Barron’s – Top Independent Financial Advisor
Steve Cassaday Named to Barron's 2026 Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors — 19th Consecutive Year
Cassaday & Company, Inc.’s Chairman, Founder & CEO Steve Cassaday was named a Barron’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisor for 2026. This is the 19th consecutive year Cassaday has made this list.
One of the first financial advisors in the industry to become independent, Cassaday left his senior management position with a major New York Stock Exchange firm to launch Cassaday & Co. in 1993. His vision of providing objective, client-focused advice free from corporate agendas and interests has been the firm’s guiding principle since its founding.
“I attribute all of our success to our outstanding employees who are our greatest resource,” said Cassaday. “We pride ourselves on working together to maintain a culture of excellence and integrity by adhering to the highest standards and acting in the best interest of our clients, 100 percent of the time. We are grateful that our clients recognize what differentiates us and they continue to place their trust in Cassaday & Company, Inc.”
About This Award
The independent advisory space has been growing at a breakneck pace over the last quarter century. According to Barron's, the number of registered investment advisor firms—known as RIAs—more than doubled between 2000 and 2024, increasing from 6,949 to 15,870. With this level of growth, investors find themselves with a plethora of options, with firms varying based on the type of client they’re best serving, the suite of services they offer, their investment strategies, their fee structures, and more.
The goal of The Barron’s Top 100 Independent Advisor ranking is to shine a spotlight on the nation’s best financial advisors, with an eye toward raising standards in the industry. This ranking serves as a tool for investors as they navigate this process of finding financial guidance.
The Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors ranking is determined by a rigorous assessment process, with firms from all 50 states and the District of Columbia undergoing examination. The volume of assets overseen by advisors and their teams, revenues generated by the firms, and the quality of advisors’ practices – including investment philosophy, business practices, and contributions to the community – are all evaluated. Investment returns are not a component of the rankings, as returns are largely dictated by the risk tolerance and goals of clients. Read more about Barron's Top 100 award methodology.
Ranking History
Cassaday is honored to have been recognized by Barron’s as a Top 100 Independent Financial Advisor annually from 2008 to 2026.
See the full 2026 Barron's Top 100 Independent Advisors list.
See Cassaday & Co.'s full history of industry awards and recognitions.
Award Disclosures:
Barron's - Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors (2008–2026) - Issued by Barron's in September 2026 for the 2026 award year and awarded to independent financial advisors with at least seven years of financial services experience and one year at their current firm. Stephan Cassaday applied for the recognition. Criteria used to determine the winner(s) is quantitative and qualitative measures including client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction and retention, compliance records and community involvement. Award consideration was based on data covering a trailing 12-month period. 100 were selected. No fee was paid for the nomination, receipt, or promotion of the award. Please see https://www.barrons.com/advisor/articles/barrons-methodology-for-ranking-financial-advisors-c4831b04 for more details.
Third-party ratings are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.
