Top Financial Advisors in Akron, OH

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The first firm on our list of Akron's top financial advisory firms is Sequoia Financial Group. Sequoia is the largest firm on our list by a long shot. Sequoia works with thousands of clients, the vast majority of which are non-high-net-worth individuals. Its second-biggest client type is high-net-worth individuals. When it comes to institutional clients, the firm works with a small number of charities and other businesses.

Sequoia doesn't have a minimum account size requirement, but the firm is fee-based. This is a result of the firm's affiliation with an insurance agency, which allows advisors and the firm to receive commissions from the sale of insurance to clients. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary, legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Sequoia Financial Group Background

Sequoia Financial Group was founded in 2000, and it merged with Wealthstone Advisors in 2021. The firm became an SEC-registered investment advisor in 2002, and has had state registrations as well, though not any longer. Thomas Haught, Sequoia's president, and Gerald Knotek, chief compliance officer and executive vice president each have ownership interests in the firm.

Sequoia provides its clients with a range of investment management and financial planning services. Portfolios may be tailored, or advisors may use model portfolios.

Sequoia Financial Group Investment Strategy

Sequoia Financial Group investment strategy depends on the type of services you wish to receive. However, no matter the service, advisors look to tailor their advice and your portfolios to help clients meet their finanical goals and investment objectives. To do so, advisors may use model portfolios, which tend to be made up of combinations of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and stocks.

Advisors may also create fully custom portfolios for clients. These portfolios are more individualized that model portfolios and may be populated using stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and some private investments. Advisors use fundamental, technical and cyclical analysis to help inform investment decisions.

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Fee-only Jentner Wealth Management has a small team of advisors on staff. Most of the firm’s advisors hold a certified financial planner (CFP) designation.

Rather than impose a minimum investable asset requirement, Jentner chooses to institute a $15,000 minimum annual fee. So while the firm’s services are available to a wide range of prospective clients, the fee could be cost-prohibitive for clients with a lower net worth. For instance, if you’re only investing $100,000 with the firm, that $15,000 constitutes a 15% annual fee - well in excess of the 1%-2% fee that’s standard in the industry.

Individuals with and without and high net worth make up the vast majority of Jentner Wealth Management’s client base. The firm also maintains active accounts for pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses and charitable organizations.

Jentner Wealth Management Background

Jentner Wealth Management was founded by Chairman Bruce A. Jentner in 1984. Jentner spent more than 30 years in the financial services industry and recently passed ownership to Seth Jentner, Matthew Jentner and Daniel Bloom.

Jentner Wealth Management’s premier service is wealth management, which has two distinct parts: the “ProActive Investment Management” program and comprehensive financial planning. Here’s a breakdown of what the firm can do:

• Retirement planning
• Risk-appropriate investment allocations
• Cash flow planning
• Life transition planning
• Tax planning
• Estate planning
• Insurance and risk management

Jentner Wealth Management Investing Strategy

Jentner Wealth Management takes a safe approach to investing that looks to achieve success over the long-term. In this case, the firm is referring to time horizons that are at least several years away. The firm does recognize, though, that should market conditions shift, it may need to sell securities earlier than expected.

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Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services is the next firm on our list. This firm has a $500,000 minimum account size requirement. The firm’s client base is divided nearly evenly between individuals with and without a high net worth. Charitable organizations and insurance companies are also clients of Kohmann Bosshard.

This fee-based firm employs some advisors that can sell insurance for a commission. While such arrangements are typically considered potential conflicts of interest, the firm abides by fiduciary duty.

Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services Background

Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services was founded in 2006 by former chairman Otto Bosshard. Today, the firm is principally owned by president Dean Kohmann. Prior to its current name, this firm was called Bosshard Investment Management Co., LLC.

Most of what this firm does falls under the umbrella of either investment management or financial planning. Specific services include:

• Estate planning
• Succession planning
• Retirement planning and analysis
• College savings planning
• Asset allocation planning
• Investment objective determination

Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services Investing Strategy

In general, Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services adheres to a long-term time horizon with its investments. While it has no problem adjusting to clients’ needs, the firm tends to focus on passive investing to minimize trading costs and capital gains taxes.

Diversification is another important principle within the firm’s investment philosophy. As such, your advisor will look to diversify your assets across multiple asset classes and markets.

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True Wealth Design has a small team of advisors, and several of them hold a certified financial planner (CFP) designation. This is a fee-based firm, and its advisors may be able to earn commissions from the sale of insurance products to the firm’s clientele. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is a registered fiduciary, legally binding it to act in clients’ best interests.

True Wealth works with non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals and pension and profit-sharing plans. The minimum amount of assets to open an account varies by program.

True Wealth Design Background

Firm president Kevin Kroskey founded True Wealth Design in 2007 after spending just five years in the financial services industry. Kroskey still owns 100% of the firm’s shares.

Services you can get through True Wealth Design include:

• Tax planning
• Retirement planning
• Investment planning and management
• Estate planning
• Risk management/insurance planning
• Cash flow and debt management
• Budgeting

True Wealth Design Investing Strategy

Should you become a client of True Wealth Design, the firm will create an investment portfolio plan for you based on a few factors. For example, it will take into account your risk tolerance, time horizon, goals for the future and income/liquidity needs. Based on these specific factors, your advisor will select securities and build an appropriate asset allocation.

For the most part, True Wealth tends to stick with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. The firm also has a few portfolio models that it can customize based on your tax situation.

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Next on our list of top Akron financial advisors is Symphony Financial Services, a fee-based firm. For the most part, Symphony works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, although it also manages funds for pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses and charitable organizations. There is no stated minimum investable asset requirement to become a client of this firm.

Symphony Financial Services has a team of financial advisors with certifications such as chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified retirement counselor (CRC). Certain advisors at Symphony Financial Services may earn a commission for selling securities. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times.

Symphony Financial Services Background

Symphony Financial Services was established in 2001. Currently, firm president John Y. Kim owns all of the firm’s shares. Kim began working in the financial services industry in 1995, though he also served about a decade in the U.S. military.

There are a wide range of services at Symphony, such as:

• Investment management
• 401(k) management
• Life insurance planning
• Estate planning
• Business succession planning

Symphony Financial Services Investing Strategy

Rather than simply looking for the best possible investment returns for your stated risk tolerance, Symphony will integrate your financial plans into your portfolio’s construction. That means you and your advisor will discuss not only your risk tolerance and income needs, but also your goals and the timelines in which you wish to achieve them.

Depending on how your “investor profile” shakes out, the firm may invest your assets in a number of different types of securities. These range from mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to stocks, bonds and other private and public investments.

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Wells Trecaso Financial Group is a four-advisor firm in Akron that manages more than $400 million in assets under management (AUM). The firm works with individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities. There is no minimum account size requirement to work with the firm. 

The firm itself is a fee-based advisory firm. This means that its advisors may receive commissions for the sale of certain securities to its clients. This has the potential to create a conflict of interest but the firm must act as a fiduciary to every client. This means putting the needs of the client above their own. 

Wells Trecaso Financial Group Background

The Wells Trecaso advisory team has more than 100 years of experience in the industry. The firm was founded in 2017 by Douglas E. Wells and Ralph E. Trecaso, who both serve as Managing Directors of the firm today. The firm houses four advisors, and at least one has obtained the certified financial planner (CFP) designation. The firm's office is located in Akron.

Wells Trecaso Financial Group Investment Strategy

Wells Trecaso Financial Group believes in a boutique style of attentive personal service and a family office style of comprehensive financial planning. This means that the firm's focus goes beyond just investments to all aspects of its clients' lives that are impacted by monetary decisions. They focus on tax planning, investment planning, retirement planning, and estate planning. In order to fully meet those needs that their clients have, they must first fully understand the financial picture of that individual client. 

Each client gets a separate plan based on their individual needs and the firm keeps you informed and educated about all important financial matters throughout the relationship. The firm's basic investment strategy focuses on a fixed-income strategy based on safety first and income second. 

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EGI Financial is a fee-only financial advisor firm in northern Akron. When it comes to individual clients, EGI works with about five-times as many non-high-net-worth individuals as it does high-net-worth individuals. The firm also has services available for businesses, estates, trusts, retirement plans and charitable organizations.

The minimum at this firm varies by program. For example, EGI’s standard money management service comes with a $250,000 minimum, whereas retirement plan services call for a $500,000 minimum.

EGI Financial Background

EGI Financial was created in 1992. The firm is under the principal ownership of president and chief compliance officer (CCO) Jeffrey C. Thomas.

This firm dabbles in investment advising, financial planning, insurance services and full-service brokerage. Here’s some options the firm offers:

• Personal financial planning
• Retirement planning
• College savings planning
• Estate planning
• Annuities
• Business financial planning
• Institutional asset management
• Discretionary money management

EGI Financial Investing Strategy

EGI Financial does its own proprietary investment analysis when choosing securities for your portfolio. To ensure it’s doing this well, the firm will review companies’ strategies and management in order to evaluate their quality. In general, the firm usually looks to invest in securities that exhibit some form of recent growth.

There’s no shortage of investments that this firm will include in its analysis. That means your assets might be invested in domestic and international equities, bonds, money market funds, commodities, master limited partnerships (MLPs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), options, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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Presper Financial Architects ranks next on our list of top advisors in Akron. The majority of Presper’s client base consists of individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. It also works with families, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations and charitable organizations. The minimum you’ll need to become a client here is $25,000.

As a fee-based firm, Presper has advisors that can make commissions off the sale of insurance products to clients. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm abides by fiduciary duty.

Presper Financial Architects advisors include a chartered life underwriter (CLU), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and a financial paraplanner qualified professional. 

Presper Financial Architects Background

Founded in 2017, Presper Financial Architects is among the youngest firms on our list. Tom Presper, the firm’s founder, owns Presper Financial with his wife, Sonya.

Financial planning and asset management are the two main services that this firm offers. These involve retirement planning, cash flow management, goal-based financial planning, risk-adjusted portfolio management and more.

Presper Financial Architects Investing Strategy

Before your money is even invested, Presper Financial Architects will go over your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and investment goals with you. Based on this information, a specific asset allocation plan will be put into place.

As your portfolio ages and returns begin rolling in, these allocation percentages may shift a bit. Should this happen, the firm will rebalance your portfolio as necessary. The only other reason your asset allocation could change is if your investor characteristics (for instance, your risk tolerance) change.

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Auxin Group Wealth Management is the next firm on our list of Akron's top financial advisors. This small fee-based firm works primarily with individual clients, the vast majority of which are individuals without a high net worth. You won't have to meet any set account minimums to work with this fee-based firm.

As a fee-based firm, however, Auxin's advisors can receive commissions from the sale of securities or insurance products, which may present a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm's status as a fiduciary financial advisor legally binds it to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Auxin Group Wealth Management Background

Auxin Group Wealth Management was founded in 2015, making it one of the younger firms on our Akron list. It does not have subsidiaries or a parent company and is jointly owned by both Benjamin E. Tegel and Matthew J. Burnham. Tegel is the firm's president and Burnham is the firm's managing partner and chief compliance officer. 

Auxin Group provides a range of services to clients, including investment portfolio management and financial planning. More specifically, the firm can help clients also by offering education seminars and workshops, insurance and liability management and estate planning services. It also offers a wrap fee program. 

Auxin Group Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Auxin Group Wealth Management, like several other firms on this list and across the country, tailors its investment strategies to the individuals wants and needs of its clients. By compiling information on each client, such as their tolerance for risk, investment objectives, liquidity needs, time horizon and more, advisors are able to craft individualized investment plans to help clients meet their goals.

Advisors at the firm will develop a particular asset allocation strategy for each client, looking to properly diversfiy portfolios. In order to best choose specific investments, they utilize charting, fundamental, technical and cyclical methods of analysis.

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Warther Private Wealth is a single advisor firm located in Akron that offers investment advisory services to individuals, high net worth individuals and other professionals in Ohio and other states. The firm also offers pension consulting services. 

There is typically a $250,000 minimum account requirement to work with the firm but it could be waived at the discretion of the firm's advisor. They offer financial planning, portfolio management, estate planning, and retirement planning services.  

Warther Private Wealth is a fee-based firm, meaning its advisors can earn commissions for the sale of certain securities to its clients. This can create a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty meaning that its advisors must put the needs of the clients first. 

Warther Private Wealth Background

Warther Private Wealth was founded in 2002 by Robert W. Warther, who still serves as the CEO today and has served the industry for 50 years. The firm currently has two licensed advisors but a full team built up to best support its clients. The firm's headquarters is in the historical landmark of Tri Acres, built by the founder of Goodyear Tire in Akron. 

Warther Private Wealth Investment Strategy

The firm provides customized investment advisory solutions for every single client. This is achieved through continuous personal Client contact and interaction while providing discretionary investment management and consulting services. The investment goals of each client are understood before an initial or ongoing plan is made. The portfolios of clients are typically built with equities, bonds and low-cost ETFs.