Accolades

Summit Group Lead Partner, Craig M. Stanley, CPA, CPFA

“2025 Top Retirement Plan Adviser” – PLANADVISER

This designation recognizes the top retirement plan advisers in the industry based on quantitative measures. To be listed, advisers had to have a minimum requirement of 50 plan clients or retirement plan assets under advisement of $400 million or more. The 2025 Top Retirement Plan Advisers list contains 267 advisers who stand out for their service of all types of retirement plans. After meeting the minimum plan or asset count, advisers are highlighted if they have what is designated as a special focus in any particular plan type. This means, 91% – 100% of clients that are 401(k) plan sponsors, or 10 or more 403(b), 457, nonqualified, DB, cash balance, SEP, SIMPLE or MEP/PEP plan clients. The financial professional did not pay a fee for this award nor did they contact their clients about this contest. Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation.

“2025 Top DC Advisor Teams” in the U.S. – National Association of Plan Advisors

The NAPA Top DC Advisor Team list highlights the nation’s leading retirement plan advisor firms. Unlike other lists, this focuses on teams, broadly defined as being in a single physical location, and having at least $100 million in DC assets under advisement. It is based on self-reported assets under advisement as of December 31, 2024, unless otherwise noted.

“Top 401 Retirement Plan Advisors” – The Financial Times

The list recognizes the top financial advisors who specialize in serving defined contribution (DC) retirement plans.  The list was developed in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the Financial Times that provides business intelligence on asset management, and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. a leading provider of data solutions and market intelligence.  Ignites Research created the methodology and ranked the advisors.  Broadridge provided unique data from its proprietary databases that helped identify advisors who specialize in serving DC plans, including 401(k) plans and other DC accounts.  To qualify for the list, advisors had to have 20% or more of their total client assets in DC plans.  Qualified advisors were then graded based on seven broad factors:  DC assets under management, growth in DC plans and assets, degree of specialization in the DC business, experience, participation rate in DC plans advised, industry certifications, and compliance record.

“Top Forty Under 40” – Inside Business: Hampton Roads Business Journal

Inside Business -The Hampton Roads Business Journal, annually recognizes forty outstanding professionals under the age of 40 who have built successful careers, and who are actively involved in the local community. Nominees are evaluated for their vision and leadership, innovation and achievements, and strategies for success, but emphasis will be placed on their community service including the impact of their volunteer work, their commitment, and the diversity of interests and involvement. Judging criteria is Business Success, looking for professional innovation, leadership roles and mentoring and Community Service, looking for a sustained diversity of community support.

“Top 50 Plan Advisors Under 40” in the U.S. – National Association of Plan Advisors

The Top 50 Plan Advisors Under 40 in the U.S. is issued by the National Association of Plan Advisors.  Nominations are anonymous; nominees then complete a questionnaire of quantitative and qualitative questions about their experience, size and composition of their practice, awards and recognitions, and industry contributions.  The questionnaires are then reviewed by a panel of senior advisor industry experts, who, based on those criteria, and following a broker-check review, selected the top young advisors.  Clients were not consulted for this award.  The award was earned in 2014, 2016, and 2017.

 

Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation.