What SHOOK Research does

SHOOK Research is a Boca Raton, Florida-based private research firm that produces independent rankings of financial advisors, wealth management teams, registered investment advisor (RIA) firms, and financial security professionals, published exclusively in partnership with Forbes and, in Canada, the Globe and Mail. Its core methodology combines quantitative criteria (assets under management, revenue trends, compliance records) with qualitative evaluation, distinguished by a large-scale in-person due diligence program—34,626 cumulative interviews (26,288 telephone, 6,985 in-person, 1,353 virtual) and 52,043 nominations as of April 2026—and a proprietary SHOOK Impact rating that measures the degree to which advisors improve clients' lives beyond portfolio performance. The product portfolio comprises seven ranking franchises (Top 250 Wealth Advisors, Best-in-State, Top Women, Best-in-State Teams, Top RIA Firms, Top Next-Gen, Top Financial Security Professionals, plus HNWI/Private Wealth sub-lists), the SHOOKhub advisor portal, a national and regional events business (Top Advisor Summit, Top Women Summit, Top Teams Summit, Next-Gen Summit, Alternatives Summit, Forums, and On-The-Road events in 12+ cities), a searchable Top Advisor Directory, and the SHOOK Philanthropy research initiative.

SHOOK generates revenue across four streams: (1) direct Forbes profile packages sold to ranked advisors at $3,500–$9,500/year plus logo licensing at $2,500–$5,500/year; (2) event registration, sponsorship, and co-hosted programming with asset managers such as BlackRock, Fidelity, Capital Group, BNY Mellon, Nuveen, State Street, and others; (3) research and licensing partnerships tied to Forbes media distribution; and (4) the Globe and Mail–SHOOK Canada rankings. Critically, the firm does not accept compensation from advisors, their firms, or media in exchange for ranking placement, which underpins the editorial credibility it sells. In August 2025, PPC Enterprises made a strategic investment to support growth while preserving operational independence; the company remains founder-led by Co-Founder/CEO R.J. Shook, Co-Founder/COO Liz Shook, and Managing Partner Frank Berland, with a 1–10 person core team augmented by a field-research analyst workforce.

Name

SHOOK Research

Legal name

SHOOK® Research, LLC.

Website

https://shookresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SHOOK Research is a private, Forbes-partnered research firm that produces independent rankings of U.S. wealth advisors, teams, RIAs, and financial security professionals using proprietary in-person due diligence and a proprietary SHOOK Impact rating, monetized through events, Forbes profile packages, and research partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Directory and Mailing List Publishers (513140)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB)

Keywords

• Wealth advisor rankings
• Financial advisor research
• Investment advisor ratings
• Wealth management rankings
• RIA firm rankings

Headquarters

HQ city

Boca Raton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Conferences and Events: Revenue generated from hosting high-impact national and regional events tied to Forbes rankings, including Top Advisor Summits, Top Women Advisor Summits, Top Teams Summits, Forums, and regional On-The-Road events across major cities.
2. Publications and Research: Revenue from publishing research, rankings, and related content in partnership with Forbes magazine, which reaches over 6 million readers and 116 million unique monthly visitors to Forbes.com.
3. Research Partnerships: Partnerships with asset management firms and financial services companies for research and sponsorship purposes. SHOOK also receives investment from PPC Enterprises to support growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SHOOK Research conducts independent research and produces rankings of top financial advisors, wealth management teams, RIA firms, and financial security professionals using a proprietary in-person due diligence methodology. The rankings are published in exclusive partnership with Forbes magazine and Forbes.com, reaching over 6 million readers and 116 million unique monthly visitors. The company also operates SHOOKhub, an online platform for advisor survey submission and profile management, and hosts national summits and regional On-The-Road events for the wealth management community.

Product overview

SHOOK Research operates a comprehensive rankings and research platform in exclusive partnership with Forbes, offering multiple distinct ranking products for the wealth management industry. The portfolio includes seven core ranking programs: Top 250 Wealth Advisors, Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, Top Women Wealth Advisors, Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, Top RIA Firms, Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, and Top Financial Security Professionals—all built on in-person due diligence methodology. These rankings are supported by SHOOKhub, an advisor portal for survey submission and profile management, and complemented by a events business featuring national summits (Top Advisor, Top Women, Top Teams, Next-Gen) and regional On The Road events. SHOOK Philanthropy extends the brand through charitable research initiatives. The company generates revenue through conferences, publications, research partnerships, and ranking survey fees, while maintaining complete independence from advisor compensation for rankings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forbes | SHOOK Top 250 Wealth Advisors Ranking Annual ranking of America's top 250 wealth advisors published in partnership with Forbes, evaluating advisors through qualitative and quantitative criteria including in-person due diligence interviews, compliance records, and revenue production.
• Forbes | SHOOK Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Ranking State-level ranking recognizing top wealth advisors by geographic region, developed through SHOOK Research's evaluation process assessing experience, client retention, and sustained outcomes.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top Women Wealth Advisors Ranking Ranking recognizing top-performing female wealth advisors nationwide based on in-person interviews and qualitative assessment of best practices and client service.
• Forbes | SHOOK Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams Ranking Ranking of top wealth management teams by state, evaluating team structures, assets under management, client retention, and qualitative factors through due diligence interviews.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top RIA Firms Ranking Ranking of America's top Registered Investment Advisors, evaluating firms on revenue, assets under management, compliance records, and qualitative best practices.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Ranking Recognition program for emerging generation wealth advisors, highlighting next-generation talent in the financial advisory profession.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top Financial Security Professionals Ranking Ranking recognizing top professionals in life insurance and investment services, evaluating credentials, client retention, sales figures, and qualitative criteria.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top Wealth Management Teams - High Net Worth Ranking Ranking of high net worth wealth management teams, evaluating team practices, assets under management, and client service models.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top Wealth Management Teams - Private Wealth Ranking Ranking of private wealth management teams serving ultra-high-net-worth clients, assessed on team structures and client outcomes.
• SHOOKhub Online portal platform for financial advisors to complete ranking surveys, access their rankings, and manage their profiles and submissions to SHOOK Research.
• Forbes | SHOOK Top Advisor Directory Online searchable directory allowing investors to find and connect with Forbes-ranked financial advisors based on location and specialty.
• Top Advisor Summit Annual national event bringing together top-ranked wealth advisors for education, networking, and philanthropy, typically held at venues like The Wynn Las Vegas.
• Top Women Advisor Summit National summit focused on female wealth advisors, providing networking and educational opportunities for top women advisors recognized in SHOOK rankings.
• Top Teams Summit Annual event for top-ranked wealth management teams to share best practices, learn from industry leaders, and build professional connections.
• Next-Gen Summit Event focused on emerging and next-generation wealth advisors, providing mentorship and development opportunities.
• Forbes | SHOOK On The Road Regional Events Regional roadshow events held across major U.S. cities bringing together top advisors for localized networking and educational sessions.
• Forbes Profile Enhancement Package for Advisors Annual subscription package enabling ranked financial advisors to enhance their Forbes profile with logo usage rights, bios, photos, custom branding, and thought-leadership content, available in Basic, Select, and Partner tiers.
• SHOOK Philanthropy Research Research initiative identifying and ranking the world's biggest individual philanthropic givers, published annually in Forbes magazine, generating awareness and funds for charitable causes including children's cancer research, Make-A-Wish, St. Jude, and Susan G. Komen.

Quantifiable outcome

• $300 million in gifts generated through research identifying top individual U.S. givers over six-year period
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ForbesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing flagship partnership where SHOOK Research produces wealth advisor rankings published in Forbes magazine and on Forbes.com. This partnership spans multiple ranking categories including Top Wealth Advisors, Top Women Advisors, Top RIA Firms, Top Next-Gen Advisors, and Financial Security Professionals. The Forbes brand reaches over 6 million readers and 116 million unique monthly visitors.
• Various Asset Management FirmscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSHOOK partners with leading asset management firms for events and research activities. Partners include Capital Group/American Funds, BNY Mellon, Davis Advisors, First Trust, Hartford Funds, KraneShares, New York Life Investments, Nuveen, BlackRock, Fidelity, First Eagle, Thornburg, Federated Hermes, Foundation Source, Putnam, Richard Bernstein Advisors, and State Street Global Advisors, among others.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHOOK Research contributes leadership and world-class research toward philanthropy through Make-A-Wish, having helped grant wishes for children including a record $1.4 million raised for Make-A-Wish.
• Children's Cancer Research FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHOOK has raised over $5 million for Children's Cancer Research Fund and Memorial Sloan Kettering to fund life-saving cancer treatments for children with various cancers including Wilms' Tumor, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, and leukemia.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHOOK raised over $1 million for St. Jude to fund brain tumor treatments for children, with Rick Shadyac Jr. (President & CEO of ALSAC) presenting at SHOOK events.
• Susan G. KomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHOOK has raised over $1.7 million for Susan G. Komen including $550,000 at the 2018 Forbes-SHOOK Top Advisor Summit (breaking Komen's record for a 'flash' raise), and $1 million in two separate campaigns to study and find cures for breast cancer patients under age 40.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Investopedia: Investopedia provides consumer-facing financial education and a financial advisor directory, sharing SHOOK's investor-discovery function but not its syndicated advisor rankings methodology.
• SmartAsset: SmartAsset is a consumer fintech that matches users to financial advisors via a quiz-driven directory; it competes with SHOOK's Top Advisor Directory at the consumer end but lacks SHOOK's editorial ranking franchise and institutional advisor demand.
• NerdWallet: NerdWallet operates a broader consumer-facing financial advisor match service and content platform; while it overlaps with SHOOK's investor-discovery mission, it does not run in-person advisor due diligence or industry-leading advisor rankings.
• Morningstar: Morningstar produces broad investment and fund research and publishes its own advisor rankings; it overlaps with SHOOK in evaluating investment professionals, but as a much larger incumbent with a wider research and data portfolio.

Direct peers

• Barron's (Advisor Rankings): Barron's publishes annual Top 100 Independent Advisors, Top 100 Financial Advisors, and Top RIA Firms rankings, the most direct editorial competitor to SHOOK's Forbes-published advisor lists. Both target elite U.S. wealth advisors and use proprietary scoring methodologies.
• AdvisorHub: AdvisorHub ranks advisors by state and produces AdvisorHub IQ; it is a direct competitor in independent advisor evaluation, with comparable nomination-and-research workflow targeting the same financial-advisor persona.
• Paladin Registry: Paladin Registry is an advisor matching and screening service with a proprietary screening methodology for financial advisors, making it a direct methodological peer to SHOOK's in-person diligence approach.
• Financial Times (FT Advisor): FT publishes the FT 401 Top Financial Advisors and Top RIAs rankings, overlapping SHOOK's wealth-advisor ranking category. Both produce syndicated advisor research distributed through a flagship business/finance media brand.

Others

• Cerulli Associates: Cerulli publishes syndicated industry research on U.S. wealth management firms, advisors, and asset managers, making it an adjacent market-research peer to SHOOK's industry research line of business.
• Financial Planning Association: FPA is the leading industry association for CFP professionals and operates awards/referral services that intersect with SHOOK's advisor recognition ecosystem, though it is a membership body rather than a ranking publisher.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shookresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SHOOK Research