brookvale Lane, Suite 160, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 226-9982
Website: https://www.tvamp.net
Services: financial planning, investment portfolio management, retirement income planning, estate, insurance, and tax plan coordination, risk management
Description: Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners, known as TVAMP, is an independent SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in West Knoxville on Brookvale Lane. The firm was founded in 2011 when CFP professionals Scott Fisher, Jeff Foster, and Jeff Sweat aligned their three independent advisory practices, and it has since grown to a staff that includes 16 CFP professionals. TVAMP reports more than $1 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025, and it works primarily with individuals, families, and small institutions. The firm pairs investment management with comprehensive financial planning, helping clients organize and consolidate their finances and coordinate estate, insurance, and tax planning, and it operates on a straightforward fee-based pricing model.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Planners in Knoxville

Q: Do financial planners in Knoxville 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville advisors also hold the CFA or CPA 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 Knoxville?

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. Some firms also set minimum asset levels for ongoing management.

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

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.