Finding it hard to increase your investment returns? Getting stressed about where to invest your hard-earned money? Whether you want to secure your family’s future or plan a risk-free retirement, finding a good financial advisor in a populated state like Pennsylvania can be a grueling task. That's why you need to know about the best financial advisors in Pennsylvania.
With our financial advisor’s guide, it doesn’t have to be as stressful. Our list of financial advisors are prescreened with SEC and FINRA registrations and listed under advisory firms and associations in Pennsylvania. These financial firms provide smart solutions to manage your money effectively, helping you achieve the financial freedom you deserve.
Quick Look at the Best Financial Advisors in Pennsylvania:
- Best for Asset Management Services: CooksonPeirce Wealth Management
- Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
- Best for Investment and Asset Management: Fort Pitt Capital Group
- Best Mobile App: Betterment
- Best for Wealth Management Services: Fragasso Financial Advisors
- Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
- Best for Individual Portfolio Management: Hunter Associates
- Best for Investment Management Services: Xpyria Investment Advisors Inc.
- Best for Financial Planning: Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors
- Best Runner-up for Financial Planning: HBKS Wealth Advisors
Best for Asset Management Services: CooksonPeirce Wealth Management
CooksonPeirce is one of the oldest financial advisors with many years of experience in the sector. Its focus is mainly driven toward high net-worth individuals, although it serves endowments, trusts and foundations. Formed in 1984, CooksonPeirce is a fee-only firm having 1 chartered financial analyst (CFA), 1 chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and 4 certified financial planners (CFPs).
The boutique firm is privately owned and has 3 primary owners and 3 minority owners. CooksonPeirce’s simple management strategy is to rely on a quantitative approach when it comes to money management by listening “to the numbers” and following the mantra of “simply don’t lie.”
Besides the asset management services, its portfolio also includes advice on tax, financial and retirement planning.
- Customizable Auto Investing
Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
M1 Finance is one of the most versatile and innovative robo-advisors with a well-performing investment portfolio that gives you, its client, the benefit of predesigned and high level customization that is hard to find. Its service is free — you don’t need to furnish an amount of initial deposits or show minimum account balances.
If you’re unsure about how to start building your investment portfolio, you want to give M1 Finance a try. Use its unique pies and charts to help you create your custom portfolio easily. With its beginner-friendly approach, you can easily make a diverse investment portfolio with $0 charges and enjoy a great mobile app as a complementary web trader benefit.
Best for Investment and Asset Management: Fort Pitt Capital Group
Fort Pitt is a full-service financial advisor founded in 2015. With its personalized portfolio management for individuals and its institutional-quality portfolio management for corporations, nonprofits and foundations, Fort Pitt focuses on high net-worth accounts — all with personal emphasis.
The firm provides a fee-based service and its founding partners, Theodore Bovard and Michael Blehar, are also licensed insurance agents. Fort Pitt Capital boasts 3 investment strategies for its clients: stock strategy, bond strategy and asset allocation strategy.
While stock strategy takes care of your stocks aiming to “provide a realistic but competitive investment return through a complete market cycle,” bond strategy serves clients who are close to retirement aiming to ensure the longevity of clients’ financial capital. Asset allocation is more geared to ensure clients can maximize their returns on a long-term, strategic basis.
- ETF Investors
Best Mobile App: Betterment
With over a 300,000 client base, Betterment is one of the most popular and widely used financial advisor on-the-go app helping you save money by long-term investment. The firm is a FINRA member and provides financial services, portfolio management, asset management and trust services to its client base. Founded by Jon Stein, a Columbia Business School graduate, the New York City-based advisor provides business in retail investment, financial advising and a 401(k) for businesses that are mid-market employers.
It has a $0 minimum deposit and its annual management fee starts at 0.25%. The firm’s broader product offerings include goal-oriented investing advice, IRAs, auto-deposit and portfolio customization, for which it has removed the minimum account size which was initially $100,000.
Best for Wealth Management Services: Fragasso Financial Advisors
Fragasso Financial is one of the oldest firms in Pennsylvania serving mainly individual clients rather than high net-worth accounts. The firm has an organized approach to build its clients’ financial portfolios by creating an Investment Policy Statement and guidelines that clearly outline financial objectives and portfolio management strategies. This process serves as the first step in building a successful client relationship.
The firm has a dedicated team that includes a portfolio manager, a financial advisor and an administrative specialist for each client. It boasts of 2 chartered financial analyst (CFA) certifications, 8 certified financial planner (CFP) certifications and 15 accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) certifications.
- High Net Worth Individuals
Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
Personal Capital is an online financial advisor that provides expert advice while creating an investment portfolio and relies on its automated MPT system. Its minimum deposit is $25,000 for all its accounts and serves more medium- to high-income earners. Depending on the asset it manages, it charges a high management fee ranging between 0.49% and 0.89% annually.
However, it has a dedicated customer support team and also assigns human experts who offer investment advice better than most automated robots.
Best for Individual Portfolio Management: Hunter Associates
The best feature of Hunter Associates is that it offers no account minimum, which gives the firm an edge over others. Being in the finance business since 1992, the firm has built a successful portfolio serving both high net-worth institutions and individuals, the latter being the greater percentage of its client base. The company is fee-based and boasts 2 CFAs, 3 CFPs, 8 AIFs along with 1 CPA and 1 accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA).
Financial advisors also work as representatives of insurance companies — broker-dealers — and are legally responsible to put the clients’ best interests first.
The firm typically takes a 2-step process to secure better investment strategies for its clients. It creates individual investment policies, which serves as a general portfolio for clients balancing risk and reward assessment. Secondly, it focuses on selecting security parameters using its research tools. The firm’s client-based approach has earned them much acclaim as a sound financial planner in Pittsburgh.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- MANAGER OF MANAGERS
Address
436 SEVENTH AVENUE KOPPERS BUILDING, 27TH FLOORPITTSBURGH PA, 15219-1818
Phone number
412-471-4191
Best for Investment Management Services: Xpyria Investment Advisors Inc.
Xpyria has served individuals, charitable organizations, pension plans and corporations since 1990. The fee-only firm has 6 advisors including 1 CFA, 1 certified financial planner CFP and 2 chartered financial consultants (ChFCs). Its investment management services include financial planning, analyzing cash flow and customized retirement planning by creating an effective wealth plan for its clients.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Publication of periodicals or newsletters
Address
THREE GATEWAY CENTER, SUITE 550 401 LIBERTY AVENUEPITTSBURGH PA, 15222-1004
Phone number
412-232-3310
Financial Planning: Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors
Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Conrad Siegel is a fee-only firm serving mostly individuals including a large number of non high-net worth ones. The firm also serves institutions, such as corporations, state or municipal government entities, charitable organizations and insurance companies.
Most of the firm’s investments include mutual funds and stocks that make up a small percentage of its overall assets. The company boasts a low-cost orientation geared toward value and serves more individuals with its multiple services including consulting, financial planning, educational services and investment management.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- 401(K) PARTICIPANT CONSULTING AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Address
501 CORPORATE CIRCLE HARRISBURG PA, 17110
Phone number
(717) 652-5633
Financial Planning: HBKS Wealth Advisors
Founded in 2001, HBKS advisors have 12 offices across the country including in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Western New York. The firm works with a holistic, family-oriented philosophy by treating its clients as neighbors and friends.
Approximately 75% of its clients do not have a high net worth. The fact that HBKS operates as a family-oriented business, it believes in knowing its clients well and engaging in thoughtful discussions about their financial future in these challenging times. This personalized service sets the firm apart from others in the business. Services include financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, education services, income tax planning and protection planning.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Publication of periodicals or newsletters
Address
ZUCK ROAD OFFICE PARK 5121 ZUCK ROADERIE PA, 16506
Phone number
814-836-5776
Make a Smart Choice — Hire a Financial Advisor Today
New to money investment plans or seeking serious advice to secure your financial future, having a qualified financial advisor help you is a smart move. Especially in today’s uncertain economy and contant market fluctuation, you don’t want to be on your own. Planning now will save you more money later when you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which certifications should my financial planner have?
Ideally, you should look for a financial planner with certifications like CFP and CFA along with a personal financial specialist (PFS). Besides, having these certifications, your financial advisor should have a proven track record of competency in the financial sector.
Can financial advisors help with debt?
Yes! Financial advisors are experts in handling your financial investments and it includes debt, loans and managing assets. Your financial advisor can help you with your budget and guide you to set up a debt repayment plan to accelerate the repayment process of your debt.
Can I talk to a financial advisor for free?
Financial advisor apps can help you get a financial consultation for free. If you set up a robo-advisor account you may be able to get financial advice for free.
Methodology
To determine the top financial advisors in Pennsylvania we pored through all SEC-registered advisory firms who have an office in Pennsylvania. To winnow down the list we only included advisors who are registered fiduciaries, have no past disclosures and have minimal personal conflicts of interest. To further break down the list to top advisors in the area, we gave weight to advisors that offer both investment management and planning, have no conflicts of interest, most have offices in multiple states, have a wrap fee program and over $50 million in assets under management.
About Luke Jacobi
Luke Jacobi is a distinguished professional known for his role as President at Benzinga, a renowned financial media outlet. With a background in business operations and management, Luke brings valuable expertise to his position, overseeing various aspects of Benzinga’s operations. His contributions play a crucial role in the company’s success, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness across different departments. Prior to his role at Benzinga, Luke has held positions that have honed his skills in leadership and strategic decision-making. With a keen understanding of the financial industry and a commitment to driving innovation, Luke continues to make significant contributions to Benzinga’s mission of providing high-quality financial news and analysis.