The Leading RIAs in New York City | Dakota Marketplace

RIAs are one of the most dynamic and fast growing channels for investment firms to call on when fundraising. The challenge has always been: “what RIAs invest in outside managers and are not investment managers themselves?”

Through our Dakota Marketplace database of RIAs, we have aimed to solve that problem by curating and vetting each RIA by hand and only showing those RIAs that are true prospects for an investment firm. This saves both the investment sales team member time, but also saves the “other” RIAs that don’t allocate to other managers from getting unnecessary emails and phone calls.

Below are a few RIAs in New York City that we thought you might like to know. For a more detailed list of RIAs in New York City, click here to see for free.

1. Focus Financial Partners

AUM: $400B

Focus Financial Partners is an RIA specializing in wealth management and financial advisory services. Headquartered at 875 3rd Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY, the firm operates within the New York City metro area. Acquired by CD&R and Stone Point Capital, it manages a substantial $400 billion in client assets across a network of over 65 independent RIAs.

The firm's strategic reorganization into "Focus Partners" hubs includes Focus Partners Wealth with $120 billion AUM, Focus Partners Advisor Solutions with $43 billion AUM/AUA, Kovitz as a Focus Partners firm managing $35 billion, SCS Financial as Focus Partners Family Office and OCIO with $45 billion AUM, and Cardinal Point as Focus Partners Canada. This restructuring aims to enhance client services, support succession planning, and drive growth. Each hub caters to specific client segments, offering tailored investment strategies and services to meet diverse needs and preferences.

2. Hightower Advisors LLC

AUM: $164.789B

Hightower Advisors LLC is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 300 Madison Ave, 29th Floor, New York, NY, and operates within the New York City metro area. With over 140 advisors across 33 states, Hightower collectively manages a substantial AUM of $164.79B. The firm's unique partnership model modernizes the RIA industry, emphasizing independence among individual teams while fostering collaboration and idea-sharing.

Hightower's investment approach includes a diverse range of strategies such as mutual funds, SMAs, and ETFs. The firm leverages the expertise of Lee Majkrzak to recommend approximately 29 strategies to its teams. Additionally, Hightower integrates alternative investments into its platform, supported by research partnerships with firms like Fiducient Advisors. The emphasis on central research resources and a home-office research presence reflects Hightower's commitment to enhancing its investment offerings and providing tailored portfolio management solutions.

3. Lazard Family Office Partners

AUM: $128.878B

Lazard Family Office Partners is an RIA specializing in providing tailored investment solutions to high-net-worth families. Situated at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY, the firm operates within the New York City metro area. With a combined asset management of approximately $128.88B, Lazard Family Office Partners integrates public and private market strategies to offer clients sophisticated and diversified investment options.

The firm's Alternative Platform provides access to a diverse range of alternative investments such as private equity and hedge funds, leveraging Lazard's global investment expertise. These investments aim to enhance returns and diversify portfolios, albeit with specific risks like limited liquidity and higher fees. Lazard Family Office Partners focuses on long-term commitments and tailored solutions, reflecting a comprehensive approach to managing assets for high-net-worth families.

4. Cerity Partners

AUM: $122.848B

Cerity Partners is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 99 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY, and operates within the New York City metro area. Established with an approximate $120 billion in total assets, Cerity Partners offers tailored financial advice to high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and nonprofits.

Cerity Partners manages a substantial AUM of $122.85B. The firm's strategic approach includes a focus on private market investments, encompassing private equity, private debt, venture capital, and private real estate. With a dedicated team and a meticulous due diligence process, Cerity Partners aims to provide personalized service and expert-driven investment solutions to its clients, emphasizing long-term partnerships and value creation.

5. Brown Advisory

AUM: $121.936B

Brown Advisory is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 12 East 49th Street 35th Floor, New York, NY, operating within the New York City metro area. With a total AUM of $121.94B, Brown Advisory serves a diverse clientele across institutions, endowments, foundations, and high net worth individuals.

The firm's investment platform emphasizes a manager-of-managers approach, overseeing an external manager platform of approximately $37B in assets allocated across 70 strategies and 90 firms. Brown Advisory offers a range of sub-advised offerings including multi-manager strategies like Global Select Hedged, Hedged US Equity Managers, and Real Estate Partners Program. Additionally, the firm integrates alternative investments through programs such as Private Equity Partners and Open Architecture Programs, providing clients with diversified and tailored investment solutions.

6. Rockefeller Capital Management

AUM: $70.030B

Rockefeller Capital Management is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Floor 5, New York, NY, and is situated in the New York City metro area. Established in 2018, Rockefeller manages over $149 billion in client assets across more than 50 locations in the US and one in London.

Rockefeller Capital Management oversees an AUM of $70.03B and offers a diverse range of services, including global family office, asset management, and strategic advisory services. The firm's investment approach aims for optimal risk-adjusted returns, providing customized solutions based on individual client needs. With divisions such as Rockefeller Asset Management and Rockefeller Strategic Advisory, the firm is strategically positioned to offer a comprehensive suite of services to its clientele.

7. Bessemer Trust

AUM: $45.136B

Bessemer Trust operates as a RIA with a focus on Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, New York, NY, and is situated within the New York City metro area. Bessemer Trust is a privately held investment firm managing approximately $41.9B in assets, with a significant portion allocated to proprietary and sub-advised strategies.

The firm manages an AUM of $45.14B and has an externally managed platform that accesses a concentrated group of outside managers, totaling $10B in AUM. Bessemer Trust employs a diversified investment strategy that includes traditional asset classes and alternative investments, tailored to the unique objectives of its clients. The firm continually evaluates fund opportunities and may invest in new funds based on market conditions and client needs.

8. Silvercrest Asset Management

AUM: $36.454B

Silvercrest Asset Management is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 1330 Avenue Of The Americas, New York, NY, within the New York City metro area. Silvercrest manages a substantial AUM of $36.45B, offering a range of wealth management, OCIO, and asset management services to a diverse client base.

The firm's investment platform emphasizes a manager-of-managers approach, with a focus on value-oriented equity strategies and municipal bond investments. Silvercrest also provides access to external managers with growth-oriented approaches to complement its internal strategies. With over $31 billion in assets, the firm has seen significant growth in its OCIO practice, catering not only to ultra high-net-worth clients but also expanding its institutional clientele, necessitating offerings in private equity, real estate, and hedge funds.

9. BBR Partners

AUM: $31.177B

BBR Partners is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is situated at 55 East 52nd 18th floor, New York, NY, within the New York City metro area. Since 2009, BBR has experienced significant growth, currently managing $31.18B in AUM for 145 families. They provide tailored investment advisory services, custom asset allocations, and work with investment managers across various asset classes.

BBR Partners emphasizes strategies in municipals, long-only equities, hedge funds, private equity, and real assets. They also offer comprehensive trust and estate planning services, alongside tax planning services. The firm's growth has been organic, driven by client referrals. Additionally, BBR engages in private credit investments and maintains a substantial municipal bond portfolio, catering to affluent families seeking diversified investment opportunities.

10. AlTi Tiedemann Global

AUM: $29.043B

AlTi Tiedemann Global is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is situated at 520 Madison Avenue 26th Floor, New York, NY, and operates within the New York City metro area. Following the merger of Tiedemann Group and Alvarium Investments, the firm rebranded as Alvarium Tiedemann (AlTi), now listed on Nasdaq.

The firm manages assets totaling $29.04B, with a strategic focus on a diverse portfolio structure. Notably, Tiedemann Wealth oversees over $22B in assets, including acquisitions such as Threshold Group in Philadelphia and Presidio Partners in San Francisco. The firm emphasizes a core satellite approach, direct deals, and credit structures, with a keen interest in ESG investments. Key individuals within the organization include Kent Insley in New York, Teresa Wells in Seattle, and Ethan Doyle in San Francisco, each contributing to the firm's strong presence in the market.

To see a full list of RIAs in New York City or other metros, book a demo of Dakota Marketplace.