IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

Methodology: Forbes America’s Top Wealth Advisors 2025

Link to article Here’s what our research has found: the very best advisors are laser focused on making a difference in their clients’ lives; they want to add meaning and help them live better lives. This is how we think about our research process every day. If we’re going to recommend advisors to the public, we have to make sure every advisor is high quality. When we meet with an advisor in person or on the telephone, we are thinking to ourselves: Is this someone that can offer impact? And would we recommend this advisor to a friend or family member? Our Top Wealth Advisor rankings are published annually, but they don’t tell the whole story: most of these advisors are concentrated around the bigger markets such as New York and San Francisco. We’ve uncovered great advisors in all markets—South Carolina, Oklahoma, and other states with smaller concentrations of wealth. It is our belief that clients are oftentimes better served by local representation. For example, a Houston-based investor who made her fortune in oil may prefer a local advisor with experience in that sector; a tech entrepreneur may want an advisor well-versed in start-ups and funding; or a farmer may seek an advisor with expertise in the futures markets. Many of the clients we talk to say they consider their advisors and teams like a part of their families, so it’s nice to have them close by. The Forbes ranking of America’s Top Wealth Advisors and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria learned through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data such as revenue trends and assets under management. The algorithm additionally weighs factors such as service models, compliance records and industry experience, and focuses on those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. All advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

America’s Top Financial Security Professionals

Link to Forbes Article Forbes is unveiling its annual ranking of America’s Top Financial Security Professionals (FSPs)—the professionals families rely on for wealth planning and protection, including insurance. Extensive research is conducted by SHOOK Research. SHOOK Research’s rankings are based on one simple notion: “Would we recommend these professionals to a family member or a friend?” We’ve all seen rankings based on how much money people make—athletes, entertainers, artists, company founders, billionaires, corporate executives, and even rankings of financial professionals. Numbers don’t tell enough of the story. If you needed a life-critical operation, would you choose a surgeon solely based on how much money he or she makes? Arguably the most important quantitative element would be how many surgeries the doctor performed and the success rate. But there is much more to our rankings. We look for individuals who are best prepared to engage in more meaningful conversations about life while protecting against the perils posed by disability, death or job loss. To accomplish this task, we collect quantitative data, but we also interview FSPs to see if they are role models we would recommend to the world. There is a lot riding on our recommendations. More than 5 million Forbes readers and 67 million unique monthly visitors to Forbes.com have come to rely on our research to plan their financial futures.

The SHOOK Process

Our process begins by scouring the financial services industry—life insurance companies, banks, brokerages, agencies, custodians, and others for nominations. SHOOK accepts professionals who meet pre-determined minimum thresholds and acceptable compliance records. FSP refers to professionals who are properly licensed to sell life insurance and annuities. FSPs may also hold other credentials and licenses which would allow them to offer investments and securities products through those licenses. To date, SHOOK has evaluated more than 18,095 professionals for consideration in its rankings published by Forbes from which the ranked FSPs were considered. These advisors were filtered down from over 49,552 nominations based on SHOOK’s high quantitative and qualitative thresholds. SHOOK Research does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

Basic Requirements

  • 7 years as an FSP
  • Minimum 1 year at current firm, with exceptions (acquisitions, etc.)
  • Recommended and nominated by their firm
  • Completed an online survey
  • Primary focus on individuals, not institutions
  • Acceptable compliance record

Quantitative Elements

  • Commissions/production/premiums, death benefits and assets under management (weightings assigned for each)
  • Client-related trends and data, such as persistency rates
  • Portfolio performance is not a factor; audited returns among professionals are rare, and differing client objectives provide varying returns

Qualitative Elements

  • Telephone and in-person meetings with professionals (if an in-person meeting cannot be accomplished, exceptions are considered in which the interview will occur after a ranking has been published)
  • Professionals that exhibit “best practices” within their practices and approach to working with clients
  • Compliance records and Form U4s
  • FSPs that provide a full client experience: service model, planning process, breadth of services, including extensive use of a firm’s platform and resources
  • Credentials and years of service
  • Use of team and team dynamics
  • Community involvement
  • Discussions with management, peers and competing peers

Ranking Algorithm

The algorithm we developed is designed to fairly compare the business practices of a large group of FSPs based on quantitative and qualitative elements. Data is weighted to ensure priorities are given to dynamics such as best practices, business models, recent business activity, among others. Each variable is graded and represents a certain value for each measured component. The algorithm measures thousands of FSPs against one another.

SHOOK Disclosures

Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receives any compensation in exchange for placement on its Top Financial Security Professional (FSP) rankings, which are determined independently (see methodology). FSP refers to professionals who are properly licensed to sell life insurance and annuities. FSPs may also hold other credentials and licenses which would allow them to offer investments and securities products through those licenses. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures learned through telephone, virtual and in-person interviews to measure best practices, service models, planning services, team structures and expertise, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management, sales figures and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and these professionals rarely have audited performance reports. Individuals must carefully choose the right FSP for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions; individuals must choose the right FSP based on their unique needs and circumstances. SHOOK’s research, rankings and opinions are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

Wealth Quarterback, LLC (“Company”) is an SEC registered investment adviser located in Toms River, New Jersey. Company may only transact business in those states in which it is registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. Company’s website is 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 Company’s website on the Internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as Company’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet. Any subsequent, direct communication by Company with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. For information pertaining to the registration status of Company, please contact the SEC or the state securities regulators for those states in which Company maintains a notice filing. A copy of Company’s current written disclosure statement discussing Company’s business operations, services, and fees is available from Company upon written request. Company 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 Company website 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.

Please remember that different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including those undertaken or recommended by Company) will be profitable or equal any historical performance level(s).

Certain portions of Company’s website (i.e., newsletters, articles, commentaries, etc.) may contain a discussion of, and/or provide access to, Company (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 discussion 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 Company, or from any other investment professional. Company is neither an attorney nor an accountant, and no portion of the website content should be interpreted as legal, accounting, or tax advice.

Please Note — Limitations: Neither rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services, publications, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any designation or certification, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Wealth Quarterback, LLC is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. 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. No ranking or recognition should be construed as a current or past endorsement of Wealth Quarterback, LLC by any of its clients. Any questions: Wealth Quarterback, LLC’s Chief Compliance Officer remains available to address any questions regarding rankings and/or recognitions, including providing the criteria used for any reflected ranking.

To the extent that any client or prospective client utilizes any economic calculator or similar interactive device contained within or linked to Company’s website, the client and/or prospective client acknowledges and understands that the information resulting from the use of any such calculator/device is not, and should not be construed, in any manner whatsoever, as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized individual advice from Company or from any other investment professional.

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Five Star Wealth Manager

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria.

Required eligibility criteria

  1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative;
  2. Active as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of 5 years;
  3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review:
    1. As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not:
    2. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine;
    3. Had more than a total of three customer complaints filed against them, settled or pending, with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience;
    4. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint filed with a regulatory authority;
    5. Filed for personal bankruptcy;
    6. Been convicted of a felony;
  4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards;
  5. Accepting new clients.

Evaluation criteria for candidate consideration

  1. One-year client retention rate;
  2. Five-year client retention rate;
  3. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered;
  4. Number of client households served;
  5. Education and professional designations.

Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 3,868 New Jersey wealth managers were considered for the award; 664 (18 percent of candidates) were named 2017 Five Star Wealth Managers.

Membership in the Million Dollar Round Table: [Insurance Industry]

Josh A Jalinski has qualified for the Top of The Million Dollar Round Table for the last 15 years confirmed as of Feb 28, 2023 based on the Income Method. Member detail requirements are available from: https://www.mdrt.org/join/member-requirements/

For 2023, a minimum of USD 720,000 of eligible annual gross income is required. The applicant must meet the minimums of USD 47,500 in new business.

Verification of eligible production under the income qualification method is accomplished via a certifying letter signed by the applicant. All applications submitted under the income method are subject to a random production verification audit at a later date. If selected, the individual will need to supply supporting documents, such as commission statements, that verify the amounts claimed. Applicants for the Top of the Table must continue to submit proof of production via certifying letter(s) until achieving 10 years of membership at that level. They may declare their eligibility without certifying letters or income documents when applying for the eleventh year of membership at Top of the Table level. Applicants for the Million Dollar Round Table are required to pay annual dues in the amount of $600 USD, while applicants for the Top of the Table are subject to additional annual dues in the total amount of $1,100 USD.

Code of Ethics of the Million Dollar Round Table

Members of the Million Dollar Round Table should be ever mindful that complete compliance with and observance of the Code of Ethics of the Million Dollar Round Table shall serve to promote the highest quality standards of membership. These standards will be beneficial to the public and the insurance and financial services profession. Therefore, members shall:

  1. Always place the best interests of their clients above their own direct or indirect interests.
  2. Maintain the highest standards of professional competence by seeking to maintain and improve professional knowledge, skills, and competence.
  3. Hold in strictest confidence, and consider as privileged, all business and personal information pertaining to their clients’ affairs.
  4. Make full and adequate disclosure of all facts necessary to enable clients to make informed decisions.
  5. Maintain personal conduct which will reflect favorably on the insurance and financial services profession and the Million Dollar Round Table.
  6. Determine that any replacement of an insurance or financial product must be beneficial for the client.
  7. Abide by and conform to all provisions of the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they do business.

Senior Market Advisor of the Year [2010]

Josh Jalinski was chosen from a record number of nominees who were evaluated by the editorial staff of Senior Market Advisor based on the following criteria:

  1. Have a minimum of five consecutive current years as an advisor;
  2. Have garnered a minimum of $5 million in annuity or life insurance premium in PERSONAL production during 2009; or have sold a minimum of $400,000 in Long Term Care Insurance premium in PERSONAL production during 2009;
  3. Clear a 7 year background check for civil, criminal and business violations by the National Ethics Bureau (www.ethicscheck.com);
  4. Have an average client age of 60 or older;
  5. Be able to demonstrate a commitment to community involvement.