Industry: 1992
KAR: 2011
Best-In-State
Wealth Advisors
(2018-2025)
Wealth Advisors
(2018-2025)
Ranked #7 on
Forbes Top RIA List
(2024)
Forbes Top RIA List
(2024)
#3 Independent Advisor in 2024
(#1 in 2017-2020, 2022)
(#1 in 2017-2020, 2022)
Largest Wealth Management Firms
(2023)
(2023)
Thomas E. Connaghan, III
Senior Wealth Advisor
Start Date
Education
- MBA, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
- B.A., Classics, University of Notre Dame
Prior Work Experience
- Institutional Vice President –
Fisher Investments - Director, Financial Services Group – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Certifications and Credentials
- Registered Investment Adviser Representative
- Series 65
Recognition:
2018-2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors
Best-In-State
Wealth Advisors
(2018-2025)
Wealth Advisors
(2018-2025)
Ranked #7 on
Forbes Top RIA List
(2024)
Forbes Top RIA List
(2024)
#3 Independent Advisor in 2024
(#1 in 2017-2020, 2022)
(#1 in 2017-2020, 2022)
Largest Wealth Management Firms
(2023)
(2023)
What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is to work with successful individuals who have incredible life stories. We partner with them to develop a financial plan to help them with financial freedom so they can live the lifestyle they want.
What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA?
I enjoy working at KAR because of the variety of clients I get to work with. We work with individuals who are in the early stages of their careers and are looking to grow their assets, as well as individuals who are at or nearing retirement and are looking for capital preservation and diversified income streams. We also work with individuals and families who are thinking about the most efficient way to pass on their wealth to future generations.
How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently?
We do things differently here at KAR. For over thirty years, we have been focused on high-net-worth individuals and investment management. With over a quarter of our employees focused on research, we can offer our wealth advisory clientele access to both proprietary strategies not widely available to the general public as well as external managers offering what we believe are best-in-class strategies.
What Do You Hope to Achieve for Your Clients?
I hope to help my clients achieve financial freedom and security. For example, I recently worked with a client who was anticipating a big windfall from his professional endeavor. We worked together to create a plan for when that event would happen – working on income, potential lifestyle changes and how to invest that money tax-efficiently – so that he and his family could enjoy the lifestyle they had worked so hard to achieve.
What Are You Involved in Outside of Work?
I enjoy spending time with my family around San Francisco’s Bay Area. My wife and I have four children and we support the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation, Pathways Home Health and Hospice, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and St. Raymond’s Catholic Church, among other organizations. I spend any free time outdoors, golfing, surfing, biking and coaching my children’s teams. I also enjoy cooking new recipes, recording and playing music and am a loyal fan of Notre Dame Football and Soccer.
News
If you have any questions regarding a particular professional’s credentials or for more information regarding each credential’s requirements and qualifications, please contact KAR to receive a copy of your professional’s Form ADV Part 2B.
Forbes 2025 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: The Forbes 2025 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors ranking was issued in April 2025 and covers the year 2025. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings, but has paid a fee to license use of a Forbes Best in State Award logo.
Forbes “Top RIA Firms”: The Forbes Top RIA Firms 2024 ranking was issued in October 2024 and covers the year 2024. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings.
Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Advisors”: The Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Advisors 2024” was given in September 2024 and covers the year 2024. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings.
San Francisco Business Times Largest Wealth Management Firms 2023: The San Francisco Business Times Largest Wealth Management Firms 2023 ranking was issued in April 2023 and covers the year 2023. KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the ranking but has paid fees for relicensing.
This information is being provided by KAR for illustrative purposes only. Information contained on this site is not intended by KAR to be interpreted as investment advice, a recommendation or solicitation to purchase securities, or a recommendation of a particular course of action and has not been updated since the date of the material, and KAR does not undertake to update the information presented should it change. This information is based on KAR’s opinions at the time of the publication of this material and are subject to change based on market activity. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. KAR makes no warranty as to the accuracy or reliability of the information contained herein. The information provided here should not be considered to be insurance, legal, or tax advice and all investors should consult their insurance, legal, and tax professionals about the specifics of their own insurance, estate, and tax situations to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide insurance, legal, or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all investor situations. Additional information about KAR’s services and fees may be found in KAR’s Part 2A of Form ADV, which is available upon request or can be found at https://kayne.com/wp-content/uploads/ADV-Part-2A.pdf.