RFG Advisory awards criteria.

RFG Advisory, LLC. (RFG) is an SEC registered investment adviser located in Birmingham, Alabama. RFG and its investment advisor representatives are in compliance with the current filing requirements imposed upon SEC registered investment advisers by those states in which RFG maintains clients. RFG may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements.

This web site and RFG’s related media channels such as YouTube, Twitter or LinkedIn are limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to its advisory services, together with access to additional investment-related information, publications, and links. Accordingly, the publication of RFG’s web sites on the internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as RFG’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the internet.

RFG does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility, therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Certain portions of RFG’s web sites (i.e., newsletters, articles, commentaries, etc.) may contain a discussion of, and/or provide access to, RFG (and those of other investment and non-investment professionals) positions and/or recommendations as of a specific prior date. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, such discussions may no longer be reflective of current position(s) and/or recommendation(s). Moreover, no client or prospective client should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from RFG, or its investment advisor representatives. RFG is neither an attorney nor an accountant, and no portion of the web site content should be interpreted as legal, accounting or tax advice.

Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if RFG is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of RFG by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers. RFG does not pay a fee to be considered for any ranking or recognition but may purchase plaques or reprints to publicize rankings.

USA TODAY Best Financial Advisory Firm 2024

The ranking of the best registered investment advisory firms (“RIA Firms”) is based on two dimensions: recommendations by financial advisors, clients as well as industry experts and a firm’s development of Assets under Management (AUM).Recommendations were collected via an independent survey among over 25,000 individuals. Clients, industry experts and financial advisors working for an RIA firm could recommend the RIA firms they find commendable. Self-recommendations were prohibited and were therefore not included in the evaluation. AUM development was analyzed both in the short- and long-term using publicly available data. Short-term AUM development was calculated over a twelve-month period from January 2023 to January 2024, while long-term development spanned a five-year period from 2019 to 2024.

The final score was calculated by weighting recommendations at 20% and AUM development at 80%. Within the AUM growth metric, short-term and long-term growth were each weighted 30/70.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

InvestmentNews names RFG Advisory 2024 Best Place to Work for Financial Advisors

InvestmentNews/Best Companies Group awarded RFG Advisory, LLC., its 2024 Best Places to Work award on February 28, 2024 after extensive survey, research and analysis were completed from October 2023 thru January 2024.

InvestmentNews collaborated with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying great places to work, to create the survey and recognition program. Recipients are selected from a two-part survey completed by employers and employees. Employers report their organization’s workplace policies, practices and demographics, and employees complete a survey designed to measure the employee experience. Scores from the employee survey represent three-quarters of the weight of the final rankings.

To qualify as one of InvestmentNews Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers, firm must be a registered Investment advisors (RIA) affiliated with an independent broker-dealer, be based in the US, have at least 15 employees, and have a 80 percent or better response rate on the survey and have been in business for one year. There is no charge to register.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

Forbes’ 2023 America’s Top RIA Firms

Award was announced in October 2023. Data provided to SHOOK ® Research, LLC by RFG Advisory as of 12/31/22. America’s Top Registered Investment Advisor Firms ranking by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

SHOOK Research creates rankings of role models—firms that are leading the way in offering best practices and providing a high-quality experience for clients. A focused analysis on quantitative and qualitative factors, compliance history and including telephone and in-person meetings. The algorithm is designed to fairly compare the business practices of a large group of firms based on quantitative and qualitative elements. Data are weighted to ensure priorities are given to dynamics such as preferred “best practices,” business models, recent business activity, etc. Each variable is graded and represents a certain value for each measured component. These data are fed into an algorithm that measures thousands of firms against each other. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data.

USA TODAY Best Financial Advisory Firm 2023

USA Today and Statista selected Best Financial Advisory Firms 2023 based on two dimensions: recommendations by clients and peers and a firm’s growth of Assets under Management (AUM). The recommendations were collected via an independent survey sent to over 20,000 individuals during 2022. The development of AUM was analyzed both short (2022) and long term (2018-2023) based on publicly available data. In the consideration for the top 500 RIA firms, recommendations had a weight of 20% while development of AUM had a weight of 80% (short-term and long-term growth were equally weighted) to derive the final score. For more information, click here.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

2023 RIA Channel Top 100 RIA ETF Power Users Ranking

RIA Database identified and ranked RIA wealth management firms using the most exchange traded funds (ETFs). Wealth managers were defined by the following characteristics: 1) total assets were primarily managed for high net worth and non-high net worth individual clients; 2) each firm provides comprehensive wealth management services; 3) firms may be a family office or may provide family office services; and/or 4) firms may provide financial planning services. Broker/dealers were excluded. Firms must be domiciled in the United States and registered with the SEC as a registered investment adviser (RIA). Wealth managers were then ranked based on ETF usage as reported to the SEC per their 13F quarterly Edgar filings as of December 31, 2022. Total ETF assets were aggregated by RIA Database (RIADatabase.com). Assets under management are as reported to the SEC as of December 31, 2022.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

Orion's Growth Award

RFG was one of two firms selected for the Growth Award at Orion’s FUSE Innovation Summit held Sept. 19 to 21, 2022. Multiple time periods were covered in the assessment both a rolling 1-year 6/30/2021-6/30/2022 and YTD 12/31/2021-6/30/2022. Several factors were taken into account to recognize the firm’s significant growth, including: assets under management and new accounts on the Orion platform (% change over the review period). RFG being named the recipient of ‘Top 20 best places to work for a financial advisor’ was also considered. Their utilization and adoption of new Orion technology including platform-billing, reporting, trading and client experience integrations. And lastly RFG’s overall engagement and partnership with Orion as measured based on net promoter survey scores from individuals at RFG regarding their Orion experience and the firm’s level of engagement with our service team in bi-weekly phone calls.

RFG Advisory did not pay to participate in this selection but does have a contractual relationship with Orion to assist in its provision of investment and advisory services to its clients.

 

Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who in Financial Planning and Wealth Management 2022 – Bobby White

The Birmingham Business Journal’s Who’s Who winners were identified by an editorial panel as the top executives from the largest financial planning and wealth management firms on the BBJ’s most recent Lists.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

ThinkAdvisory Luminary Finalist – Individual / Executive Leadership 2022 – Shannon Spotswood

Candidates are evaluated by ThinkAdvisor’s editorial team based on the dynamic and inclusive ways that they are driving the wealth, investment and retirement industry forward. In 2022, 33 individuals and organizations were awarded as finalists. Shannon Spotswood was recognized as one of the winners in the 2022 Executive Leadership category.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

RIA Channel Top 50 Wealth Managers by Growth Assets 2022

2022 Top 50 Wealth Managers By Growth In Assets List Methodology: RIA Database ranked the Top 50 Wealth Managers by Growth in Assets on an absolute basis over a one year time frame. RIA Database has been providing RIA rankings for Forbes and several industry publications, including RIA Channel (RIAChannel.com) for over ten years. Criteria and requirements for this list include the following:

All firms are active registered investment advisers (RIAs) with the SEC, and have no regulatory, criminal or administrative violations on file per the SEC as of March 31, 2022.

All firms provide wealth management services as their primary business. These services may include financial planning, selection of third party investment managers, portfolio construction services, family office services, comprehensive estate planning, asset allocation services or similar functions to high net worth and/or ultra high net worth individuals.

All qualified wealth managers with $100 million in assets under management or greater were ranked based on percentage of growth over a one year period from assets as reported to the SEC on their Form ADV Part I filing on March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

As with previous WSR Pathfinder Awards, we reviewed a wide range of top executives against a robust set of criteria, including their impact on wealth management, charitable activities, years in leadership and recognition within the industry.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

WSR Pathfinder Awards – Top Women Leaders in Wealth Management

March 2022: WSR recognizes another group of leaders in wealth management – women who helm their firms – as the next in the series of our invitation-only WSR Pathfinder Awards, which recognizes the combination of wealth management industry success and diversity. As with previous WSR Pathfinder Awards, we reviewed a wide range of top executives against a robust set of criteria, including their impact on wealth management, charitable activities, years in leadership and recognition within the industry.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

InvestmentNews 2022 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers

InvestmentNews collaborated with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying great places to work, to create the survey and recognition program. Recipients are selected from a two-part survey completed by employers and employees. Employers report their organization’s workplace policies, practices and demographics, and employees complete a survey designed to measure the employee experience. Scores from the employee survey represent three-quarters of the weight of the final rankings.

To qualify as one of InvestmentNews Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers, an advice firm must have at least 15 employees and have been in business for one year. There is no charge to register.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

Women in Asset Management Awards Series

For 2021: Shannon Spotswood was Nominated Advocate of the Year in Asset/Wealth Management. The Women in Asset Management Awards recognizes women working in asset/wealth management who lead by example, inspiring women to choose this industry, ensuring equity and inclusion, and creating opportunity for women to have a transformational impact on their organizations in the last 18 months. As well as examining the initiatives the candidates has pioneered to inspire women and diverse talent to succeed in asset/wealth management, judges will also assess their leadership and the initiative’s impact on, and integration with, the business.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

ThinkAdvisor Luminaries 2021

Our distinguished judging panel and seasoned editorial team consider the nominee’s impact on the firm, its advisors and the broader professional community and industry, as well as on the landscape of clients, prospective clients, investors and would-be investors nationwide.

This impact should include both quantitative and qualitative results — such as the number of advisors affected by the nominee and a clear description of the innovative way the nominee has contributed to the particular program, firm and broader community, and industry.

A demonstrated ability to achieve goals and display ingenuity in terms of creative thinking and problem solving – i.e., filling a significant gap.

A description of the nominee’s dedication to furthering the development of advisors and the industry — most notably its ability to serve the best interests of investor clients and the broader community in which they live and work.

A personal commitment to the highest ethical standards, service and excellence.

You may nominate individuals, teams or organizations. Please submit no more than four entries per company. If nominating a team or company, please include only the names and titles of its leaders and key members. We encourage you to limit your entries to nominees who have made indelible impacts on the business.

All entries must include 3-5 examples that qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate the impact their efforts have had over the past 12 months.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

InvestmentNews’ 2021 Innovation Awards Finalist

For 2021: RFG Advisory, its new StrongHER Money program is an opportunity to give back to the community while also tapping a market segment that’s been overlooked. Winners are be chosen by InvestmentNews’ advisory board of industry experts.

From more than 100 nominations submitted each year from readers, staff and other experts in the industry, InvestmentNews editors select men and women whose innovative ideas, products and solutions stand out as meaningful contributions to the financial advice profession. A rigorous selection process designed to identify individuals and firms that contributed profoundly and consistently to the advancement of the financial advice profession and for conceiving new ideas and tools that have propelled the industry forward.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

Best and Brightest 2021

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® competition identifies and honors companies that deliver exceptional human resource practices and an impressive commitment to their employees. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more. Participating companies have the opportunity to benchmark results with other cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Chicago and more.

The Best and Brightest programs identify, recognize, and celebrate the organizations that epitomize Better Business. Richer Lives. Stronger Communities.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

WealthManagement.com 2020, 2021 & 2022 Industry Award Finalist

Winners were selected based on quantitative measures of their initiatives — including scope, scale, adoption and feature set — along with qualitative measures such as innovation, creativity and new methods of delivery. The awards program was expanded in 2022 to recognize organizations that are pioneering innovation in retirement planning and charitable giving, as well as progressive companies who are advancing the integration and implementation of digital assets. And for the first time, individual awards paid tribute to up-and-comers at RIA firms.

Each of the 2022 Industry Awards finalist initiatives and company profiles can be found on the WealthiesCircle.com content platform, which will also provide a gateway to the upcoming 2022 Wealthies Podcast Digital Forums paneled by senior executives at finalist and award-winning firms.

A panel of independent judges made up of top names in the industry and led by WealthManagement.com editor-in-chief David Armstrong, determined the winners of the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards, which each year recognizes the firms and individuals who are bringing new innovations to market that make a real difference to the daily activities of financial advisors.

RFG Advisory did not pay to participate in the award selection.

Financial Times Top Financial Advisers 2020

TOP 300 RIA OF 13,000 RIAS NATIONWIDE

This seventh edition of the FT 300 assesses registered investment advisers based on desirable traits for investors. We present the FT 300 as an elite group, not a competitive ranking of one to 300. This is the fairest way to identify the industry’s elite advisers while accounting for the companies’ different approaches and specializations.

To ensure a list of established companies with substantial expertise, we examine the database of RIAs registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and select those with more than $300m in assets under management (AUM).

The Financial Times and Ignites Research, the FT’s sister company, invited qualifying RIA companies — more than 2,000 — to complete a lengthy application that gave us more information about them. We added this to our own research into their practices, including data from regulatory filings. Some 760 RIA companies applied and 300 made the final list.

The formula the FT uses to grade advisers is based on six broad factors and calculates a numeric score for each adviser. Areas of consideration include AUM, asset growth, the company’s age, industry certifications of key employees, SEC compliance record and online accessibility. The reasons these were chosen are as follows:

  • AUM signals experience managing money and client trust.
  • AUM growth rate can be a proxy for performance, as well as for asset retention and the ability to generate new business. We assessed companies on three-year growth rates.
  • Companies’ years in existence indicates reliability and experience of managing assets through different market environments.
  • Compliance record provides evidence of past client disputes; a string of complaints can signal potential problems.
  • Industry certifications (CFA, CFP, etc) shows the company’s staff has industry knowledge and a professional commitment to investment skills.
  • Online accessibility shows a desire to provide easy access and transparent contact information.


Among the top factors in our scoring, AUM accounted for an average of 72 per cent of each adviser’s score. Their growth rate accounted for an average of 15 per cent. The FT places a cap on the number of advisers from any one state, corresponding to the distribution of millionaires across the US. The research was conducted on behalf of the Financial Times by Ignites Research, a Financial Times sister publication.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered

Barron’s Industry Awards 2020 Finalist

Nominations for the MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards were submitted in an open nomination process, and finalists were selected by a special review committee representing all segments of MMI’s membership. MMI member firms vote to determine the winners in each category.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

InvestmentNews Women to Watch

For 2020: WOMEN TO WATCH: SHANNON SPOTSWOOD

This is InvestmentNews’ sixth annual Women to Watch recognition program and we’re honoring 23 female financial advisers and industry executives who are advancing the financial advice industry.

These leaders share their experiences and expertise with others in the business — especially other women — and give back to their communities in spades. The 2020 Women to Watch honorees were chosen by an InvestmentNews selection committee out of hundreds of nominations.

RFG Advisory did not pay a fee to participate or be considered.

Are you ready to crush it?

INDEPENDENCE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME — AND RFG IS ABSOLUTELY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.

Learn more about joining RFG or a RFG partner firm by talking to RFG’s Business Development Specialist, Kristy Puckett or Terry Bobo. After all, it’s just a conversation — not a commitment, right? You may call Kristy at 205.218.6962 or email her at kpuckett@rfgadvisory.com. You can also call Terry at 205.881.5991 or email him at tbobo@rfgadvisory.com. Unleash your growth potential by becoming an independent Advisor affiliated with RFG.

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