Top Financial Advisors in Guilford, CT

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GSB Wealth Management, another fee-based firm, is next on our list of the top financial advisory firms in Guilford. GSB has a suggested account minimum of $500,000, although this may be negotiable in some circumstances. The firm primarily works with individuals, and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. Its client base also includes charitable organizations, banking or thrift institutions, corporations and business entities. 

The GSB team has earned designations that include certified public account (CPA) and personal financial specialist. Because some advisors sell insurance on a commission basis, GSB is considered fee-based. Despite the potential conflict of interest that commission-based compensation can create, GSB is a fiduciary and must act in its clients' best interests at all times. 

GSB Wealth Management Background

Owned by the Guilford Savings Bank, GSB has been in business since 1999 when Deborah Abildsoe founded it as Asset & Retirement Investment Associates (ARIA). Guilford Savings Bank acquired a majority interest in ARIA in 2011 and changed the firm's name to GSB Wealth Management in 2016. 

Today, GSB offers clients asset management, financial planning and pension consulting services. The firm also specializes in asset management and retirement solutions for veterinary practices. Additionally, GSB also offers a goal-based digital wealth management platform called the Guilded Investment Launchpad (GUIL). 

GSB Wealth Management Investment Strategy

GSB manages client portfolios on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. GSB invests assets in a variety of ways, including exchange-listed securities, securities traded over the counter, foreign issuers, warrants, corporate debt, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, mutual funds, U.S. government securities and real estate investment trusts (REITs). 

The firm uses several methods of analysis to evaluate securities, including fundamental, charting, technical and cyclical analysis. GSB engages in several different investment strategies as well, including both long- and short-term purchases, option writing, short sales and margin transactions. 

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Compass Asset Management, No. 3 on our list, is a fee-only firm. This means the firm and its advisors do not earn any third-party commissions in addition to their standard advisory fees. Most of this firm's client base comprises individuals with and without a high net worth. However, the firm does have a few institutional clients, including a handful of retirement plans and charities.

There is no set minimum needed to become a client of Compass Asset Management. The firm has the designations of chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) on staff. 

Compass Asset Management Background

In business since 1997, Compass Asset Management was co-founded by senior portfolio managers Carolyn Matthes and William Matthes. Today, the firm is under the ownership of portfolio manager Jason Bear, a CFA. The firm's services are centered around investing, but it also works your investment needs into a succinct, holistic financial plan.

Compass Asset Management Investing Strategy

Generally speaking, Compass Asset Management focuses on three distinct types of investments when it comes to managing client assets: equities, fixed-income securities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or index funds.

Here's a quick breakdown of how the firm manages each of these investment types:

• Equity management: When investing in stocks, the firm tends to focus on large- and mid-cap companies that are selling at reasonable valuations. The firm works significant diversification into its equity portfolios in an effort to create sustainable, long-term returns.
• Fixed-income management: The firm can manage fixed-income portfolios for either taxable or tax-free income. Portfolios are typically diversified according to bond and CD maturity while avoiding one-year maturity.
• Fund management: The firm will divide these client portfolios between aggressive and conservative investors. For the former, the firm will focus on investing in sector funds that exhibit "emerging technical strength and short-term relative performance," according to the firm's Form ADV. For more conservative investors, the firm uses a balanced portfolio of funds selected for their long-term performance.  

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Next on our list is Monte Financial Group (MFG). As a fee-only firm, advisors here earn their compensation solely through fees charged to clients. In other words, they don’t earn sales commissions from third-party entities.

Some of the advisory team at this firm has earned the designations of certified financial planners (CFPs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), chartered advisors in philanthropy (CAP)and certified private wealth advisors (CPWAs). While most of its clients are not high-net-worth individuals, the firm requires a minimum account size of $500,000. On some occasions, there may be exceptions to this requirement. MFG also works with high-net-worth clients and charitable organizations.

Monte Financial Group Background

MFG has been in business since 2009, making it the youngest firm on our list. Principal owner and president Robert J. Monte previously spent 17 years at Smith Barney, where he worked as senior vice president of wealth management.

The firm offers the following services:

• Financial planning
• Wealth management
• Trust management
• Philanthropic gift design
• Discretionary investment management

Monte Financial Group Investment Strategy

Monte Financial Group designs portfolios based on the client’s risk tolerance, goals, time horizon, liquidity needs and other factors. It primarily builds these portfolios with individual equity and fixed-income securities. However, some accounts may offer exposure to mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other investment strategies provided by independent investment managers.

Through the Independent Investment Managers Program, the firm provides access to third-party managers that can take over a portion of client assets. 

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Shoreline Financial Advisors, a fee-based firm, completes our list of the top financial advisory firms in Guilford. The team of advisors at Shoreline has a few certifications, including certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accountants (CPAs).

The firm doesn’t require a minimum account size and most of its clients are non-high-worth individuals. The firm also maintains advisory relationships with high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans and charitable organizations.

Shoreline Financial Advisors Financial Background

Brendan T. Smith and Patrick M. Smith founded Shoreline Financial Advisors in 1996. With more than three decades of experience, Brendan Smith specializes in tax and estate planning. Patrick Smith launched his career in 1984 when he worked for Putnam Investments. His investment insights have been featured in major newspapers like USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. 

The firm offers investment management services and financial planning guidance on several topics, including investment planning, retirement planning, personal savings management and education savings planning.

Shoreline Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

Shoreline Financial Advisors consults its clients to gather information about their risk tolerance, financial goals, tax situation and other factors that would help it develop an appropriate asset allocation to meet their objectives. The firm generally designs these asset allocations with varying exposure to different equity and fixed-income investments. Depending on your situation, you may invest in the following securities: 

• Stocks
• Stock mutual funds
• Stock-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Bonds
• Bond funds
• Bond ETFs
• Money market funds
• Short-term CDs