It’s always great to be recognized for doing outstanding work. Today, Laird Norton Wealth Management was named one of the top Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) in the U.S., according to the Financial Times’ first-ever “FT 300” RIA rankings.

“The FT 300 should be considered a list of truly exceptional adviser firms,” wrote Loren Fox, FT’s Director of Research Money-Media, in the FT 300 Report.

The FT 300 rankings are based on high scores on the following six factors:

1. Assets under management (AUM) – “signals experience managing money and client trust.”
2. AUM growth rate – “growing assets is a proxy for performance, as well as asset retention and ability to generate new business.”
3. Firm’s years in existence – “indicates reliability as a firm, and experience managing assets through varying market environments.”
4. Compliance record – “provides evidence of past client disputes.”
5. Industry certifications (CFA, CFP, etc.) – “shows technology and industry knowledge, obtaining these designations signals to clients a professional commitment to investment skills.”
6. Online accessibility – “illustrates commitment to providing investors with easy access and transparent contact information.”

The Financial Times invited some 2,000 RIAs across the U.S. to apply for consideration (those with at least $300 million in AUM); of the firms responding, 300 made the final ranking. While the FT 300 is “a quantifiable way and objective way to establish who is an elite group,” according to Fox, it is not a competitive ranking of 1 to 300.

FT 300 Disclosure: The 2014 Financial Times Top 300 Registered Investment Advisors is an independent listing produced by the Financial Times (June, 2014). The FT 300 is based on data gathered from RIA firms, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. As identified by the FT, the listing reflected each practice’s performance in six primary areas, including assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and accessibility. Neither the RIA firms nor their employees pay a fee to The Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 300.