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Thomas Ruggie, CHFC®, CFP® Named To Barron’s 1200 Top Financial Advisors for 12th Time

Ruggie Wealth Management announced that Founder and CEO Thomas H. Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, has been named to Barron’s list of America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: 2024, the 12th time Ruggie has earned this distinction, and the 10th straight year.

As Barron’s explains, they publish their annual Top 1200 Advisors by State compilation to recognize advisors demonstrating exceptional professionalism, client service and community involvement. Among the factors the “Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors” ranking takes into consideration are quality of practice, assets under management, revenues, and philanthropic work.

“It is an honor to again be ranked among our nation’s top financial advisors by one of the most respected names in the financial industry,” said Ruggie of the ranking which recognizes both an elite group of independent financial professionals and large wirehouses.

“I believe our clients turn to us because of our dedication to placing their interests above ours, for the strength of our processes and collective wisdom of our team, and for our unwavering focus on helping them achieve the financial goals they’ve been dreaming of and working for their whole lives. To once again be named among Barron’s Top Advisors is an honor that reinforces that what we are doing on our clients’ behalf brings real value to our relationship with them.”

Ruggie Wealth Management provides services to individual and corporate clients, as well as to a select group of endowments and foundations. As one of the flagship companies of Destiny Wealth Partners, Ruggie Wealth Management offers a broad range of services and products to help clients achieve their financial goals.

The firm has offices in Tavares, Winter Park and The Villages®, FL. Destiny Wealth Partners also conducts business under the name KCG Investment Advisory Services in Savannah, GA, and Nichols Wealth Partners in Boca Raton, FL.

The Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors is a select group of individuals who are screened on a number of different criteria. Rankings are based on data provided by over 6,000 advisers from across the nation. Factors included in the rankings: assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work. Portfolio performance is not a factor. Please see www.barrons.com for more information. Ruggie Wealth Management has not paid a fee to be eligible for this award. Barron’s does not require membership or payment in order for award participants and/or applicants to be considered for an award designation.

 

Investment advisory services offered through Destiny Wealth Partners, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.

Destiny Family Office Named 2024 Family Wealth Report Awards Finalist for Third Consecutive Year

Prestigious Annual Award Recognizes Exceptionalism in Wealth and Investment Management 
Destiny Family Office, a Destiny Wealth Partners firm, has been named a finalist in the prestigious Eleventh Annual Family Wealth Report Awards in the Multi-Family Office category (up to and including $2.5 Billion in Assets Under Management/Assets Under Advisement) for a third year in a row. According to ClearView Financial Media, publisher of Family Wealth Report, independence, integrity, and genuine insight are focus areas for the judging process, which is conducted by expert panels that consist of judges from family offices, private banks, trusted advisors, consultants, and other professional service providers with deep industry experience.
“We are honored to have been recognized again and to stand alongside a special group of peers. We founded our firm with a mission and purpose forged by what we saw as an unanswered need in the marketplace: families seeking advocacy, compelling wealth and investment management capabilities and services, and consistent execution—without compromise. This recognition highlights the incredible commitment and dedication of our team who strive to deliver an exceptional client experience that is tailored to the unique situations, goals, and aspirations of those we serve,” said Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Destiny Family Office.
The firm works to help wealth creators, wealth inheritors and their families better navigate complexity and achieve peace of mind, by helping to protect what is most important to them and by helping position them for continued success and prosperity spanning generations.
Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Media’s CEO, and publisher of Family Wealth Report, was the first to congratulate all finalists, “Every winning entrant has been subjected to a rigorous and independent judging process and should be rightly proud of the success they have achieved this year. These awards give organizations and individuals the opportunity to clarify their strategic thinking, have it independently validated, be recognized internally and externally and to celebrate in style with their peers. I offer my congratulations and best wishes for the future to all winners and highly commended firms—they are all worthy recipients who join the prestigious list of wealth management professionals who form the global elite of Family Wealth Report winners.”
Finalists are selected based on entrants’ submissions and their response to questions across a range of qualitative and quantitative criteria and performance metrics. The judging process is rigorous and independent. Winners will be announced May 2, 2024, at the Eleventh Annual Family Wealth Report Gala at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City.

Ruggie Wealth’s Morgan Hatfield Re-Elected to SECO Energy Board of Trustees

Ruggie Wealth Management Senior Wealth Advisor & Partner Morgan Hatfield was recently re-elected by SECO energy members living in District 9 to serve as their Trustee on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. Voting took place during the District 9 meeting held January 30, 2024 at Spring Creek Elementary School in Paisley.

A SECO member since 2019, Morgan currently holds the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. She attained the Director Gold credential, which is the highest level of achievement through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s Board of Trustees. The Board meets monthly to monitor the cooperative’s financial status while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

“I want to thank all District 9 members for attending and showing your interest in participating as SECO members,” said Morgan during the District meeting. “I am eager to continue working with my fellow Trustees as we do our best to serve our members with an outstanding product supported by industry-leading service.”

Board President Gerald Anderson stated, “Congratulations, Ms. Hatfield, on your re-election as District 9 Trustee. I am grateful to the District 9 members who attended the Meeting and participated in our cooperative’s governance process. On behalf of our fellow Board members and peers, we are excited to support SECO Energy’s Mission and Vision through our Board service.”

Curtis Wynn CEO stated, “The Board of Trustees and the SECO Energy membership are grateful to all Trustees who give generously of their time and experience. We are very happy to have Ms. Hatfield continue with her leadership and strong contributions to the success of SECO Energy in her role as a Board Trustee and her expanded responsibilities as Secretary/Treasurer. Thank you, District 9 members, for your attendance at the meeting and your interest in SECO Energy and the strategic direction in which the board, executive leadership team and employees are taking your electric cooperative.”

Investment News Ranks Destiny Wealth Partners Among Nation’s Top 75 Fastest Growing RIAs

We’re excited to announce that our independent RIA Destiny Wealth Partners has been ranked among the 2023 75 Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAs.

According to Investment News, “these firms are being celebrated for the growth they’ve achieved and assets they’ve attracted since July 2020. While all 75 winners are trusted and reliable partners for their clients, each firm has its own unique strategy and operating methods.”

Destiny Wealth Partners is our independent RIA founded by 30+ year financial veteran Tom Ruggie, ChFC, CFP, which also  conducts business as Ruggie Wealth Management, Nichols Wealth Partners, and Destiny Family Office. Ruggie founded the family office in 2016 to meet the unanswered needs of the ultra-high-net-worth, as they were seeking to better navigate the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of their family, wealth, and aspirations.

The firm’s culture is rooted in a shared vision to continually innovate, working collaboratively as a closely integrated team and partnering with best-in-industry third parties to create solutions that empower individuals, families, and foundations and help them achieve their highest Destiny.

As of July 2023, Destiny Wealth Partners had $1 billion in AUM. The firm’s success has been driven by targeting three key areas:

  1. presenting a compelling sphere of investments through the Destiny Alternative Fund and unique access to direct and co-investment opportunities for UHNW families seeking opportunities for greater returns
  2. creating a niche focus on high-end collectors: Tom Ruggie’s unique insights and perspectives, based on his own lifelong passion for collecting, have resulted in his expertise and thought leadership on this subject, as well as on alternative investments as a whole
  3. private trust capabilities: becoming a trust representative office for the nation’s largest trust company

Ruggie says, “Simply put, we have a growth mindset. We set big goals and have big expectations for ourselves in many areas, starting with the delivery of an exceptional client experience, the desire to continually innovate, and a commitment to invest in ourselves, in best-in-class strategic partnerships, and in the capabilities and services we provide.” Clients experience deep strategic thinking tailored to their situations, needs, and goals, such as:

  • purpose and passion
  • attention to detail
  • integrity
  • continual innovation and growth of the team, services, capabilities, technology, etc.
  • a focus on understanding clients’ “why”
  • a willingness to act as clients’ personal CFO
  • well-thought-out planning for the long term
  • a growth mindset
  • quiet leadership
  • financial strategies that simplify lives

“We believe our most compelling metric continues to be our ability to turn success into personal significance for our clients and their families. We also believe doing so has led to an exemplary client retention rate across time,” says Ruggie. “Clients surveyed say that’s a factor of well-thought-out investment strategies and investment management processes, unique planning tools, constant attention to detail, desire to challenge convention, willingness to seize opportunities, and quiet leadership.”

In addition to being named among InvestmentNews’ Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAs of 2023, Ruggie and his firm have received other recognitions, including:

  • Forbes/Shook Research Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (6x)
  • Forbes/Shook Research 250 Top RIA Firms (2023)
  • Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors (11x)
  • Financial Advisor Top RIA Firms (11x)
  • USA Today/Statista 500 Best Financial Advisory Firms in the US (2023)
  • Family Wealth Report Awards Finalist in the category up to and including $2.5 billion in AUM (2022 and 2023)

As Ruggie reflects on all he and his team have accomplished thus far with and for the clients they serve, he remains focused on the ever-evolving needs of clients and how he can best serve them. There are plans to expand the firm’s family office offerings, pursue select M&A opportunities, and launch GenNext, an initiative targeting the younger client demographic.

Destiny Wealth Partners Ranked Among USA Today 500 Best Financial Advisory Firms 2023

This prestigious ranking, announced April 26, was the first of its kind awarded by USA Today and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry-ranking provider.

USA Today and Statista selected the Best Financial Advisory Firms 2023 based on two dimensions: recommendations by clients and peers and a firm’s growth of Assets under Management (AUM). The recommendations were collected via an independent survey sent to over 20,000 individuals. The development of AUM was analyzed both short and long-term based on publicly available data. In the consideration for the top 500 RIA firms, recommendations had a weight of 20% while development of AUM had a weight of 80% (short-term and long-term growth were equally weighted) to derive the final score.

Thomas Ruggie, CHFC®, CFP® Named Among Forbes 2023 Standout Wealth Advisors

Ruggie Wealth Management announced that Founder and CEO Thomas H. Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, has been named to this year’s Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors’ list for the 5th time, (which reflects inclusion every year since the inception of the rankings). This year, he was ranked #5 in North Florida.

Forbes includes advisors from national wirehouses as well as independent RIAs in its rankings which spotlights the top-performing advisors across the country.  Determined by SHOOK Research, the list is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including in-person interviews, industry experience, assets under management, compliance records, and those who embrace best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients, and community involvement.

“Competition is steep to be selected for this list, and those who make the cut represent a very high level of achievement in serving their clients’ wealth management needs,” said Ruggie. “I believe our clients turn to us because of our dedication to placing their interests above ours, and for the strength of our processes and collective wisdom of our team. To be named to this list is an honor that reinforces we are doing what we set out to do on our clients’ behalf.”

According to SHOOK, “we scour the financial services industry—banks, brokerages, custodians, insurance companies, clearing houses and others for nominations.  Only about 2000 Advisors make the final listing.”

Unlike other advisor rankings, SHOOK Research creates rankings of role models—advisors who are leading the way in offering best practices and providing a high-quality experience for clients.

Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

Ruggie has received other national recognitions including being named to the Barron’s Top 1200 Advisors 11 times.

Ruggie Wealth Management provides services to individual and corporate clients, as well as to a select group of endowments and foundations. As the flagship company of Destiny Wealth Partners, Ruggie Wealth offers a broad range of services and products to help clients achieve their financial goals.

The firm has offices in Tavares, Winter Park and The Villages®, FL, partnering firm Nichols Wealth Partners in Boca Raton, FL, and is affiliated with Destiny Family Office, which is also a Destiny Wealth Partners’ firm.

About Tom Ruggie
Tom is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and a veteran of the investment and financial planning industries who began his career in 1991 and subsequently founded Ruggie Wealth Management to serve individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations. In 2016, he founded Destiny Family Office, to simplify complexity for client families on a financial, business and personal level. Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit, investment strategy and steadfast dedication to client service have allowed him to grow Ruggie Wealth Management and related-companies into a continuum of financial services. Tom is also a philanthropist who founded The Tom and Kim Ruggie Family Foundation, and the author of three books available on Amazon: Ruggie Rules, Financial Wellness: How to Improve the Retirement Outcomes of Your Employees, and Ruggie WealthCare Retirement Scorecard. Visit Ruggie Wealth Management online at ruggiewealth.com and become a follower on Twitter and a fan on Facebook.

The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes or SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

Destiny Wealth Partners Welcomes Nichols Wealth Partners

We’re excited to announce the addition of Nichols Wealth Partners, a Boca Raton-based RIA led by Managing Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor Chris Nichols, to our Destiny Wealth Partners Family. Destiny Wealth Partners also does business under as Ruggie Wealth Management, Destiny Family Office, and KCG Investment Advisory Services, in Savannah, GA.

All four firms bring well-respected brands to the partnership and Nichols Wealth Partners will continue to operate as an independent firm. Chris will remain in charge of his business decisions and operations while adding resources, people, infrastructure, and technology to help the firm in its next phase of growth.

“Destiny Wealth Partners is excited to add such a high-caliber, well-respected team to our growing family,” said Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners. “Over the past two decades, Chris has earned a reputation as a caring, hardworking, passionate advisor who wants to see people win. Most of his clients are highly successful, and he works hard to help them preserve that success. He recognized the growth/balance/time constraint many advisors face as they build their businesses and found that joining Destiny Wealth Partners was a solution that allows him to do even more for his firm, his clients, and others.”

“After going through our planning process and mapping out our long-term growth, we knew we wanted to align with a like-minded group of leading innovators who shared a deep industry knowledge, vast network of specialized services, demonstrated investment strategies and abiding passion for serving clients,” said Chris. Greater efficiency will give me and my team more quality time to be present with our clients and to continue to build a sustainable, multi-generational firm with even greater access to investment options, improved high net-worth planning and succession strategies. That will be a positive for us and will translate to an even better experience for the clients we serve.”

“The marketplace is clamoring for high value, no matter the industry or profession,” said Chris. “Investors are demanding more and more from advisors. The Destiny Wealth Partners team recognized this shift taking place and has made some extraordinary leaps to prepare for the future growth of their firm. I know my clients will see the immediate effects of our partnership by having increased access to a broad sphere of investments including alternative investments for accredited investors and direct investments and co-investments for our qualified purchasers.”

“Tom has earned national recognition as an innovative and forward-looking advisor from some of the most respected names in the industry,” said Chris. “We are extremely excited for what our partnership together will bring to the table, both for our firm and our clients.” To schedule an appointment or second opinion with Nichols Wealth Partners, visit nicholswealth.com or call 561.939.8323. To reach Destiny Wealth Partners, visit RuggieWealth.com or call 352.343.2700.

Investment Advisory services offered through Destiny Wealth Partners, LLC an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Recognitions are specific to Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®. Listing in any publication is not a guarantee of future investment success. These recognitions should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client. Barron’s rankings are based on factors including assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work. Forbes rankings are based on quality of practice, telephone and in-person interviews, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations and quantitative criteria. *Additional disclosures and important information at ruggiewealth.com/disclosures.

Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP® Speaks at Investment News RIA Summit

Tom was invited to join other national thought leaders and change-makers in a panel discussion of “Fee-Based Everything”. In this live event, held November 7-8, 2022 in Boston, they discussed why there are now more options than ever, including alternative investments, for RIAs looking to deliver best-in-class solutions for clients. Tom has written an article about the prominence of alternative investments, recently published on Forbes.com.

Financial Advisor Magazine Ranks Destiny Wealth Partners Among Top RIA Firms Nationwide

Central-Florida based Destiny Wealth Partners has again been recognized by Financial Advisor Magazine, earning the firm a ranking of 340 (up 49 places since 2021) in the magazine’s list of Top RIA Firms in the nation, the 12th time the firm has received this recognition.

“Recognition in such an important industry publication for the 12th time is extremely rewarding, as is the confidence our clients have demonstrated in our team, our processes, our fiercely independent focus, and our ability to grow through a decade marked by both market challenges and rewards,” said Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®,  Destiny Wealth Partners Founder and CEO of Ruggie Wealth Management and Destiny Family Office, flagship firms of the RIA along with KCG Investment Advisory Services, Savannah, GA.

“We believe our growth reflects our commitment to embracing the fiduciary standards of objectivity, independence and putting clients’ interests first,” said Tom. “Doing so comes naturally, as these are things we believe deeply in and that reflect our core values as a firm.”

FA’s 2022 RIA Survey and Ranking report is an annual survey that ranks firms based on five criteria: 2021 year-end assets; percentage growth in assets from the previous calendar year, average assets per client, percentage growth in assets per client, and percentage change in number of clients,  and is the premier industry ranking of independent RIA growth. Financial Advisor Magazine is a major publication targeted to financial professionals and aims to deliver essential market information and strategies to help advisors better serve their clients and grow their firms. There are no fees or other considerations required of RIAs who are considered for this ranking.

“I believe this recognition is another wonderful yardstick by which to measure our team’s success in making meaningful contributions in the financial lives of our clients,” he added.

Tom Ruggie Selected to Elite Forbes Finance Council

 

ruggie-web-showcase-forbesfcWe’re pleased to announce our President Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP® has been selected as a member of the Forbes Finance Council, and will have the opportunity to share financial insights on Forbes.com with tens of millions of monthly readers.

The Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only community for executives in accounting, financial planning, wealth and asset management, and investment firms. Members are hand-selected by the Council’s community team, who look for executives whose success in a given industry has been recognized publicly by industry organizations, trade publications and other professional peers.

“I’m excited to share my views and expertise with Forbes readers,” said Tom. “This opportunity gives me a wider audience to talk about the unique programs and services we have developed for Ruggie Wealth clients. At the same time, it helps me keep an ear to the ground to learn what’s on the minds of others in the financial industry.

“I look forward to discussing pressing challenges and opportunities and to share insights with the rest of the world that could help to shape it for the future.”

Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, says, “We are honored to welcome Tom into the community. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to curate successful professionals from every industry, creating a vetted, social capital-driven network that helps every member make an even greater impact on the business world.”

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