The Leading RIAs in San Francisco | 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 San Francisco that we thought you might like to know. For a more detailed list of RIAs in San Francisco, click here to see for free.

1. Edelman Financial Engines

AUM: $292.902B

Edelman Financial Services is an RIA organization located at 4000 Legato Road, 9th Floor, Fairfax, VA, operating within the Washington, DC metro area. Owned by Tom Lee of Private Equity, the firm specializes in ETF investments and does not offer retail mutual funds. In August 2022, Edelman Financial Services expanded its portfolio by acquiring Smart Investor in Roseville, CA, with $680 million AUM, focusing on small business retirement plans.

The firm currently manages an AUM of $21.73 million. While specific platform and opportunity descriptions are not provided, Edelman Financial Services' recent acquisition demonstrates its strategic growth in the retirement plan sector. The organization's collaboration with Smart Investor aligns with its commitment to enhancing its service offerings and expanding its market presence.

2. Global Retirement Partners LLC

AUM: $143.416B

The organization Global Retirement Partners LLC operates as a RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. Situated at 4340 Redwood Highway, Suite B-60, San Rafael, CA, the firm is affiliated with the San Francisco metro area. Since 2019, Global Retirement Partners LLC has been under the ownership of HUB International, offering retirement plan consulting services to plan sponsors and individual investors. Many advisors associated with the firm are dually registered with LPL. Global Retirement Partners LLC manages an AUM of $143.42B. The firm's platform focuses on personalized consulting and investment selection tailored to each client's objectives. Additionally, it provides managed account programs, including offerings through third parties such as LPL's OMP, PWP, MWP, and GWP programs. The emphasis on customized services and strategic partnerships underscores Global Retirement Partners LLC's commitment to delivering comprehensive solutions to its clientele.

3. Iconiq Capital

AUM: $95.050B

Iconiq Capital is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. Situated at 394 Pacific Avenue 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA, the firm operates within the San Francisco metro area. With a focus on technology growth equity, venture capital, and real estate, Iconiq Capital provides financial advisory and family office services, managing direct investments across various sectors.

Iconiq Capital boasts an impressive AUM of $95.05B. The firm's investment strategy leverages unique strengths and strategic partnerships to create resilient portfolios in public and private markets. With a high return threshold for external managers, Iconiq Capital tailors investment strategies to match the risk and liquidity profiles of its investors, emphasizing total portfolio management and multi-strategy partnerships.

4. Assetmark

AUM: $77.412B

Assetmark is an RIA specializing in TAMP services. The company is headquartered at 1655 Grant Street 10th Floor, Concord, CA, operating within the San Francisco metro area. AssetMark offers portfolio and asset management, investment strategies, and consulting services to financial advisors, brokers, and investors in California.

Assetmark manages an AUM of $77.41B. The firm provides model portfolios utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and SMAs through its Guided Portfolio Solutions. Its due diligence team conducts research and monitoring for the investments included in their lineup.

5. IEQ Capital LLC

AUM: $35.380B

IEQ Capital LLC is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is situated at 950 Tower Lane Suite 1800, Foster City, CA, with a focus on the San Francisco metro area. Established in 2019 by the former Luminous/First Republic team, IEQ Capital embodies an entrepreneurial spirit, prioritizing client-centric investment excellence.

IEQ Capital manages a substantial AUM of $35.38B. The firm's investment strategy primarily involves in-house management of public equity exposure, while also exploring diverse opportunities in private equity, real estate, venture capital, emerging managers, and secondaries. With a strong emphasis on independence and client-focused services, IEQ Capital continues to evolve its offerings to meet clients' investment objectives effectively.

6. Makena Capital Management

AUM: $25B

Makena Capital Management is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. Situated at 2755 Sand Hill Road Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA, the firm's operations are based in the San Francisco metro area. Established in 2005, Makena Capital caters to a diverse client base encompassing endowments, foundations, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and international institutions.

Makena Capital oversees an impressive AUM of $25B, emphasizing an endowment-style investment philosophy. The firm strategically allocates assets across various classes, including public and private equity, real assets, hedge funds, fixed income, and cash. Noteworthy is their focus on building concentrated, long-term relationships with clients, managing a portfolio that includes a significant allocation to emerging markets within their equity holdings.

7. Empower Personal Wealth

AUM: $20.5B

The organization Empower Personal Wealth functions as a RIA offering personalized wealth management and investment services. Situated at 250 Montgomery Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA, it caters to clients within the San Francisco metro area. Empower Personal Wealth tailors its services to individual needs, providing solutions ranging from private client asset management to socially responsible investing and comprehensive investment accounts.

With an impressive AUM of $20.5B, Empower Personal Wealth incorporates alternative investments into client portfolios for diversification and favorable risk-adjusted returns. The firm's investment approach includes a variety of investment accounts, such as the Empower Premier Investment Account and the standard Empower Investment Account, both offering commission-free trading and access to a wide range of investment options like mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities. Additionally, Empower Personal Wealth emphasizes tailored advice, low costs, and flexibility to meet the unique needs of each client.

8. Jordan Park

AUM: $18.116B

Jordan Park is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. Situated at 100 Pine Street Suite 2600, San Francisco, CA, the firm caters to a distinguished clientele, including entrepreneurs, innovators, and families who have made significant contributions across various sectors. With a team of 150 employees spread across NYC, SF, and Portsmouth, NH, Jordan Park manages $16 billion in assets, predominantly serving first-generation wealth holders and tech entrepreneurs.

With $10 billion allocated to passive beta exposure in liquid assets and $6 billion in alternatives like private equity, venture capital, and real assets, Jordan Park emphasizes impact investing and actively engages in PE, VC, real estate, and hedge fund investments. The firm's approach involves seeding and taking ownership stakes in new hedge funds, aligning with their commitment to empowering clients to achieve their financial goals.

9. Baker Street Advisors

AUM: $17.8B

Baker Street Advisors is an RIA specializing in Multi Family Office services. The firm is headquartered at 575 Market Street Suite 600, San Francisco, CA, operating within the San Francisco metro area. Established in 2003, Baker Street Advisors offers tailored wealth management solutions to affluent families and individuals, focusing on financial planning, investment management, and tax strategies.

Baker Street Advisors manages an AUM of $17.8B. The firm emphasizes diversification and cost-efficiency within its investment approach, with active management in select areas of opportunity. It also has the flexibility to allocate to various alternative investments, including hedge funds, private equity, and fund of funds.

10. Strategic Retirement Partners

AUM: $16.8B

Strategic Retirement Partners operates as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with a specialization in DC Consultant services. The firm is located at 1733 Woodside Road, Suite 350, Redwood City, CA, and serves the San Francisco metro area. As an independent retirement plan consulting practice, it provides advisory services that cater to the retirement aspirations of numerous employees through its partnership with Global Retirement Partners.

The firm manages an AUM of $16.8B. Strategic Retirement Partners employs a disciplined investment strategy focused on creating diversified portfolios that align with clients' financial objectives and risk tolerance. It incorporates alternative investments into client portfolios, including private equity and real estate, to enhance diversification and potential returns. This approach is designed to complement traditional asset classes while providing additional avenues for growth and risk management.

To see a full list of RIAs in San Francisco or other metros, book a demo of Dakota Marketplace.