Drew Watson, CEO of Align Wealth Management with Ameriprise Financial in Owensboro, has been named the No. 1 financial advisor in Kentucky on the Forbes list of “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” for 2024. The annual list recognizes advisors who demonstrate exceptional professionalism, ethical standards, and success in the financial industry.
The ranking is based on data provided by thousands of the nation’s top-performing advisors. Criteria include assets under management, industry experience, compliance history, and best practices in serving clients.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the top ranking for financial advisors in Kentucky this year,” Watson said. “I am blessed to have wonderful clients — many who we are now working with into their third generation — and be supported by our world-class team at the office and my wife and family at home.”
Watson emphasized the recognition as a team achievement, crediting his colleagues and business partner for helping build a strong foundation over the past three decades.
“My partner Travis Chaney and I started out sharing a single office and a single telephone in the Cigar Factory Mall over 30 years ago. So you could say this award has been a long time coming — and now we have more phones than we have people,” he joked.
Watson said the firm’s success is rooted in its commitment to delivering comprehensive, personalized financial advice through written financial plans and in always being available when clients need them most.
“We try and add value every time we interact with our clients,” he said. “It begins and ends with comprehensive advice, but it’s also about being there for those ‘life happens’ moments.”
The Forbes award follows another high-profile recognition earlier this year when Watson was named the top financial advisor in Kentucky by Barron’s for the second consecutive year. The “Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” list is based on assets under management, revenue produced, regulatory record, and the overall quality of practice.
For Watson, the accolades are meaningful — but secondary to the client experience.
“Personally, we strive to give our clients the best experience they can get, treat our team members like they’re solid gold, and then let the results speak for themselves,” Watson said. “It’s always great to be vindicated by the metrics, but our focus has always been on the client experience and providing true financial planning.”
Watson views financial advising as more than a career.
“This is a vocation for me,” he said. “Just like a physician is on call for emergencies, I treat my role the same way. Clients trust us with their financial futures, and that responsibility is something we take very seriously.”
Align Wealth Management, which now operates in three states, takes a holistic approach to financial planning — offering retirement projections, estate planning, retirement income strategies, and more. Watson believes that paying for a written plan is key to receiving real value.
“A lot of people may say they do financial planning, but as I always tell clients, if you’re not paying for it, you’re really not getting it,” he said.
Watson’s path to the financial world wasn’t straightforward. He originally planned to pursue medicine while studying at the University of Notre Dame, but one of his lawncare clients — a doctor — saw a different potential.
“He told me, ‘Medicine is going to be too much corporate. If you really want to help people, you should look into investments.’ That stuck with me,” Watson said. “I changed course midway through school, and I’ve never looked back.”
From humble beginnings in Owensboro to leading a recognized team of advisors, Watson said the firm’s strength lies in its people and the multigenerational relationships they’ve built.
“We’re now helping not just parents, but their kids and grandkids,” he said. “Seeing those relationships come full circle is incredibly rewarding.”
Though Forbes and Barron’s recognized Watson individually, he sees every accolade as a testament to his team’s dedication.
“This is a team effort,” he said. “Earlier this year, our team was recognized as one of the top teams in Kentucky, and just recently, we received a top Ameriprise award. That’s a big deal for everyone involved.”
With a growing team of professionals — including recruits from the Vanderbilt MBA program, public accounting, and private equity — Watson said Align Wealth Management is positioned for continued growth.
“I love what I do,” he said. “As long as my health holds up, I plan to keep doing this for a long time.”
For more information, contact Align Wealth Management at 270-684-8424 or explore their services online.
