Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Fairport, New York
Finding the right financial advisor can be an overwhelming process. This list of the top financial advisor firms in Fairport, New York, is intended to help you narrow down your options and compare firms. Our experts go over each firm's essential information, such as their account minimums, client bases, investment strategies and more. SmartAsset also offers a free financial advisor matching tool that will connect you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area.
Find a Fiduciary Financial Advisor
We match more than 50,000 people with financial advisors per month. Get connected to an advisor that serves your area today.Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Manning & Napier Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $17,037,862,835 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
|
2 | Milestones Private Investment Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $149,846,522 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
3 | Sage Tree Wealth Find an Advisor | $84,760,238 | $10,000 |
| Minimum Assets$10,000Financial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Fairport, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services, those that don't serve primarily individual clients and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
- AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
- Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
- Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
Manning & Napier Advisors
Far and away the largest firm on our list, Manning & Napier Advisors is the top-rated advisory firm in Fairport. This massive fee-based firm employs a large team of advisors that works with thousands of clients, the majority of whom are individuals.
It also works with investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, state or municipal government entities, other investment advisors, businesses, unions and insurance companies. Account minimums at this firm range from $250,000 to $20 million.
Some of the advisors at this firm are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer. These advisors may receive compensation for selling securities and other financial products, which represents a potential conflict of interest. That said, the firm is a fiduciary and is legally obligated to put the interests of clients first.
Manning & Napier Advisors Background
Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc. -- the firm's predecessor -- was founded by Bill Manning and Bill Napier in 1970. The firm has been organized as an limited liability company (LLC) since 2011. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manning & Napier Group, LLC, a public firm.
Manning & Napier Advisors provides clients with a wide range of advisory services. The firm primarily offers investment management services, though financial planning is rolled into its wealth management services. Manning & Napier works with clients either directly or through unaffiliated third-party advisors.
Manning & Napier Advisors Investment Strategy
Manning & Napier Advisors works with clients to establish appropriate objectives. It does so by compiling information about each client, including their risk tolerance, time horizon and stated investment goals. The firm does not assign one individual advisor to manage client portfolios. Instead, it has strategy-specific teams make portfolio decisions.
As for those portfolios, the firm offers single asset class options, multiple asset class portfolios and custom solution portfolios. For the majority of these portfolios, the firm employs both top-down and bottom-up methods of analysis, which examine macroeconomic and microeconomic factors, respectively.
Milestones Private Investment Advisors
Milestones Private Investment Advisors is the next firm on our list. This fee-only firm offers advisory services that include financial planning and asset management. Its client base is made up entirely of individuals, most of whom do not have a high net worth. The firm has no minimum investment requirement.
As a fee-only firm, Milestones only receives advisory fees from clients, unlike a fee-based firm whose advisors may receive both third-party commissions and client-paid fees.
Milestones Private Investment Advisors Background
Founded in 2017, Milestones Private Investment Advisors is one of the youngest firms on this list. The firm is principally owned by Heather Proctor and Mark Buscher. Proctor is the firm's chief compliance officer (CCO) and Buscher serves as principal portfolio manager. They each have over 25 years of investment experience, and Buscher is an accredited asset management specialist (AAMS).
Milestones provides clients with comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting and subadvisory services. The firm also uses a wrap fee program, which bundles all advisory, custodial and trading fees into a single rate.
Milestones Private Investment Advisors Investment Strategy
Specific investment strategies at Milestones Private Investment Advisors may be used with multiple client portfolios. However, each approach is ultimately based on the financial and investment objectives of individual clients. Advisors develop a specific financial plan that adheres to the goals of each client and work in person with clients to determine their risk tolerance, time horizon and other relevant facts about their financial situation and investment needs.
Clients are encouraged to keep the firm updated with any changes to their goals or needs so their investment strategy can be revised. Advisors at Milestones develop a set of asset allocation guidelines for each client and use outside research, investment ideas and inside perspective to help inform investment decisions. Securities used typically include exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds.
Sage Tree Wealth
Last but not least, Sage Tree Wealth is a small financial advisor firm that provides investment management, financial planning and pension consulting services. The firm works almost entirely with non-high-net-worth individuals, though it also has some clients who have high net worths.
The minimum investment requirement at this firm is actually twofold. First, prospective clients will need to adhere to a minimum account size of $10,000. In addition, there's a $150,000 net worth minimum for clients looking to invest. Both of these requirements are waivable.
Sage Tree Wealth is a fee-based firm, meaning some advisors here may receive commissions for selling insurance products to their clients. This represents a potential conflict of interest. That said, as a fiduciary, the firm is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.
Sage Tree Wealth Background
Founded in 2018, Sage Tree Wealth is the youngest firm on our list. It became a registered investment advisor in 2019. President and chief compliance officer (CCO) Daniel A. Monte is the sole owner. Delbert Smith, one of the firm's other advisors, is a CPA.
Sage Tree Wealth primarily provides discretionary investment management services. It also offers financial planinng services and pension consulting services and participates in a wrap fee program. Financial planning services may be either specific or broad-based, depending on the desires of the client.
Sage Tree Wealth Investment Strategy
Sage Tree Wealth tailors its investment strategies to the needs of clients. Advisors determine these needs by conducting meetings to develop an investor profile. Portfolio composition will also be guided by any restrictions that a client wishes to impose on the management of their assets.
This firm's investment philosophy is focused on capital appreciation. Advisors look to use a tactical asset allocation strategy to mitigate risk and increase performance. The firm may invest client assets in a wide variety of securities, including, but not limited to, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and stocks. The firm uses a few different methods of analysis when making investment decisions, including fundamental, technical and cyclical forms of analysis.