Scott Sparks, Founder of Sparks Financial, has been named to the Forbes Top 250 Wealth Advisors list[i] and Barron’s 2026 Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list[ii], two of the most competitive and respected recognitions in the wealth management industry.
These rankings highlight advisors that demonstrate sustained excellence in how they serve clients, build their practice and deliver long-term outcomes.
In Fort Worth, Sparks Financial’s presence continues to grow, grounded in a commitment to thoughtful planning and meaningful impact.
“These are significant recognitions in our industry,” said Beau Jacobson, partner and private wealth advisor at Sparks Financial. “What it represents matters more than the rankings themselves. They represent discipline, consistency and a commitment to helping people make decisions that stand the test of time.”
The firm works closely with business owners, executives and families navigating complex financial decisions, bringing structure and clarity to areas that often feel fragmented or reactive.
“Our focus is simple,” Jacobson added. “Help people think clearly about where they are going, put a plan in place to get there and make adjustments along the way. When that happens, the outcomes take care of themselves.”
Charlie Prothro, partner at Sparks Financial, emphasized the long-term lens that defines the firm’s approach.
“The best plan is not built just for the next year,” said Prothro. “It is built for decades. It is built with intention, with discipline and with an understanding that the decisions made today will impact families for generations.”
As Sparks Financial continues to invest in Fort Worth, the firm remains focused on creating lasting value both for the families it serves and the broader community.
“When this is done right, the impact goes far beyond a balance sheet,” said Jacobson. “It shows up in how people live, how they give and how they lead within their community.”
The work continues.
About Sparks Financial Sparks Financial is a leading wealth management firm focused on helping individuals and families define, build, and enjoy prosperous lives. Members of Sparks Financial use Sparks Financial as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Sparks Financial is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency, or federal savings bank. To view detailed disclosures regarding individual representatives, view their information at http://www.sparks-financial.com/.
About Northwestern Mutual Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what’s most important. With nearly $700 billion of total assets[iii] being managed across the company’s institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than $38 billion in revenues, nearly $2.4 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 109 on the 2025 FORTUNE 500 and was recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2026.
Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “Advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.
[i] Forbes America’s Top Wealth Advisors (April 2026), based upon data as of 6/30/2025. Research & ranking provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Northwestern Mutual and its advisors do not pay for placement on 3rd party rating lists, but do pay marketing fees to these organizations to promote the rating(s). Rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success.
[ii] Barron’s Top 1,500 Financial Advisors (March 2026), based upon data as of 9/30/2025. Northwestern Mutual and its advisors do not pay for placement on 3rd party rating lists, but do pay marketing fees to these organizations to promote the rating(s). Rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success
[iii] Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual.
