Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
Andrew Tipton, an El Dorado native and local financial advisor with W Investments has made the Forbes Top Next-Gen Best in State Wealth Advisor list for 2025. The list includes 28 Kansas advisors under the age of 35 who are hand-picked after thorough interviewing and research.
Forbes Top Next-Gen Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list is released each year in partnership with SHOOK Research. Candidates are submitted and go through several rounds of interviews with each round being narrowed down each time. The point in highlighting these young advisors came as the industry began to face a crisis, according to Forbes’ website. They quote that nearly 40% of advisors today are expected to retire in the next decade. In turn of a promising future, 57% of last year’s CFP certificates were obtained by those under the age of 35.
Those who make the list are recognized as having “laser focus” on positively affective their clients’ lives. There were 49,859 nominations that were narrowed down to 4,653 individuals that were considered for the ranking.
Tipton, 25, is a proud Wildcat graduate who says he’s wanted to work at W Investments since he was able to intern with David Wernli during his high school years. After five and a half years at the firm, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I could have moved away, gone somewhere on either of the coasts, and made money for people that already had a bunch of money,” said Tipton. “But that doesn’t really bring me satisfaction. If I can come back and help the community that helped me get to where I’m at, then that’s what I wanted to do. That’s how I wound up back here.”
After graduating from El Dorado High School, Tipton felt school was a “bump in the road”, citing he enjoyed it, but worked hard to get back into the workforce sooner than later. He attended school at the University of Kansas for a brief time before transferring to Wichita State University to complete his bachelor’s degree in finance. After that, Tipton earned his Certified Financial Planner Certificate, (CFP) in December 2022.
He says his passion doesn’t lie in one specific area of finance – though he enjoys investing and creating custom portfolios the most. The real passion is found when he’s building those important relationships face-to-face with clients and going the extra mile for them. Doing the extra work for clients is something he finds more successful in helping his clients pursue their financial goals.
“To me, I have an interest in finance,” said Tipton. “I find it interesting and enjoyable. I like learning about different investments, different opportunities that everyone can take advantage of. Where the passion for me lies is actually helping people that come to us for assistance. If I can help somebody get out of debt or pursue their financial goals, navigate complex processes like having a family member pass away and then going through the estate process – that’s where the passion lies.”
Being an active part of their client’s lives in something W Investments treasures. Personalized service is something deeply personal to them.
“It’s the friendship aspect of it that I think has us go above and beyond for our client base,” said Tipton. “We’re not just going to sit in our office and tell you what to do. We will come be a part of your life in whatever way you believe is beneficial to you. We go to funerals, dinners, all of these things that make us more friends than professionals.”
Aside from being recognized by Forbes and SHOOK Research, Tipton has received other accolades for his work in the finance industry, such as:
-NextGen Under 30 Kansas (2023)
-W Investments has won the Butler County Times-Gazette’s Reader’s Choice Award for Investment Firm in 2024, 2023 and 2022.
When it comes to advice for other young professionals pursuing a career in finance, Tipton says to start early and don’t give up. He says those who make it passed the three-year mark of their career will experience advancement quickly as long as they’re diligent in their work.
“Start early, find some kind of educational path, and don’t give up,” said Tipton. The reason that nine out of ten fail is because they give up in those first three years. If you can stick around at least three, that’s typically where you’re more recognized as a resourceful professional.”
The Times-Gazette extends their congratulations to Andrew Tipton and a successful career ahead of him. To view the full list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, visit the website at https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-next-gen-advisors/.
Disclosure:
The Forbes ranking of Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors born in or after 1980. Advisors are interviewed by telephone and in person to evaluate service models, investing process, experience levels and integrity. Additional factors considered include compliance record, client retention, revenues produced for their firms and assets managed. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receives a fee in exchange for rankings.
– Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through IHT Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor. W Investments Inc and IHT Wealth Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.
