R.J. Shook

R.J. Shook is the Co-Founder and President of SHOOK Research, and a Senior Contributor to Forbes. SHOOK is the world’s only advisor research organization focused exclusively on the quality of financial advisors, with rankings driven by extensive due diligence including telephone and in-person meetings. Its rankings are regularly published in Forbes feature stories.

In 2025, SHOOK sold a majority stake to PPC Enterprises, a middle-market private equity firm. The leadership team and R.J. remain intact.

R.J. founded Winner’s Circle in 2000, creating the world's first advisor rankings, initially published in trade magazines and Barron’s. The business was acquired by News Corp in 2008.

R.J.’s family and SHOOK, have provided over $10 million to fund promising pediatric cancer treatments for children with no other options, $5 million to battle breast cancer and $2 million for Make-A-Wish. Its philanthropic research—also featured in Forbes—has raised over $300 million for causes across the philanthropic community.

A graduate of Babson College, R.J. began his Wall Street career at Prudential Securities, first as a financial advisor and later in research. He is the author of 11 books, including his latest: The Masters List: How 12 Wealth Management Teams Became the Best in the Business (2025).

R.J. lives in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife and their three children.