Here’s how we determine the FA 100 ranking for 2022

AccuPoint Solutions was enlisted by CNBC to help with the ranking of registered investment advisors.

The methodology looked at a number of core data points from AccuPoint Solutions. The analysis began with a list of 39,818 RIA firms. The list was cut to 904 RIAs, with those firms meeting CNBC's criteria.

CNBC staff sent an email survey to all the firms that met the initial criteria. The comprehensive application was filled out by the advisory firms who wanted to be ranked. The data was verified by the CNBC team. Once again, AccuPoint applied CNBC's proprietary weighted categories to further refine and rank the firms, resulting in the top 100.

To be listed in the annual ranking, CNBC does not charge any kind of fee.

CNBC ranks the top-rated financial advisory firms of 2022.

The firms that did not meet CNBC's requirements were eliminated from the analysis, either as a minimum baseline or within a range. The initial list was used to apply the weights. Data points were included.

• Advisory firm’s regulatory/compliance record (editor’s note: Any firm that had a disclosure on its SEC ADV was automatically disqualified from the ranking)
• Number of years in the business
• Number of certified financial planners
• Number of employees
• Number of investment advisors registered with the firm
• The ratio of investment advisors to total number of employees
• Total assets under management
• Percentage of discretionary assets under management
• Total accounts under management
• Number of states where the RIA is registered
• Country of domicile.