Real estate continues to play a key role in portfolio construction across registered investment advisors in the US. Advisors of all sizes use real estate for diversification, income generation, and inflation sensitivity, with implementation varying by client profile and platform access.

The following list ranks the top 10 RIAs by total AUM that invest in real estate, based on proprietary research compiled by AdvizorPro across our full RIA database. These insights are drawn from ongoing technology and platform analysis, regulatory filings, and firm level intelligence tracked within the AdvizorPro platform.

All key insights are based on data as of February 5th 2026.

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CAPTRUST

CAPTRUST is one of the largest independent RIAs in the US, with a strong presence in retirement plan advisory and institutional consulting. Headquartered in Raleigh North Carolina, the firm has grown rapidly through acquisitions and team additions, building a national footprint while maintaining a strong focus on fiduciary advice and plan sponsor services. 

Key insights

• AUM $1,083.1 billion
• Experienced top 80.2 percent AUM growth compared to $1B+ RIAs with 27 percent AUM growth
• Has 87.7 percent of their assets with retirement plans
• Works with platforms including Black Diamond and CAIS
• CAPTRUST has added 100 teams within the last year
• CAPTRUST has 88 teams under it
• Works with accredited investors and accredited investors
• Advisory clients increased from 32,224 to 36,839
• Number of employees increased from 1,554 to 1,723
• Total AUM increased 27.1 percent from $852,173,054,617 to $1,083,051,008,644

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Fisher Investments

Fisher Investments is a globally recognized RIA headquartered in Plano Texas, serving high net worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes active management and long term investment strategies, with real estate exposure often integrated as part of broader asset allocation models for wealthy clients.

Key insights

• AUM $298.7 billion
• Has 69.6 percent of their assets with high net worth individuals
• Works with high net worth individuals
• Lists 53.7 percent of their SMA assets with Charles Schwab and Company
• Offers asset management charitable giving and estate planning
• Advisory clients increased from 161,361 to 174,538
• Number of employees increased from 3,525 to 4,065
• Total AUM increased 7.9 percent from $276,890,013,440 to $298,729,428,900

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Edelman Financial Engines

Edelman Financial Engines operates at the intersection of digital advice and human financial planning, serving a broad client base that includes high net worth households and other advisory firms. The firm has expanded aggressively through team additions and partnerships, with real estate strategies often accessed through third party advisory relationships.

Key insights

• AUM $292.9 billion
• Has 45.8 percent of their assets with other investment advisers
• Edelman Financial Engines has added 147 teams within the last year
• Edelman Financial Engines has 92 teams under it
• Works with high net worth individuals
• Lists 39.8 percent of their SMA assets with Fidelity NFS
• Offers asset management business succession and charitable giving
• Advisory clients decreased from 1,739,811 to 1,702,601
• Number of employees increased from 1,578 to 1,616
• Total AUM increased 8.2 percent from $270,770,414,647 to $292,902,969,770

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Creative Planning

Creative Planning is a rapidly growing RIA headquartered in Overland Park Kansas. The firm is known for comprehensive wealth management services and has expanded nationally through acquisitions and organic growth. 

Key insights

• AUM $217.4 billion
• Has 54.4 percent of their assets with high net worth individuals
• Works with platforms including CAIS
• Creative Planning has 1 team under it
• Works with high net worth individuals and accredited investors and accredited investors
• Lists 83.7 percent of their SMA assets with Charles Schwab and Company
• Offers asset management
• Advisory clients increased from 76,023 to 84,863
• Number of employees increased from 1,319 to 1,428
• Total AUM increased 24 percent from $175,271,678,869 to $217,399,324,981

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‍Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors

Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors is the RIA arm of Arthur J Gallagher and Co, focused on retirement plan advisory and fiduciary services. Based in Rolling Meadows Illinois, the firm’s real estate exposure is closely tied to institutional style retirement plan portfolios.

Key insights

• AUM $180.6 billion
• Experienced top 89.9 percent AUM growth compared to $1B+ RIAs with 44 percent AUM growth
• Has 89.4 percent of their assets with retirement plans
• Works with platforms including OSAIC
• Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors has added 1 team within the last year
• Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors has 2 teams under it
• Offers asset management charitable giving and estate planning
• Advisory clients increased from 5,649 to 5,731
• Number of employees increased from 211 to 221
• Total AUM increased 43.6 percent from $125,753,689,525 to $180,614,282,519

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Hightower Advisors

Hightower Advisors operates a multi affiliate RIA model and is headquartered in Chicago Illinois. The firm partners with advisory teams nationwide, offering centralized infrastructure and alternative investment access. Real estate strategies are frequently incorporated through platform partnerships and third party solutions.

Key insights

• AUM $164.8 billion
• Experienced top 80.6 percent AUM growth compared to $1B+ RIAs with 27 percent AUM growth
• Has 77.9 percent of their assets with high net worth individuals
• Works with platforms including Altium
• Hightower Advisors has added 96 teams within the last year
• Hightower Advisors has 108 teams under it
• Works with high net worth individuals
• Lists 45.8 percent of their SMA assets with Fidelity NFS
• Offers business succession estate planning and insurance
• Advisory clients increased from 52,309 to 56,818
• Number of employees increased from 1,816 to 1,837
• Total AUM increased 26.5 percent from $130,239,337,374 to $164,789,471,551

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Cetera Investment Advisers LLC

Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is part of the broader Cetera Financial Group and supports a large network of advisors across hybrid and independent models. Headquartered in El Segundo California, the firm provides access to real estate strategies through a wide platform ecosystem.

Key insights

• AUM $163.8 billion
• Experienced top 93.3 percent AUM growth compared to $1B+ RIAs with 57 percent AUM growth
• Has 54.4 percent of their assets with individuals
• Works with platforms including Ameriprise Assetmark eMoney Envestnet iCapital JP Morgan Orion and SEI Investments
• Cetera Investment Advisers has added 114 teams within the last year
• Cetera Investment Advisers has 323 teams under it
• Works with high net worth individuals
• Lists 79.2 percent of their SMA assets with Pershing
• Offers asset management business succession and charitable giving
• Advisory clients increased from 440,172 to 605,017
• Number of employees increased from 6,648 to 7,705
• Total AUM increased 56.8 percent from $104,468,595,111 to $163,792,814,520

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Empower Advisory Group

Empower Advisory Group is the advisory arm of Empower and focuses on individuals and high net worth clients across retirement and wealth solutions. Based in Greenwood Village Colorado, the firm integrates real estate exposure within broader retirement focused advisory frameworks.

Key insights

• AUM $159.1 billion
• Has 65.7 percent of their assets with individuals
• Works with platforms including iCapital
• Empower Advisory Group has added 1 team within the last year
• Works with high net worth individuals and accredited investors
• Lists 66.0 percent of their SMA assets with Empower
• Offers asset management charitable giving and college planning
• Advisory clients increased from 188,757 to 250,726
• Number of employees increased from 766 to 822
• Total AUM increased 18.5 percent from $134,279,160,181 to $159,120,330,491

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Why Real Estate Exposure Matters for RIAs

As real estate continues to play a role in diversification strategies, understanding which RIAs already allocate meaningfully to real assets can help asset managers and wealth technology providers prioritize the right firms. 

These trends complement broader advisor movement and ownership insights highlighted in recent AdvizorPro research such as the US Wealth Advisor Movement Report and monthly updates like Advisor Moves January 2026.

AdvizorPro helps teams identify RIAs with specific allocation behavior, growth signals, and platform preferences using continuously updated advisor and firm intelligence. To explore real estate focused RIAs and build targeted distribution strategies, request a free trial. 

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