Top Financial Advisors in Williamsville, NY

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With nearly 3,000 clients, WNY Asset Management has one of the largest client bases on this list. As a direct result of this, it has the most assets under management (AUM). Non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and corporations all work with the firm.

WNY Asset Management provides a range of services, including investment advisory, financial planning, consulting and educational seminars or workshops on occasion. The firm doesn’t impose any sort of minimum account size.

WNY is a fee-based firm, meaning its advisors may earn commissions on top of standard advisory fees, either through certain securities transactions or the sale of insurance products. While this may create a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in its clients' best interests.

WNY Asset Management Background

WNY Asset Management was founded in 2000, and it’s currently owned by partners John Anthony Pieroni, Robert Anthony Castiglione II and Ronald Marc Lojacono. The firm employs a handful of advisors, which include certified financial planners (CFPs) certified public accountants (CPAs), chartered life underwriters (CLUs) and registered financial consultants (RFCs).

Fees for wealth management services are percentage-based, ranging from 0.85% to 1.30% of your AUM, depending on the value of your assets. Financial planning services come with either a fixed fee between $600 and $30,000 or an hourly fee between $150 and $350.

WNY Asset Management Investment Philosophy

WNY Asset Management primarily uses individual equities, bonds and other fixed-income securities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) when constructing client portfolios. The firm maintains four different mutual fund asset allocation programs that range in risk level from conservative to aggressive.

When determining the proper asset allocation for each client, the firm will consider a range of factors specific to that client. These can include their investing goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, current investments, cash flow needs and specific investing preferences.

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Independent Solutions Wealth Management, founded in 2008, offers diverse investment opportunities and decades of experience. The minimum account requirements vary depending on what service you're receiving. The firm, which is fee-based, also has an Asset Management Alliance strategic partnership. ISWM also works with those who are mostly non-high-net-worth individuals while also serving high-net-worth individuals, corporations or businesses and real estate investment trusts.

Independent Solutions Wealth Management Background

Independent Solutions Wealth Management was co-founded in 2008 by Glen Wiggle, Mike Lomas, and Daniel Neiman. The firm offers strategic investment options that are individualized for the investor. 

In addition, the firm has grown to offer mutual fund and ETF portfolio management services, stock portfolio management, third-party manager selection, financial plan creation, tactical portfolio management and small account models. 

Independent Solutions Wealth Management Investing Strategy

Independent Solutions holds true to its name in effort by trying to match the investment strategy to the goals of the individual. Every investment decision is managed by the overall investment committee with a combined 180 years of investing experience. The firm's investment strategy includes: 

• Stocks
• Bonds
• Mutual Funds
• ETFs
• SMAs

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NorthCape Wealth Management is a fee-only investment firm with over $500 million in assets under management. That number is even more impressive considering the firm was founded in 2021. It's quickly made a name for itself in the area by offering investment services that puts the individual investor in the driver's seat. The firm works with those who are non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and corporations or other businesses. 

NorthCape Wealth Management Background

NorthCape has only been around since 2021, when it was founded by Erik O'Neill and Patrick Markey. The firm is still awaiting the opening of its new office space in Williamsville. The firm is family-focused with a goal to help its clients achieve big moments in their lives like raising a family, sending their kids to college or retiring and traveling the world. The firm is named after the Northcape in Norway, which in Norwegian folklore is often referred to as the "convergence of all journeys," which the firm believes to be its goal for its clients. 

NorthCape Wealth Management Investment Philosophy

NorthCape, which generally requires a minimum of $500,000 in investable assets, takes a combination of active and passive strategies to create a diverse allocation of assets. Primarily, the firm targets publicly traded securities to do so, such as: 

• Stocks
• Bonds
• ETFs
• Mutual funds
• SMPs

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Ogorek Wealth Management has been providing investment advice in Williamsville for more than two decades. The firm employs a small team of advisors and works with non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations.

The firm specializes in fee-only investment advisory services, financial planning and consulting. New clients are generally required to have $500,000 in investable assets. However, the firm may decide to waive this minimum at its discretion.

Ogorek Wealth Management Background

Ogorek Wealth Management was founded in 2001 by Anthony Ogorek, who is still the firm’s principal owner today. Among the firm’s advisors, there are certified financial planners (CFP), chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

Fees for investment advisory services are based on a percentage of client assets that can range from 0.65% to 0.95%. The specific percentage may be negotiable for larger accounts. For financial planning and consulting services, the firm doesn’t typically charge a separate fee, as it instead wraps it into the investment advisory charge.

Ogorek Wealth Management Investing Philosophy

Ogorek Wealth Management generally recommends that clients invest in a combination of individual stocks, bonds or other fixed-income instruments, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The firm will base how long it intends to hold on to its investments on factors specific to each client.

The firm begins the portfolio creation process by working with each client to establish a target asset allocation. The client’s financial objectives, comfort level with investing risk, age, income and other factors will all coalesce to best inform the firm on the most appropriate way to divvy up the client’s asset between securities.

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Emergent Wealth Advisors has been doing business in Williamsville since 2011. The firm serves roughly 280 clients, with its client base being entirely made up of non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm doesn’t typically impose an account minimum.

Emergent offers asset management, retirement plan advising, financial planning and consulting services to its clients. Additionally, the firm provides access to multiple externally managed investment programs.

Some advisory employees at this firm may sell insurance products or securities on a commission basis. Although this represents a potential conflict of interest, the firm is bound by its fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests.

Emergent Wealth Advisors Background

Emergent Wealth Advisors was founded in 2011. The firm is equally owned by chief compliance officer (CCO) Nicholas J. Efthemis and lead wealth advisor Charles E. Hanny. The firm has several certified financial planners (CFPs), while Efthemis is also a chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS), Hanny is a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) and the firm also has chartered financial consultants (ChFCs).

Emergent formulates investment management fees as a percentage of assets under management (AUM), with specific percentages ranging up to 1.50%. Where you fall within this spectrum will depend on the market value of your assets, although clients with more than $3 million in assets have the opportunity to negotiate a new percentage. Financial planning fees are negotiable and charged as a flat fee that won’t exceed $7,500.

Emergent Wealth Advisors Investment Philosophy

Emergent Wealth Advisors approaches each new investing process through a prism informed by the individual client. To formulate a proper asset allocation for each client, the firm’s advisors will examine the client’s investing goals and objectives, comfort with risk, timeline until retirement and other factors. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds are the primary investment vehicles used, but the firm may also invest in individual stocks and bonds to a lesser extent.

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Florian Financial Group is tied for the fewest advisors of any firm on this list. A fee-only firm, it works more than 250 clients. These clients include non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans and charitable organizations. 

Florian Financial Group offers portfolio management and financial planning, as well as consulting for retirement plans. The firm does not maintain a minimum asset requirement.

Florian Financial Group Background

Florian Financial Group first opened its doors in 1997, making it the oldest firm on this list. The firm is principally owned by founder Robert Michael Florian, who also serves as the firm’s only advisor. Florian is a certified financial planner (CFP), a certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered life underwriter (CLU).

The firm charges a percentage-based fee for individual portfolio management, and the exact rate can range from 0.50% and 1.20%, depending on the value of your assets. Financial planning fees can vary depending on exactly what services are being performed, but it should fall between $500 and $2,000.

Florian Financial Group Investment Philosophy

Florian Financial Group typically invests in no-load stock mutual funds, no-load fixed-income mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). To a lesser extent, the firm may also include individual stocks, corporate debt securities, money market funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities and government securities when constructing client portfolios. 

Before deciding on any specific investments, the firm will look to establish a client’s objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon. With these considerations in mind, the firm will assign the client one of five broad asset allocation strategies: defensive, conservative balanced, balanced, equity-tilted balanced and equity. Each of these strategies include weighted portions of equity securities and fixed-income securities. Once a model is chosen, the firm will tailor it further to match the client, and the allocation will be continuously monitored and adjusted to best take advantage of economic conditions.

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Buffalo First Wealth Management is a fee-based firm that's headquartered in northern Williamsville. The firm works almost entirely with individuals, with non-high-net-worth clients far outnumbering their high-net-worth counterparts. Institutional clients of the firm include investment companies, pension plans and insurance companies. The firm does not have a minimum investment requirement.

Certain advisors at Buffalo First can sell insurance products on a commission basis. Although this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty means it must act in clients' best interests.

Buffalo First Wealth Management Background

Buffalo First Wealth Management was founded in 2013 by Kevin R. Connolly. Connolly still owns the firm today, along with chief operating officer (COO) and vice president Allen Dembski.

Custom portfolio management is the hallmark offering of this firm. Financial planning services are also available, and they can cover retirement planning, college planning credit and debt planning and more.

Buffalo First Wealth Management Investing Strategy

Buffalo First Wealth Management will work with clients at the dawn of their relationship to come up with an investment policy statement (IPS). This will detail important factors, like your risk tolerance, time horizon, liqudity needs and financial goals. Based on this, a custom asset allocation will be built for you.

Generally speaking, this firm tends to invest in some combination of equities, fixed-income securities, mutual funds, ETFs, hedge funds and annuities. As your portfolio ages, your firm will monitor and potentially even rebalance your asset allocation.

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Cambridge Advisors is the second-to-last entry on our list, and it's also one of the smallest. The firm works with a mix of around 50 non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans and welfare benefit plans. 

Cambridge focuses on portfolio management, model portfolio management, separately managed account programs, financial planning and retirement plan consulting.

Cambridge is fee-based, as its sole advisor is licensed to sell insurance products and may receive commissions for doing so. While this creates the potential for a conflict of interest, the firm is also bound by fiduciary duty to always act in the best interests of its clients.

Cambridge Advisors Background

Cambridge Advisors first opened up shop in 2011. Its founder is also its president and only advisor, Scott M. McCarthy. Investment management fees will usually be charged as a percentage of your assets under management. The exact rate you’ll pay will be between 0.50% and 1.20%, depending on the size of your account. Financial planning services are covered under this schedule as well.

Cambridge Advisors Investment Philosophy

Asset allocation is key to the investment process at Cambridge Advisors, as the firm believes that this has much more to do with long-term investing success than individual security selection. Generally, Cambridge approaches constructing client portfolios with a long-term perspective, as the firm doesn’t believe in market timing. The firm may still purchase investments with the intent to sell within a year, however, either due to market circumstances or for the purposes of rebalancing.

Clients with a lower risk tolerance will invest in a more conservative allocation that prioritizes stability over growth, and clients with more aggressive goals will receive a more equity-heavy portfolio.

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Shield Wealth Advisors works with a very specific group of clients: New York State police officers and firefighters. The firm's primary service is helping these clients plan for retirement through their pension funds and other assets. The firm does not work with any institutional clients. The minimum investment needed to become a client here is $100,000.

This firm does have an advisor who is a certified financial planner (CFP). Some of the advisors at Shield Wealth can sell insurance products for a commission. While this poses a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in your best interest.

Shield Wealth Advisors Background

Shield Wealth Advisors was created in just 2020. John W. Haberstro is the principal owner.

As we state above, Shield Wealth primarily offers retirement planning and investment management services to members of the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS).

Shield Wealth Advisors Investing Strategy

Shield Wealth Advisors tailors all of its advisory services to the needs of each specific client. This involves accounting for their risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and financial goals. The firm will reach out to you on at least an annual basis to determine if any of the aforementioned factors have changed, in which case your portfolio plan will need to be updated.

Like most advisor firms, Shield Wealth has a selection of investments that it typically uses. These include ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, options and more.

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Lincoln Sparrow takes a personal approach to investing its clients' assets, aiming to better know and understand your needs, wants and long-term goals. The firm is a better fit for those wanting a long-term relationship so that plans, such as paying for your kids' college down the road, can be realized. The firm works mostly with those who are high-net-worth individuals compared to high-net-worth individuals.

Lincoln Sparrow Background

Lincoln Sparrow was founded by Joshua Hemis and Alan Gnoinski in 2013 because they believed there was a level of service missing in financial services. The firm has a fee-based commission structure, which means it could earn additional income on the products sold to you. However, with no set account minimum, the firm holds true to its goal of helping people achieve a better financial future. 

Lincoln Sparrow Investment Strategy

Lincoln Sparrow has an investment philosophy based on asset allocation and diversification that meets the risk tolerance of each individual investor. The firm looks at money managers via the asset allocation in each of their portfolios and matches investors with everything from very conservative to aggressive. They re-balance each investment portfolio on a bi-annual basis.