Apriem Advisors Awards & Recognitions

– Apriem Advisors was named to InvestmentNews’ 2026 Leading RIA’s (West) – InvestmentNews identified the leading RIA firms in each city using data reported on Form ADV. To qualify for inclusion, firms were required to meet all of the following criteria: The most recent Form ADV filing date is on or after January 1, 2025; Total regulatory assets under management (AUM) of at least $200 million; reported managed assets for U.S. clients.

For firms serving both U.S. and non-U.S. clients, total regulatory AUM as reported on Form ADV is used for ranking purposes; excluded are firms that primarily manage money for institutional clients (e.g., funds, pooled vehicles, or other advisors), have little or no direct business with individual or small-business investors, do not provide them with financial planning or portfolio management services, and are classified as serving institutional-only channels rather than retail clients; and at least one direct owner or executive officer holds an ownership stake of 50% or more in the firm, as reported on Schedule A of Form ADV.

Rankings are based on the firm’s “Principal Office and Place of Business” city as reported on Form ADV, matched by exact city name. The Top List ranking is determined by total regulatory AUM. For firms that filed more than one annual update to Form ADV during the year, only the most recent filing for that year was used.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee for consideration or inclusion in the ranking. Following selection and recognition, Apriem did pay for inclusion in a special report and related marketing materials. This recognition is not indicative of future performance and may not be representative of any one client’s experience.

– The Best Fiduciary Wealth Management Firm 2026 – California recognition is awarded by Wealth & Finance International as part of its Investment Excellence Awards 2026. Entry is open to any organization and can occur through self-submission, third-party recommendation, or nomination by the publisher.

Nominees are asked to formally accept or decline their nomination before any research begins; those who accept form a shortlist that advances to internal review. Winners are determined by Wealth & Finance’s in-house research team based on the merit of the entry, evidence of recent accomplishments, and both qualitative and quantitative research, rather than by public vote count. Nominees may submit supporting evidence as part of this process.

A senior judge reviews the research team’s findings to make the final determination, based on demonstrated expertise, commitment to client fulfillment, notable performance, and commitment to innovation.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials. This recognition is not indicative of future performance and may not be representative of any one client’s experience.

– The Best Financial Advisors in Irvine, CA recognition is awarded by Expertise.com, which reviews and ranks top service professionals across more than 200 industries nationwide. Expertise.com’s selection process evaluates providers across three areas: availability, using public databases and customer referrals to identify local businesses and confirm their service areas; qualifications, validating relevant licenses, certifications, and accreditations; and reputation, analyzing review data across multiple professional databases, including average review scores and the consistency of those ratings over time.

Expertise.com researches more than 60,000 businesses each month as part of this process. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials. This recognition is not indicative of future performance and may not be representative of any one client’s experience.

-The Forbes 2026 Best-In-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors ranking recognizes leading wealth advisors under age 40 who meet established industry experience, business, and compliance criteria. Chris Whitaker, CFP®, AIF®, of Apriem Advisors was named to the 2026 Best-In-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors ranking for California.

The Forbes | Shook® Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors and Forbes | Shook Best-in-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors rankings are the product of Shook Research, LLC’s independent research and due diligence and its proprietary ranking methodology. The rankings are published and distributed by Forbes. Data as of March 31, 2026. Published by Forbes (August 2026).

Shook Research’s proprietary methodology and ranking algorithm incorporates in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor across criteria such as client impact, industry experience, client retention, review of best practices, credentials, compliance records, and firm nominations, as well as quantitative factors including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Shook considered advisors born from 1987 to present with a minimum of four years of experience as an advisor.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee for consideration or inclusion in the ranking. However, upon selection Apriem paid for marketing package that included, but not limited to, logo usage and financial advisor profile. This recognition is not indicative of future performance and may not be representative of any one client’s experience.

-The Financial Advisor Magazine’s RIA Ranking (2026) recognizes the top registered investment advisory (RIA) firms across the United States. This list was published in the July/August 2026 edition of Financial Advisor Magazine. Each year, Financial Advisor (FA) magazine invites RIAs to complete a survey for inclusion in this national ranking.

The specific criteria for the ranking are not included in their summary article. Apriem Advisors completed a survey to be considered and pays no fees to be included. FA magazine independently sets its criteria, and Apriem has no influence on the criteria or the ranking. The data is as of 12/31/25 unless noted otherwise on the survey. The ranking is based on assets under management (AUM) at independent RIA firms. FA‘s RIA ranking orders firms from largest to smallest, based on AUM reported to us by firms that voluntarily complete and submit FA‘s survey by our deadline.

To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms must have at least $1 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025, to be included in the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine’s 2026 RIA survey. Firms with under $1 billion will be included in FA‘s expanded 2026 online RIA survey.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials. This recognition is not indicative of future performance and may not be representative of any one client’s experience. 

-The LA Times Studios 2026 Banking & Finance Visionaries recognition honors professionals in banking, investment and asset management, lending, private equity, and related professional services who demonstrate leadership and impact within their organizations, industries, and communities. Individuals are nominated by organizations within the financial and professional services industries.

The LA Times Studios executive committee selects honorees based on criteria including noteworthy successes and accomplishments during the preceding 12 to 24 months, consistent demonstration of strong leadership throughout their careers, long and short term impact on their organization’s and/or industry’s growth, and community involvement and board memberships demonstrating leadership beyond their organization. Nominees must work in Southern California to be considered. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee for consideration or inclusion for this recognition.

Any subsequent advertising, licensing, promotional, or marketing expenditures are separate from the selection process and were not a condition of receiving the recognition. Upon selection, Apriem paid for the license usage of the award logo for marketing materials across Apriem platforms. This recognition is not indicative of future investment performance, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of Apriem Advisors or the individual recipient, and may not be representative of any one client’s experience.

-The AdvisorHub 250 Advisors to Watch 2026 recognition is part of AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch program, which highlights advisors leading sophisticated and growing wealth management practices. Advisors are evaluated based on data submitted through an application process and AdvisorHub’s independent review, with rankings determined on a 100 point scale across scale, growth, and professionalism.

Eligibility criteria include minimum assets under management, industry experience, tenure at the current firm, and a clean regulatory record. The application deadline was February 9, 2026, and honorees were published in the April 2026 edition. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-The AdvisorHub 50 Women RIA’S to Watch 2026 recognition is part of AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch program, which highlights advisors leading sophisticated and growing wealth management practices. Advisors are evaluated based on data submitted through an application process and AdvisorHub’s independent review, with rankings determined on a 100 point scale across scale, growth, and professionalism.

Eligibility criteria include minimum assets under management, industry experience, tenure at the current firm, and a clean regulatory record. The application deadline was February 9, 2026, and honorees were published in the April 2026 edition. No fee was required to apply for or receive this recognition. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-Orange County Business Journal’s The Indispensables 2026 award recognizes professionals whose leadership, expertise, and day-to-day contributions make them essential to the success of their organizations. The program was created to honor individuals who may not serve in C-suite roles but demonstrate exceptional impact, leadership, and commitment within their companies. Honorees were selected through a nomination and editorial review process conducted by the Orange County Business Journal.

Recognition was based on the quality of nominations submitted and the editorial judgment of the publication. The program is not based on investment performance or client experience. No fee was required to submit a nomination or receive this recognition.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-The AdvisorHub 250 RIA’S to Watch 2026 recognition is part of AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch program, which highlights advisors leading sophisticated and growing wealth management practices. Advisors are evaluated based on data submitted through an application process and AdvisorHub’s independent review, with rankings determined on a 100 point scale across scale, growth, and professionalism.

Eligibility criteria include minimum assets under management, industry experience, tenure at the current firm, and a clean regulatory record. The application deadline was February 9, 2026, and honorees were published in the April 2026 edition. No fee was required to apply for or receive this recognition. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-The 2026 USA TODAY Best Financial Advisory Firms ranking, developed in partnership with Statista, recognizes top Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) across the United States. The ranking is based on a composite score derived from client and peer recommendations, assets under management (AUM) growth, and firm quality metrics.

The methodology emphasizes firms demonstrating strong growth, minimal conflicts of interest, and comprehensive service offerings. Approximately 1,000 firms were included in the final ranking. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-The LA Times Studios Inspirational Women Awards recognizes the extraordinary leaders across key sectors whose contributions shape industries and strengthen communities. The LA Times Studios invited professionals in many sectors to nominate female business leaders in Southern California for award consideration.

The LA Times Studios judging committee then evaluated candidates based on the following criteria: Noteworthy successes and accomplishments during the last 12-24 months, consistent demonstration of strong leadership throughout the span of her career, short- and long-term impact she has made to her organization and/or industry’s growth, community involvement and board memberships that showcase the nominee’s leadership beyond their organization.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-The 2025 CNBC FA 100 List recognizes the top registered investment advisory (RIA) firms across the United States. The ranking is based on proprietary methodology developed by CNBC in partnership with AccuPoint Data Solutions. The annual list evaluates RIAs on a variety of factors, including years in business, compliance record, number of investment advisors with the firm, and assets under management, among other quantitative measures from 2024.

Apriem did not pay a fee in exchange for inclusion or consideration. However, Apriem purchased a license for usage of the CNBC logo only after learning that we were selected to be a part of the list, to market the recognition across the Apriem Advisor platforms and promotional materials.

-The Financial Advisor Magazine’s RIA Ranking (2025) recognizes the top registered investment advisory (RIA) firms across the United States. This list was published in the July/August 2025 edition of Financial Advisor Magazine. Each year, Financial Advisor (FA) magazine invites RIAs to complete a survey for inclusion in this national ranking.

The specific criteria for the ranking are not included in their summary article. Apriem Advisors completed a survey to be considered and pays no fees to be included. According to FA Magazine, 366 firms were ranked in 2025, listed by assets under management. FA magazine independently sets its criteria, and Apriem has no influence on the criteria or the ranking. The data is as of 12/31/24 unless noted otherwise on the survey. The ranking is based on assets under management (AUM) at independent RIA firms. FA‘s RIA ranking orders firms from largest to smallest, based on AUM reported to us by firms that voluntarily complete and submit FA‘s survey by our deadline.

To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms must have at least $500 million in assets under management as of December 31, 2024, to be included in the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine’s 2025 RIA survey. Firms with under $500 million will be included in FA‘s expanded 2025 online RIA survey.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-The 2025 InvestmentNews Top Financial Professionals In The US – Hot List recognizes the top financial professionals across the United States. In July 2025, InvestmentNews invited wealth professionals across the country to nominate their most exceptional leaders for the third annual Hot List. InvestmentNews then narrowed the list down to 100 movers and shakers whose contributions have helped shape the wealth industry over the past 12 months.

Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-Harmon Kong, CFP®, was selected for the individual “Thought Leader of the Year” award as part of the ThinkAdvisor 2025 Luminaries Awards, based on contributions and professional impact during the 2024 calendar year.

This award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond in leading a firm that has introduced a new approach or framework to their segment of financial services that address their clients in a novel way via insights that can, ideally, be shown to have both qualitatively and quantitatively impacts. The individuals also should be a model of industry excellence and achievement in their area of focus. The judging process was conducted by ThinkAdvisor’s editorial staff and its Luminaries advisory board whom carefully reviewe each nomination without bias to select the finalists. Then, a panel of independent judges made up of leaders in the financial services industry select the winners.

The judges work diligently to consider each nominee’s different accomplishments and contributions and base their decisions on an array of factors in correlation with the awards’ criteria. Apriem Advisors did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in this award, nor did Apriem pay for any subsequent marketing materials.

-This InvestmentNews RIA Team of the Year (10 Advisors or more) was announced in June 2025. The award was based on firm performance and activity through December 31, 2024. Apriem Advisors was recognized in the “RIA of the Year (10 Advisors or More)” category, which honors outstanding advisory teams with 10 or more full-time staff, including both advisors and support professionals.

The judging process was conducted by a diverse and independent panel assembled by InvestmentNews, following a rigorous evaluation protocol that included recusal for any conflicts of interest and strict confidentiality agreements. Nominees were assessed on criteria such as employee value proposition (e.g., business development support, marketing, training, and philanthropy), client service and relationship management, business strategy, technological innovation, and overall industry reputation. Nominations were accepted through self-submission and supplemented by input from peers and clients. 

Apriem did not pay a fee to be included in the award process. However, Apriem purchased a sponsorship to the awards ceremony only after learning that we were selected as a winner, to support the event and highlight the recognition across the event platform.

To view a full list of our awards and recognitions, including methodology, please visit our disclosures page.