Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Choosing the right financial advisor can be an overwhelming process. So, SmartAsset created this list of the top Allentown financial advisor firms to make the decision a little easier. Below, we compare the services the top firms provide, what their fee structures are and what kinds of clients they specialize in working with. SmartAsset has also developed a free financial advisor matching tool that can pair you with up to three advisors who serve your area.
Find a Fiduciary Financial Advisor
We match more than 50,000 people with financial advisors per month. Get connected to an advisor that serves your area today.Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Baldrige Asset Management Find an Advisor | $612,349,547 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
2 | Andesa Financial Management, Inc. Find an Advisor | $399,718,544 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
3 | Sector Analysts LLC Find an Advisor | $190,011,755 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
Let us help match you with up to three vetted fiduciary financial advisors.Answer a few questions to get matched. | |||||
4 | Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC Find an Advisor | $251,655,802 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
5 | Erickson Financial Group LLC Find an Advisor | $135,880,099 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Allentown, 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:
- AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
- Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
- Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer 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.
Baldrige Asset Management
Baldrige Asset Management is at the top of this list. The fee-only firm’s client's include non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and charitable organizations. The firm requires clients to have at least $1,000,000 when opening an account. Baldrige bases its fees on a percentage of assets under management, or it may charge hourly or fixed fees for certain clients.
The team includes one certified financial planner (CFP) and one financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP).
Baldrige Asset Management Background
Baldrige was founded by Edwin R. Baldrige III in 1999. The independent firm specializes in investment management and financial planning services. The latter includes tax planning and estate planning services.
Baldrige Asset Management Investing Strategy
Baldrige bases its investment strategies on both academic and empirical research. The firm’s core principles emphasize the importance of diversification and asset allocation.
Baldrige primarily invests client assets in institutional and retail mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The firm may also invest in equities, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, U.S. government securities and partnerships.
Andesa Financial Management, Inc.
Andesa Financial Management, Inc. works with both non-high-net-worth individuals and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves trusts, estates, corporations and charitable organizations.
Two of Andesa’s advisors are CFPs. There is also is a chartered financial consultant (ChFC), a chartered financial analyst (CFA), and a financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) on staff. One is also an insurance agent, who receives sales commisions. This may pose a potential conflict of interest, but as a fiduciary, Andesa is legally bound to put clients' interests first.
The firm doesn’t have a set account minimum for its services, but there is an annual minimum fee of $200 for all account types. For investment advisory services, fees are based on the market value of client assets. Andesa may provide financial planning services in conjunction with its investment management, but it may also offer such services with separate fees. If advisors offer financial planning with a separate fee, clients will pay fees on an annual retainer or project basis.
Andesa Financial Management Background
Andesa Financial began operations in 2004 under the name Andesa Investment Solutions. Its name changed in 2010 after acquiring another firm.
The investment advisor mainly advises clients in asset management and financial planning, with advisory services including portfolio selection, portfolio monitoring and portfolio review. Other financial planning services cover tax planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, education planning and estate planning.
Andesa Financial Management Investing Strategy
Asset allocation serves as one of Andesa Financial’s key strategies. The firm generally uses mutual funds and exchange-traded funds when implementing asset allocations, which are designed in accordance with client profiles and objectives. The firm’s security analysis methods include fundamental, technical and cyclical analyses. It employs long- and short-term purchases, trading, short sales, margin transactions and option writing.
Sector Analysts LLC
Sector Analysts LLC, a fee-based firm, ranks third on our list in Allendale. With no set account minimum at the firm, the vast majority of clients are non-high-net-worth individuals, although the firm also works with a handful of high-net-worth individuals. Investment management fees are based on a percentage of assets under management, while financial planning fees are on an hourly or flat-fee basis.
The two advisors here are also brokers and insurance agents. In these non-advisor roles, they may receive transaction-based fees, which can potentially pose a conflict of interest. But as a fiduciary, Sector Analysts must work in its clients' best interests.
Sector Analysts Background
The firm has been in business since 2013. In addition to portfolio management, it offers various financial planning services, including insurance analysis, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning and charitable planning.
Sector Analysts also hosts free educational seminars and workshops on investment and financial planning topics.
Sector Analysts Investment Strategy
Sector generally uses a range of investment approaches, selecting strategies based on client profiles and financial objectives. Its key investment strategies include strategic asset allocation, long-term purchases, dynamic asset allocation, short-term purchases and tactical asset allocation.
The firm evaluates securities using fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis.
Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC
Fee-based firm Morton Brown Family Wealth comes next on the list of top financial advisors in Allentown. Morton Brown clients include non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, trusts, business entities and estates. The firm doesn’t have a set account minimum requirement and investment advisory fees are based on a percentage of client assets. For ongoing financial planning, the fee ranges from $2,500 to $15,000.
The firm employs three certified financial planners (CFPs) and two chartered financial consultants (ChFCs). Some of the firm's advisors may be registered insurance agents who collect sales commissions if you choose to buy an insurance product through them. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times.
Morton Brown Family Wealth Background
Morton Brown was founded in 2018, and its principal owners are Kathryn M. Brown and Dennis Morton, Jr. The firm offers asset management and financial planning services. Its financial planning services may include:
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Insurance planning
- Education planning
- Cash flow management
- Income planning
Morton Brown Family Wealth Investment Strategy
The firm emphasizes on its website that it chiefly uses asset allocation in its portfolio strategies, focusing on a proactive and long-term investment approach. When evaluating securities, the firm utilizes fundamental analysis.
Erickson Financial Group LLC
Erickson Financial Group, a fee-based advisor, rounds out our list. With no account minimum, Erickson Financial primarily works with non-high-net-worth individuals, but its client base also includes individuals with high net worths.
The firm has a small team of advisors, and some advisors can earn commissions for selling insurance products. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times.
Erickson Financial Group Background
Erickson Financial was founded in 2013. It remains owned and operated by managing partner Kerry D. Erickson and chief compliance officer Timothy J. Erickson.
The firm offers a number of services to individuals, including financial planning, portfolio management and pension consulting. That could mean planning for retirement, choosing life insurance, planning charitable giving or analyzing college costs.
Erickson Financial Group Investment Strategy
Erickson Financial creates portfolios for clients based on their individual goals and risk tolerance. The firm focuses primarily on long-term performance through fundamental analysis, typically constructing investment portfolios utilizing exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), low-cost mutual funds and individual equity securities.