It was our first year participating for this award, and the result reflects something we’ve built over decades. A culture where talented people want to stay, grow, and do their best work. Long tenure has helped strengthen that foundation, creating continuity that clients and partners often value in enduring relationships.
Why This Award Matters
This recognition reflects the strength of our team and the culture that drives our work every day. A thriving workplace leads to better service, deeper relationships, and more thoughtful financial guidance. Our people are the foundation of our success, and this award underscores our dedication to attracting and retaining top talent in the wealth management industry. With Bailard’s first-place ranking came an interview with CEO Sonya Mughal, CFA, in which Financial Planning explored the firm’s approach to building an environment that supports lasting careers.
Wealth Management & Investment Services
Being named the best RIA firm to work for highlights the strength of our culture and the caliber of our team. As an independent, employee-owned firm, we are not driven by outside shareholders or short-term pressures. That structure gives our leaders the latitude to plan for the long-term and act with purpose, investing in people, refining processes, and strengthening the resources that serve our clients.
What We Do
Our recognition as a top RIA firm reflects the depth of experience we bring to the table. Bailard was founded on the key principle of helping individuals manage their wealth. More than 55 years later, our mission remains the same. Our comprehensive and customized services range from Financial and Estate Planning and Management, Portfolio Management, Sustainable, Responsible & Impact Investing, and Family Office Services.
Who We Serve
Our clients range from C-suite executives, doctors, small business owners, founders and CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, and multiple generations of families, to those navigating sudden wealth or experiencing an IPO. We also proudly serve many foundations and endowments; as a values-driven firm with its own charitable foundation, this is an initiative particularly important to us.
Why Choose Bailard
Bailard is different, and that's a good thing. Our values are manifest in our thoughtful, high-touch service; in our firm-wide intellectual curiosity and deep industry experience; and in our transparency with both clients and colleagues.
1969
Founded
$7.8
Billion in Assets Under Management
as of 12/31/2025
54%
Women and Minority Owned
2023
B Corporation™ Certified
$1,392,114
Bailard Foundation Total Donation
June 2019 – December 2025
2021
Sonya Mughal Appointed CEO
Bailard's Award-Winning Culture
Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms*(2025, 2024, 2023, 2021)
Pensions & Investments' Best Places to Work in Money Management*(2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
Bailard CEO Sonya Mughal Wins 'Women in Wealth Advisory, Individual'*(2023)
San Francisco Business Times' Top Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists*(2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021)
Bailard's Core Values
Accountability
Compassion
Courage
Excellence
Fairness
Independence
Interested in Working with Bailard?
Whether you’re navigating equity compensation, planning for retirement, or managing generational wealth, our team is here to help.
* These awards and recognitions do not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and are not indicative of Bailard’s future performance.
Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms was released by Barron’s each year in September. This 9th annual ranking of independent advisory companies is based on assets managed by the firms, technology spending, staff diversity, succession planning and other metrics. Advisors who wish to be ranked fill out a 102-question survey; Barron’s then verifies that data and applies its rankings formula to generate a ranking. The formula features three major categories of calculations—Assets, Revenue, Quality of practice—with multiple sub-calculations in each. Bailard ranked #92 out of 100 on the 2025 list; #88 in 2024; #99 in 2023 list; and #98 in 2021. Each year the award was announced in September. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the practice’s future performance. There was no fee to enter.
In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, Bailard won a Pensions & Investments’ Best Places to Work in Money Management award. Pensions & Investments partnered with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying great places to work, to conduct a two-part survey process of employers and their employees. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies. To be eligible for consideration, companies must have met the following criteria: be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or public agency; have a facility in the United States, have a minimum of 20 full and/or part-time employees working in the United States, have been in business for a minimum of one year, and have at least $100 million of discretionary assets under management. This award did not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s past or future performance. Bailard was considered for these awards without paying for inclusion. Some programs have charged a registration fee: Pensions & Investments required $199 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Pensions & Investments 2023 program included a $499 data-sharing fee from Best Companies Group. In 2025, 103 firms were ranked, with 25 managers recognized in Bailard’s category of 50 to 99 employees. For 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018, there were 113, 123, 100, 76, 94, 76, and 69 firms ranked, respectively.
The Family Wealth Report Women in Wealth Advisory is an annual award, announced in May 2023 by the Family Wealth Report; there was no cost to enter. The awards program is designed to showcase excellence in the North American wealth sector, and how entrants put their case forward can often be very revealing about the qualities on display. The Family Wealth Report Awards 2023 and 2022 judging process was conducted by expert panels and consist of judges from family offices, private banks, trusted advisers, consultants and other service providers each of whom has in-depth knowledge and a broad experience. The judging process is organized in a way so as to avoid conflicts of interest, and no judge will be asked to review a submission from an organization competitive to their own. Every submission is carefully reviewed to ensure the best companies and individuals are selected as winners in each category, whilst commercially sensitive information is kept confidential. This recognition does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s future performance.
The San Francisco Business Times Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists is an annual award, given to Bailard by the San Francisco Business Times in July 2025. For 22 years the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List. The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving. Each year the list is unveiled at the San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Philanthropy Awards event. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers. A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices. The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving. This achievement does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of Bailard’s future performance. All for-profit companies – whether public or private – along with nonprofit health care organizations were eligible. Companies were required to provide a detailed breakdown of philanthropic contributions. This list ranks companies by dollar value of cash contributions made to Bay Area-based charities in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. 100 firms appeared in the San Francisco Business Times list in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021. The San Francisco Business Times Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists is an annual award, given to Bailard by the San Francisco Business Times in July of each year. Each year, 100 firms appeared in the San Francisco Business Times list. Bailard ranked #65 in 2025; #71 in 2024, #79 in 2023; #82 in 2022; and #89 in 2021. There was no fee to enter.
Any materials or information made available on this website are published for informational purposes only. They do not take into consideration the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient and should not be construed as a recommendation of, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any particular security, strategy, or investment product. There is no guarantee Bailard or any of its strategies will achieve performance or investment objectives. Past performance is no indication of future results. All investments have the risk of loss.