National recognition underscores sustained leadership in expanding access to private markets and redefining investment management for ultra-high-net-worth families
WINTER PARK, Fla., July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thomas Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Destiny Family Office, has been named InvestmentNews 2026 Advisor of the Year, Alternative Investments for the second consecutive year, a rare distinction that reflects his continued leadership in expanding access to privileged private investments and serving the increasingly complex needs of high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families.
Presented at the annual InvestmentNews Awards in New York City, this award recognizes the advisor who has displayed excellence in providing alternative investment solutions, (investments in asset classes other than stocks, bonds and cash), which feature low correlations to traditional asset classes.
“The modern portfolio has fundamentally shifted. Alternatives are no longer supplemental. They’re foundational,” said Ruggie, who has positioned himself at the forefront of this evolution, expanding access to privileged alternative investments opportunities for HNW and UHNW investors who have historically been excluded from them, despite their significant resources.
Ruggie believes investors are at a generational inflection point for accessing exceptional late-stage, pre-IPO direct investments in industry disruptors such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Anduril, Databricks, and Whoop.
“I’ve always believed the best wealth managers don’t simply manage portfolios, they solve problems,” said Ruggie. “Earning this honor in consecutive years speaks to the commitment our entire team has made to making a meaningful impact on our clients’ lives.”
Ruggie has become a nationally recognized voice on modern portfolio construction and the strategic role of alternative investments. He educates investors and advisors on private markets, family office strategy, and the role of passion assets within long-term wealth and legacy planning through speaking engagements, articles in leading financial publications, his Significance of Wealth podcast, and Destiny Direct Insights and Significant Collector newsletters.
Over the past year, Ruggie’s expanded his private investment platform within Destiny Family Office and is launching an intelligence-rich destination site called Destiny Access, built exclusively for Qualified Purchasers eligible to participate in these differentiated investment opportunities. Destiny Access brings together private market opportunities, proprietary insights, and curated investment intelligence.
