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The Top Financial Advisors in Erie, PA

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This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Erie, Pennsylvania 

If you're seeking a financial advisor in Erie, Pennsylvania, we can help. SmartAsset's financial experts dug into the data and fine print to find the top registered investment advisors (RIAs) serving the area. For more options, use our advisor matching tool. It will connect with up to three advisors who serve your area.  

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Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed Minimum Assets Financial Services More Information
1 HBKS Wealth Advisors HBKS Wealth Advisors logo Find an Advisor

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$4,991,756,194 No set account minimum
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting

Minimum Assets

No set account minimum

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
2 Wedgewood Investors Inc Wedgewood Investors Inc logo Find an Advisor

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$216,242,677 No set account minimum
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension-consulting services

Minimum Assets

No set account minimum

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension-consulting services
3 Robbins Wealth Management Robbins Wealth Management logo Find an Advisor

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$181,764,246 $300,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$300,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

What We Use in Our Methodology

To find the top financial advisors in Erie, 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:

  • AUM
    Firms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
  • Individual Client Count
    Firms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
  • Clients Per Advisor
    Firms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
  • Age of Firm
    Firms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
  • Fee Structure
    Firms with a fee-only (as opposed to fee-based) compensation structure 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.

HBKS Wealth Advisors

HBKS Wealth Advisors tops our list of the best financial advisor firms in Erie, Pennsylvania. While HBKS employs advisors across the country, its Erie team includes eight certified financial planners (CFPs), a certified public accountant, an accredited investment advisor fiduciary (AIAF), a certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), and other finantial certifications. 

This is the only fee-based firm on the list, but it does not set an account minimum. The firm may earn sales commissions from third-party financial companies. This may incentivize advisors to recommend certain products over others, which can create a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is required by law to provide services solely in the best interest of the client. 

HBKS Wealth Advisors Background 

Founded in 2001, HBKS Wealth Advisors is owned by HBKSorce Holdings LLC, which in turn is majority-owned by Hill, Barth & King Financial Holdings, LLC. In addition to investment management services, the firm provides financial planning advice on such topics as: 

  • Retirement savings
  • Estate planning
  • Education funding
  • Income tax planning 

HBKS Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy 

HBKS Wealth Advisors designs portfolios based on the risk and financial profile of the client. It may also recommend proprietary investment model portfolios. These portfolios may invest in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), equity and debt securities, annuities and insurance contracts, as well as alternative investments. Depending on your situation, the firm may engage in either short selling or long selling. 

Wedgewood Investors Inc

Wedgewood Investors is a fee-only firm that screens potential clients before deciding whether to provide advisory services. The firm primarily works with individuals, families, charitable organizations and corporate retirement plans. Most of its clients are high-net-worth individuals.

Wedgewood doesn’t set an account minimum and it operates on a fee-only basis. This means its only compensation comes from its clients. The firm doesn’t sell securities or receive commissions for investing client assets in the products of other financial institutions. 

Wedgewood Investors Background 

Wedgewood Investors was founded in 1984. The firm's owner and portfolio manager Daniel J. Teed have been in the investment industry since the 1990s. According to its Form ADV, Wedgewood provides financial planning services but focuses on investment management. It offers options ranging from aggressive equity accounts to very conservative fixed U.S. government security accounts.

Wedgewood Investors Investment Strategy 

Wedgewood Investors examines market conditions, the strength of the economy, and the movement of interest rates before making investment decisions. When analyzing equities, the firm selects industries it expects will benefit from current and projected market trends. The firm then chooses companies in these industries based on factors like underlying stock value. 

When evaluating fixed-income investments, the firm considers the prospects of inflation and interest movements. The team also considers factors like the yield curve and credit risk. These advisors then select fixed-income securities based on the client's tax situation, income objectives, and risk tolerance. 

A fixed income portfolio may invest in money market instruments, U.S. government, and agency securities, corporate and municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and preferred stocks.

Robbins Wealth Management

Robbins Wealth Management completes our list with a team that includes one certified financial planner (CFP) and one chartered financial analyst (CFA). For investment advisory services, you’d generally need a minimum account size of $300,000. You can have an account worth less than that, but you'll still pay a minimum fee of $3,000. The firm primarily works with individuals, both with and without high net worths. 

Advisors here work on a fee-only basis, so their compensation comes solely from fees charged to clients. They don’t earn commissions from third parties such as mutual fund companies or insurance firms. They don’t sell their own financial products either. 

Robbins Wealth Management Background 

Robbins Wealth Management, which also goes by Robbins Financial Advisory Service, was formed in 1990. Its principal owners are James H. Robbins and Janice K. Robbins. The firm's three-person advisory team has more than a combined 50 years of experience in the investment advisory space. 

Advisors provide both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, as well as retirement planning programs. Additionally, these professionals can provide advice on tax and estate planning matters.

Robbins Wealth Management Investment Strategy

The investment team designs portfolios based on the long-term goals and risk tolerance of clients. It primarily builds these portfolios with equity securities, mutual funds and ETFs. But because Robbins Financial specializes in non-discretionary services, the client has the final say on investment choices. Clients may place restrictions on certain securities.

How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research