Top Financial Advisors in Troy, MI

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Straightline, the top-rated financial advisory firm in Troy, has been in business for two decades. The firm works with a mix of individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as a handful of charitable organizations. It also serves corporations, pensions, profit-sharing plans, universities and other employers. This firm doesn’t have an account minimum.

Straightline is a fee-based firm, which means that some advisors may earn commissions from certain securities transactions or the sale of insurance products. This creates a potential conflict of interest, since advisors are incentivized to sell you certain financial products. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in your best interest.

For investment management services, you’ll be charged a negotiable percentage of your assets under management, ranging from 0.50% to 2%. If the firm is managing your 401(k) or 403(b) account, your management fees could range up to $1,200 per year. Financial planning fees are typically flat-rate and could be either $1,000 or $1,500 depending on the nature of the services you request.

Straightline Background

Straightline first opened its doors in 2002. President and CEO Michael F. Bisaro is the firm's owner.

The firm offers investment management services for anyone with an employer-sponsored retirement plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or investment account. Straightline also provides financial planning services and investment advice to retirement plan sponsors.

Straightline Investment Strategy

The first step in Straightline’s investment process is working with you to determine your risk-adjusted portfolio model. The firm will also factor in things like your time horizon, investment goals, income and net worth, combining them to determine the best asset allocation for your portfolio.

The firm has five different model portfolios, each with a specific level of aggressiveness. At the most aggressive tier, all funds are invested in equity mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). At the other end, 20% of your assets will be invested in equity funds and the rest is invested in fixed-income instruments or funds.

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Secure Asset Management is a fee-based advisory firm that’s been doing business since 2007. Its clients are mostly non-high-net-worth individuals, with some high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans as well.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors at the firm may earn commissions by selling insurance products such as life insurance or annuities. This creates potential conflicts of interest, but the firm is still bound by its fiduciary duty to always act in the best interest of its clients.

Fees for investment management services tend to fall between 1% and 2% of your invested assets. For financial planning services, the firm charges either a negotiable hourly fee or a negotiable fixed fee. The firm doesn’t specify an account minimum.

Secure Asset Management Background

Secure Asset Management was founded in 2007 by Bryan Spencer. Spencer is the sole owner and also holds the title of president.

The firm offers asset management, financial planning, consulting for retirement plans and outside advisor selection. Naturally, some of these services will lend themselves more to certain types of clients than others.

Secure Asset Management Investment Strategy

Secure Asset Management uses fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis to determine if a security is worthy of a spot within a client’s portfolio. Its advisors will take a look at factors like a company’s balance sheet, return on equity, historical financial performance and the overall financial and economic environment.

The firm uses each client’s long-term investing goals, time horizon, liquidity needs, comfort with risk and other financial factors to come up with a proper risk tolerance and asset allocation for their portfolio. Advisors may use long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading, short sales, margin transactions and option writing. 

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William Mack & Associates offers fee-only advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans. 

A minimum portfolio size of $250,000 is typically required for new clients. Some of the firm's team members hold professional designations such as certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA), certified fund specialist (CFS) and financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP).

Fees for investment management services tend to fall between 0.60% and 1.00% of your assets under management (AUM). The firm also offers hourly-based financial planning services. 

William Mack & Associates Background

William Mack & Associates was founded in 1992 by William Mack. Mack owns 80% of the firm to this day, while continuing to serve as president. Theodore Karl Bugenski, the firm’s vice president and chief compliance officer (CCO), owns the remaining 20%.

The firm provides investment management services on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. It also offers financial planning services as part of its investment management program, though they’re also available as a standalone service.

William Mack & Associates Investment Philosophy

William Mack & Associates customizes its investment strategy to each client, factoring in their risk tolerance, cash flow needs, timeline until retirement and overall investment goals. The firm has six primary investment strategies, ranging from conservative to aggressive growth. Typically, the firm will recommend no-load mutual funds, cash and cash equivalents, fixed income securities, U.S. stocks with small, mid and large capitalizations, as well as international stocks. 

The firm primarily uses fundamental analysis to determine if a security fits in its overall plans. This may involve examining companies’ balance sheets, return on equity, historical financial performance overviews and the overall financial and economic environment. Technical analysis may also be used. 

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Isto Advisors is a fee-based firm with multiple financial advisors on staff. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Isto may oversee securities transactions or sell insurance products that generate commissions on top of the advisory fees you pay. While this creates the potential for conflicts of interest, the firm still has to abide by its fiduciary duty to always act in your best interest. The team at Isto includes the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) designations.

For wealth management services, the firm charges a percentage of your assets under management (AUM) that can range from 0.50% to 2.00%. Financial planning fees are typically charged on either an hourly or flat-rate basis. These, however, won’t exceed $1,000 or between $100 and $50,000, respectively.

Comprehensive wealth management clients will receive individualized investment advice, while financial planning and consulting clients are given generalized advice. A minimum of $500,000 in investable assets is required to subscribe to wealth management services, although this amount is negotiable.

Isto Advisors Background

Isto Advisors was established in 2016. The firm’s owners are Fisher Financial Partners, Inc. and FlipSide Consulting, LLC.

The firm provides clients with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning and investment consulting services. Additionally, the firm offers consulting for retirement plans.

Isto Advisors Investment Strategy

Isto Advisors invests in a wide range of securities to construct its client portfolios, provided that these investments fit in with your risk tolerance and overall investment goals. These could include stocks, warrants, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), fixed-income securities, corporate debt, commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, private placements, pooled investment vehicles, unit investment trusts, structured products, options, fixed annuities, non-security insurance products and non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs).

The firm also prioritizes asset allocation over individual security selection when constructing client portfolios. To determine the proper asset allocation, advisors will consider the client’s risk tolerance, investment goals, cash flow needs, time horizon and other unique factors.

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Baron Wealth Management, the next firm on our Troy list, primariyl works with individual clients both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. Baron also provides services to pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates and charitable organizations, as well as corporations or other business entities.

Baron is a fee-based firm, meaning some advisors may earn commissions through certain transactions on top of the advisory fees you pay. While this practice creates potential conflicts of interest, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to always act in its clients’ best interests.

Wealth management fees can come in the form of a fixed charge or a percentage of your AUM. The firm's wealth management service is paid as an annual retainer that ranges from $5,000 to $120,000, depending on the size of your account and the complexity of your personal situation. The exact calculation of your fees will be laid out at the outset of your relationship with the firm.

Baron Wealth Management Background

Baron Wealth Management was established in Troy in 2010. Its principal owner is Beth A. Zilka, who also serves as the firm’s managing member and chief compliance officer (CCO). Zilka has a master’s degree in business administration (MBA).

Baron provides comprehensive wealth management services, which include both financial planning and investment management. Additionally, the firm offers consulting for situations that don’t require ongoing management. Occasionally, the firm will also hold educational workshops or seminars.

Baron Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Baron subscribes to modern portfolio theory (MPT) which emphasizes asset diversification to maximize return for a given level of risk. The firm seeks to establish a specific risk tolerance for each client’s portfolio and then optimize return based on that distinction.

The firm takes into account that every client will have differing requirements, so it tailors its investment strategy to your liquidity needs, time horizon and financial goals. The firm takes these factors and uses them to create an asset allocation and investment strategy that’s best equipped to produce success over the long term.

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City Center Advisors is a fee-based advisory firm that primarily works with individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. However, the firm also serves high-net-worth individuals and businesses. City Center requires a minimum account size of just $25,000. 

Some members of the City Center team are also licensed insurance agents who earn commissions when selling certain products and services. This represents a potential conflict of interest because they have a financial incentive to recommend certain products and services over others. However, the firm is a fiduciary and must always act in its clients' best interests. 

The City Center team include certified finanancial professionals who hold the chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), accredited portfolio management advisor (APMA) and registered financial consultant (RFC) designations. 

City Center Advisors Background

Founded in April 2015, City Center Advisors was formerly known as Keystone Financial Partners, Inc. David Joel Hardin II, Kyle McCauley and David Joel Hardin each own 31.66% of the firm, while Frank Endris owns 5%.

City Center offers asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services and seminars. 

City Center Advisors Investment Strategy

Like many other firms, City Center tailors its investment strategies to the needs of their clients, taking into account their stated investment objectives. When it comes time to invest and manage client assets, the firm may us long-term purchases (assets that are bought and held for over a year) short-term purchases (assets that are held for less than a year), trading (assets that are bought and sold within 30 days) and option writing to do so. 

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Arbor Wealth Advisors has been an investment advisor since 2013. Its client base is almost entirely made up of high-net-worth individuals, save for a few individual clients without a high net worth. 

Arbor Wealth Advisors calculates advisory fees on an annual retainer basis, but invoices on a quarterly basis. These fixed fees will be between $8,000 and $50,000, depending on the complexity of your situation. For financial planning services, the firm will charge an hourly rate of $300.

Arbor Wealth Advisors Background

Arbor Wealth Advisors was formed in 2013 by its sole owner, Aaron R. Andreas. Andreas is the firm’s only advisor, and he has more than a decade of experience advising clients. In addition to his work with Arbor, Andreas is also a co-founder of Baron Wealth Management.

Arbor provides fee-only investment management, financial planning and consulting services to its clients. Investment management services are typically discretionary, and financial planning services are provided on an hourly basis.

Arbor Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Arbor’s investment approach is grounded in the belief that markets are efficient over the long term. The firm, applying the tenets of modern portfolio theory, seeks to optimize each client’s portfolio for their particular level of risk. This is done by constructing a diverse allocation of asset classes, typically through the use of passively managed, asset class mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The firm may also invest in fixed-income instruments or funds to help adjust the risk level of a portfolio.

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MKD Wealth Coaches has been providing investment advice to clients in the Troy area since 2006. Its current clients are a combination of individuals, high-net-worth individuals and pension and profit-sharing plans. It also offers works with trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and business entities. MKD Wealth Coaches is a fee-based firm, and the minimum to become a client is $500,000.

Some MKD advisors are separately licensed to sell insurance products such as annuities and life insurance, which may generate commissions on top of the fees you pay. This creates a potential conflict of interest, but keep in mind that the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in the best interest of its clients.

The firm's advisory team includes one certified financial planner (CFP), one chartered life underwriter (CLU) and one chartered financial consultant (ChFC).

Asset management fees are based on a percentage of your portfolio’s market value. These rates can vary up to 1.75%. Financial planning services may be accompanied by a fixed fee or an hourly fee. If fixed, the fee will range from $1,000 to $50,000, while hourly fees fall somewhere between $200 and $500.

MKD Wealth Coaches Background

MKD Wealth Coaches was founded in December 2006. The firm has three equal owners: John Dankovich, Joseph Mackey and Nathan Bohannon.

The firm provides financial planning and consulting services to its clients, along with discretionary investment management. MKD also offers advisory services regarding annuity products, individual bonds, employer-sponsored retirement plan accounts and 529 accounts.

MKD Wealth Coaches Investment Strategy

MKD Wealth Coaches may recommend a plethora of securities, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds (held directly or held within variable annuities, life insurance products or employer retirement plans), exchange-traded funds (ETFs), municipal securities, options contracts, futures contracts and other types of investments.

The firm creates and maintains several model portfolios that each stick to varying volatility levels. Depending on a client’s tolerance for risk, time until retirement, cash flow needs and other factors, the firm will put together a personalized asset allocation that makes the most sense by drawing from one of these models and tailoring it as needed.

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Confidential Management Advisors has been an investment advisor in Troy since 1988. Its clients include only individuals and high-net-worth individuals, although it doesn’t impose any sort of account minimum.

The firm is fee-based, meaning that in addition to client fees, some advisors may earn commissions through conducting securities transactions or selling insurance products. Although this creates potential conflicts of interests, the firm must act in your best interests according to its fiduciary duty.

Confidential Management Advisors charges its investment management fees as a percentage of your AUM that can range from 1.00% to 1.50%. For financial planning services, the firm will typically charge a fixed fee with a maximum rate of $5,500. All fees are negotiable at the discretion of the firm.

Confidential Management Advisors Background

Confidential Management Advisors was formed in 1988, and it’s owned and controlled by John Noonan and Craig Adams. Noonan and Adams also serve as the firm’s two advisors, though information regarding their certifications isn’t currently available.

Confidential Management Advisors’ premier service is investment supervisory. It also offers financial planning through what it terms “Personal Resource Management (PRM) Executive Summary & Guidebook” reports. These analyze your personal financial situation and forecast how difficult it could be for you to reach your long-term goals.

Confidential Management Advisors Investment Strategy

Confidential Management Advisors employs fundamental analysis when it comes to evaluating securities, as well as technical and charting analysis. Fundamental analysis is the attempt to discern a company’s intrinsic economic value by analyzing things like its balance sheet, management and other financial documents rather than focusing only on the movement of its stock price.

Technical analysis involves studying past price patterns and trends in the financial markets to predict the direction of both the overall market and specific stocks. Charting analysis involves the gathering and processing of price and volume information for a particular security. This price and volume information is then analyzed using mathematical equations. 

The firm typically advises clients on equity securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, investment company securities, U.S. government securities and more. When determining how to allocate across asset classes, the firm tailors its approach to each client’s goals, timeline and risk tolerance.

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Miller Capital, the 10th and final firm on our Troy list, has been an investment advisor in Michigan since 1999. Its clients include individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses. The firm also offers services to retirement plans, charitable organizations, trusts, estates and endowments. The firm does not have a minimum initial investment stipulation.

Miller Capital is a fee-only advisory firm, so its advisors do not sell financial products for commissions. For investment management clients, the firm charges fees as a percentage of your AUM. This percentage will vary between 0.30% and 0.85%, depending on the size of your account and what your assets are invested in. For financial planning services, the firm will charge a fixed, annual fee that’s negotiable.

Miller Capital Background

Miller Capital was formed just before the new millennium, and it’s owned and controlled by founder Mark A. Miller. Miller also serves as the firm’s president and only advisor. He has a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and he’s also a chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Miller Capital provides discretionary investment management, non-discretionary investment advice and wealth management services to its clients. Wealth management might involve financial planning, although the firm doesn’t typically use the term “financial planning” to describe what it does.

Miller Capital Investment Strategy

Miller Capital primarily employs fundamental analysis when it comes to evaluating securities. Fundamental analysis is the attempt to discern a company’s intrinsic economic value in relation to its price. The firm will do this by examining financial documents and other publicly available information, as well as overall financial and economic indicators.

The firm begins the creation of your portfolio by meeting with you and establishing your investment goals, preferences, liquidity needs, risk tolerance and any other pertinent information. With these factors in hand, the firm will formulate an asset allocation that best sets you up for long-term success.