Cassaday & Company, Inc., is honored to announce that five of our financial advisors have been named Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors for 2024. Among those recognized are Chairman & CEO Steve Cassaday, Senior Partner Justin Harris, Senior Partner Chris Krell, Senior Partner Christopher Young,  and Partner Nicholas Harris. 

With over 44,900 nominations received, the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list places a spotlight on over 8,507 of the top advisors in each state and region throughout the nation. These rankings are determined by a proprietary algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data developed by SHOOK Research. Criteria such as advisor tenure (minimum requirement of 7 years as an advisor), community involvement, breadth of services, and compliance record are evaluated. According to RJ Shook, Founder & President of SHOOK Research, this list “focuses on helping investors find a trusted advisor, and [also helps] advisors get better at serving investors.” 

Culture of Collaboration 

This recognition of five of our advisors serves as an indicator of the quality of the team that Steve Cassaday has cultivated since founding our firm in 1993. Cassaday & Co.’s unique culture is one that embodies a collaborative process where our team of highly experienced and credentialed subject matter professionals work together to create financial plans tailored to each client’s unique goals and needs. Our team was built with the intent of hiring outstanding people and structuring their positions around their skills that cannot be taught. In creating a culture where employees feel valued and empowered, our staff is motivated to provide our clients with an unparalleled level of dedication and service. This dedication to our employees has also led to a higher retention rate of our professionals, allowing for a continuity of service to our clients that can span generations. 

Continuity of Care 

Continuity of care is one of the pillars of Cassaday & Co.’s structure. According to the Financial Planning Association, more than 20% of advisors are older than 65, and the average age of an advisor is 55 years old. While a large portion of the industry is approaching retirement age, only 27% of advisors have formal succession plans. Our team believes that having a viable succession plan is part of our fiduciary duty to our clients. In 2006, Cassaday developed an agreement to provide for an orderly and seamless transfer of firm ownership and governance in the event of the absence of current leadership. These successors are highly trained, experienced and competent employees with an average tenure with the firm of over 20 years. This plan has been put in place to ensure our clients and their families are getting the best possible care and support for generations to come. 

Award History 

Cassaday is honored to have had advisors recognized on the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor ranking each year since the list’s inception in 2018.  

To see the full Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor rankings, click here. 

To view the methodology behind the Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, click here. 

For a comprehensive list of Cassaday & Company, Inc.’s awards and recognition, click here. 

Award Criteria:

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (2018 – 2024): The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes or SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Cassaday did not compensate Forbes for this award. Please see https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2024/04/03/methodology-best-in-state-wealth-advisors-2024/?sh=8da446f3fa41 for more information.