Women finance advisers show their strength

Barron's annual Top 100 Women Financial Advisors list is again sprinkled with some Gulf Coast flavor.

Ami Forte, who works out of the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney office in Palm Harbor, notched the No. 1 ranking on the list for the second straight year. Forte ranked third in 2007 and 2008 and second in 2009. (See Business Review, Sept. 28, 2007; June 13, 2008.)

The survey looks at assets overseen by the advisers and revenues generated for firms, in addition to more subjective categories, such as quality of advice.