Vetted Financial Advisors on Sam's List
Kimberly Green | 2026-03-17
There are two ways to be at the top of a financial advisor directory.
The first is to pay for it. The second is to earn it.
Sam's List doesn't sell rankings. The advisors at the top of these lists are here because real clients left reviews, because their profiles are complete and honest, and because the information they publish lets you make an actual decision before you schedule anything.
This list applies two filters: star rating and profile transparency. A 5-star advisor with a vague profile that hides pricing is less useful than a 4.8-star advisor who tells you exactly who they work with and what you'll pay.
The Best-Rated, Most-Transparent Advisors
Anthony Syracuse, CFP — 5.0 Stars, 5 Reviews
Location: Scottsdale, AZ | Fee: $7,500/year flat | Type: Fee-only fiduciary
Anthony's Sam's List profile is one of the most complete on the platform. Pricing is listed (flat $7,500/year), ideal client is described with specificity (high earners and tech professionals), and services are outlined with real scope.
His reviews reflect clients who came in with specific problems and left with specific results. That pattern — problem-in, result-out — is what distinguishes reviews that tell you something from reviews that are just polite.
He's a fee-only fiduciary, which means no commissions, no product incentives. What you pay him is what he earns from you. Full stop.
Services: Financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, "Return on Life" framework.
Ian Weiner, CFP, CEPA — 5.0 Stars
Location: Serves nationally | Fee: 0.5%–1.75% AUM | Type: Fee-only fiduciary
Ian holds two meaningful credentials — the CFP and the CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) — and his profile makes clear what they mean in practice.
The CEPA specialization in particular is rare and valuable for business owners: it means someone has been trained specifically in the financial, tax, and legal considerations of a business sale.
His profile is explicit about who he serves best: business owners who are thinking about wealth preservation and exit over a multi-year horizon. The pricing range is published, the scope is clear, and the credential list is specific rather than decorative.
Services: Tax reduction, investment optimization, exit planning, generational wealth preservation.
Capital Area Planning Group — 5.0 Stars, 2 Reviews
Location: Washington, DC | Fee: 0.25%–1.5% AUM | Credentials: CFP + IRS Enrolled Agent
Malcolm Ethridge's profile explains his credentials (CFP + EA), his specialization (tech executives with equity compensation), and his fee range before you schedule anything.
The reviews on his profile are specific — clients describe situations and outcomes, not just impressions.
The CFP + EA combination is worth understanding. A CFP credential means comprehensive financial planning. An IRS Enrolled Agent credential means Malcolm is federally authorized to represent clients before the IRS and do tax work directly.
For clients with equity-driven complexity, having both in one advisor is genuinely unusual.
He's also a public-facing figure — CNBC contributor, published author — which means his thinking is on record and you can evaluate it before you ever get on a call.
Services: Financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, equity compensation planning.
Pillar Wealth — 5.0 Stars, 10 Reviews
Location: Franklin, IN
Pillar Wealth's current Sam's List profile gives readers another live advisor to evaluate using current profile information and client reviews. The firm serves successful professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth clients and explicitly describes a model that is not based on a traditional AUM-only approach.
Bull Oak Capital — Published Flat Fee, Full Service
Location: Rancho Santa Fe, CA | Fee: $15,000/year | AUM: 0% on first $1M
Bull Oak's profile is notable for publishing a flat annual fee that covers everything — planning, investment management, tax strategy, and tax prep — in a single number. That kind of all-in pricing is unusual in an industry that often layers fees.
The no-AUM-fee-on-first-$1M structure is specifically relevant for clients building wealth actively. It means you're not penalized for growth in the early stages.
Services: Financial planning, investment management, tax strategy and preparation, estate planning.
How Sam's List Profiles Work
Every advisor on Sam's List goes through a profile setup that includes pricing, specialization, ideal client description, and credentials. The platform doesn't let you hide behind vague language — the structure forces specificity.
Reviews on Sam's List are verified. That means we confirm the reviewer has actually worked with the advisor before the review goes live. No anonymous praise, no fake 5-stars.
When you're comparing advisors, the profile tells you most of what you need to know before a call. Use it.
What a Good Profile Tells You Before You Schedule Anything
Before you commit to a conversation, look for:
- Exact pricing or a clear range. Not "competitive rates" or "varies"
- A specific ideal client description. "High earners in tech" is better than "individuals and families"
- Services listed with real scope. What's included, what costs extra, what they don't do
- Credentials with meaning attached. Not just initials, but what those initials mean for your situation
- Reviews that describe situations and results, not just general satisfaction
The profiles that answer these questions are the ones worth calling.