Do advisors who hold an advanced certification run different practices? In 2025, CEG Insights surveyed 2,160 financial advisors at independent RIAs, wirehouses, national and regional broker-dealers, and other firms. Of them, 999 hold an Investments & Wealth Institute certification (CIMA®, CPWA®, or RMA®) and 1,161 hold none. George Walper, Jr., and John J. Bowen, Jr., of CEG compare the two groups on team assets, personal income, client wealth, and how they work with specialists.
The gaps run in the same direction on every measure. Institute-certified professionals report larger teams by assets, more clients with $5 million or more, and more consistent use of tax, estate, and other specialists in client work. Nearly half report having been in business 11 years or more, which suggests many pursue advanced education once their practices are established.
Key Takeaways
- 62.8 percent of Institute-certified professionals report overseeing teams that manage $251 million or more, compared with 34.8 percent of advisors without an Institute certification.
- 45.8 percent report serving more than 100 households with at least $1 million in investable assets, compared with about one-third of other advisors.
- Clients with $25 million or more make up 18.4 percent of Institute-certified professionals' client base, compared with 13.5 percent for other advisors.
- 33.1 percent of Institute-certified professionals work with specialists consistently, as part of an integrated team, compared with 21.5 percent of other advisors
