Compiling a list of famous women financial advisors can be challenging because among famous financial advisors, the list of women who are well-known is slim. The most recognizable may be media star Suze Orman.
The rest of the women included below may not be familiar to the general public, but they are famous in their industry for being high achievers. Many of these star financial advisors and wealth managers rank among Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors of 2023 and manage billions in assets.
Key Takeaways
- Suze Orman is one of the most famous and influential women financial advisors.
- Other women financial advisors may not be household names, but they are high achievers in their field.
- Most are included in Barron’s annual ranking of America’s top 100 women financial advisors, which highlights achievements based on total assets managed, revenue, and quality of practice.
1. Suze Orman
Suze Orman is a certified financial planner (CFP) and one of the most recognizable financial gurus in the country. She hosted “The Suze Orman Show” on CNBC for 13 years and continues to make frequent appearances on various media outlets. Orman also hosts a podcast called Women & Money.
Orman’s one-stop financial planning empire covers every area of one’s financial life, offering everything from a debt eliminator and expense tracker tool to various estate planning tools and an insurance evaluator kit.
Orman has written many best-selling personal finance books, including “You’ve Earned It, Don’t Lose It” and “The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke.”
2. Karen McDonald
Karen McDonald, managing director at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, has ranked No. 1 since 2021 in the surveys done annually by Barron’s of top female financial advisors. She has almost $220 billion in assets under management (AUM) and directs a team of 16 that serves more than 63,000 client households.
McDonald has more than 40 years of investment experience, including 30 years at Morgan Stanley. She’s based in Palo Alto, California.
3. Holly Newman Kroft
Ranking fourth on Barron’s 2023 list, Holly Newman Kroft is a managing director at Neuberger Berman. Kroft’s team of 10, based in New York City, manage 239 client households and $3.5 billion in AUM. Kroft ranked second on the Barron’s list in 2021 and 2022.
4. Valerie Newell
Valerie Newell was ranked No. 2 by Barron’s in 2023, up from third place in 2022. She manages $5.1 billion in AUM for 1,608 client households. Newell is a principal and senior wealth advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors. She oversees a team of 53 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
5. Deborah Montaperto
Deborah Montaperto is a managing director and private wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley and partner of Polk Wealth Management Group, part of the bank’s private wealth management division. Based in Palm Beach, Florida, Montaperto has a 32-person team that advises on $40 billion in assets for 233 client households, who have an average net worth of $250 million. Montaperto ranked fifth in 2023 in Barron’s rankings and has been included since 2010.
6. Stephanie J. Stiefel
Stephanie J. Stiefel is managing director and head of client development for Straus Group, part of Neuberger Berman’s private asset management division. Ranking third on Barron’s rankings for 2023, up from fifth in 2022, Stiefel’s six-member group manages $2.8 billion in assets for 227 clients with an average net worth of $45 million. She’s based in New York City.
7. Johanna Walters
Johanna Walters manages the assets of 786 clients with a team of 18. A managing director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, she came in sixth in Barron’s rankings for 2023. A typical client under her management has a net worth of $15 million. She has been with her current firm for 21 years and works in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
8. Gillian Yu
Gillian Yu has been a managing director at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management for eight years. She came in 16th on Barron’s list for 2023. She manages $8.5 billion with a team of six and is based in San Francisco, California. Each of the 50 client households she manages has a typical net worth of $100 million.
9. Susan Kaplan
Susan Kaplan has been president of Kaplan Financial Services Inc. for 30 years. Together with a team of 11, she manages $2.6 billion for 175 client households with a typical net worth of $10 million. Kaplan is based in Newton, Massachusetts. In 2023, Kaplan came in at No. 7 on Barron’s ranking.
10. Colleen O’Callaghan
Colleen O’Callaghan is a managing director at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management in New York City and a founding member of The O’Callaghan Thomas Group. She ranked No. 10 on Barron’s list for 2023. Her nine-member team manages $5.3 billion in assets for 68 client households with a typical net worth of $75 million.
Who Are the Top Women Financial Advisors?
The most well-known in the field is personal finance expert Suze Orman. Orman, who hosted “The Suze Orman Show” on CNBC for 13 years, started her career as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch. In addition, Barron’s publishes an annual list of the top 100 women financial advisors, based on assets under management (AUM) and quality of practice. In 2023, the top advisors included Karen McDonald, Holly Newman Kroft, Valerie Newell, and Deborah Montaperto.
What Are Assets Under Management (AUM)?
Assets under management (AUM) is the total market value of the investments that a person or entity manages on behalf of clients. AUM definitions and formulas vary by company or financial institution.
How Can I Find a Woman Financial Advisor?
The Bottom Line
Although most famous women financial advisors aren’t household names, their accomplishments are noteworthy. And while the total number of women in the financial services industry is low, this list of accomplished women clearly demonstrates the talents and skills needed to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated field.