Top Financial Advisors in Boston, MA

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GW&K Investment Management is a very large firm based in the heart of Boston. In terms of individual clients, the firm exclusively works with high-net-worth people, with tens of thousands being clients of the firm. GW&K also works with institutional clients, such as investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, businesses, government entities, retirement plans and more.

There is no single account minimum needed to work with this firm, though many of its programs have their own individual minimums. Based on the complexion of the firm's client base though, it would seem it works with most wealthy clients. This is a fee-only firm, which means its advisors do not receive compensation beyond client-paid fees. A fee-based firm, on the other hand, has advisors who can receive commissions from the sale of things like insurance or securities, which can cause a potential conflict of interest.

GW&K Investment Management employs many different investment strategies across its operations. At a high level, these strategies are organized into five main categories: domestic equities, global equities, taxable bonds, muni bonds and mutual funds. Within each of these are anywhere from two to nine sub-strategies. However, the firm also realizes that each client has their own needs and goals. As a result, the firm states in its Form ADV that it will modify its strategies as necessary to meet these factors.

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Flagship Harbor Advisors is a fee-based firm that works with individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, trusts, estates and charitable organizations. The firm does not impose a minimum portfolio size or minimum annual fee for its wrap fee program, though certain independent managers may have their own minimum requirements.

Services offered by the firm include discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning and consulting, variable annuity management, held-away asset management and advice regarding unaffiliated private investment funds for qualified clients. Financial planning services may address retirement, education, estate, tax, cash flow, insurance, business and investment planning.

The firm uses fundamental, technical, cyclical and software-driven analysis to make investment decisions for clients. Client portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, separately managed accounts, independent investment managers and private investment funds for qualified clients. The firm may use long-term and short-term purchases, leveraged and inverse ETFs, options for hedging and margin borrowing when appropriate and authorized.

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RWA Private Wealth is the private wealth division of RWA Wealth Partners, LLC, a Newton, Massachusetts-based advisory firm formed in 2023. The firm operates on a fee-based structure and works with high-net-worth individuals and families, multi-generational families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, business entities, employer-sponsored retirement and profit-sharing plans, and institutional clients.

The firm generally requires a minimum aggregate account value of $500,000, though accounts in one household may be combined to meet this minimum and the requirement may be waived at the firm’s discretion. Its website also references a $1 million investable assets threshold.

Fees for advisory services are generally based on assets under management. Because RWA Private Wealth is a fee-based firm, some advisors may receive compensation from sources other than client-paid advisory fees, which can create a potential conflict of interest. Services offered by the firm include investment management, financial planning, custom fixed income and cash management, tax planning, tax preparation through an affiliated subsidiary, legacy and estate planning coordination, family office services, retirement plan advisory services, ESG and impact investing, concentrated equity management and custody coordination.

The firm’s investment approach generally centers on asset allocation, using both long-term strategic positioning and shorter-term tactical adjustments. Client portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, individual stocks and bonds, private funds, custom fixed income portfolios and ESG-oriented strategies. RWA also uses quantitative screening, qualitative manager evaluation and proprietary investment processes within certain strategies.

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Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors, LLP (LWC) is a multi-family office that’s a pioneer in socially responsible investing. To be a client, you’ll need at least $2 million in investable assets. The fee-only firm principally serves high-net-worth individuals.

LWC aims to encompass every detail of a family's financial life in its integrated wealth management solutions. The firm provides family office services, estate planning and settlement services, financial planning, tax planning and preparation and philanthropic strategies.

The group fuses sustainability issues with fundamental analysis and consideration of individual clients' goals, needs and priorities. Its approach is three-part.

First, portfolios are managed on a standalone basis and are structured around sustainability themes, like socially responsible companies or sustainable technology. Next, LWC uses its standing as shareholders to hold companies accountable and to push them to do the right thing. Finally, the Sustainability Group's clients invest in credit unions, loan funds, community banks and international microfinance institutions, all of which are investments that LWC believes can drive positive change by providing access to capital.

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SCS Financial works with high-net-worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations and sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions. The firm generally requires clients to have a minimum of $25 million in assets under management (AUM). Fees for wealth management are charged as a percentage of assets under management, and certain funds charge a performance fee.

Advisors at SCS do not make commissions for selling products to clients, but the parent company of the firm does own broker-dealers. Services offered by the firm include wealth management, fund of funds, tax planning and philanthropic strategy. 

SCS develops a strategy that makes sense for each individual investor. It especially considers asset allocation and portfolio design, taking both risk tolerance and return objectives into consideration to make the best possible choices for each person. The firm uses several funds of hedge funds as an investment for its clients, all of whom are high-net-worth and likely can invest in hedge funds, which often have high barriers for entry. There are also funds of private equity funds.

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Winthrop Wealth is a fee-based firm headquartered in Boston. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, business owners and entrepreneurs. It also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, business entities, donor-advised fund accounts, endowments and nonprofits. There is no set account minimum needed to work with this firm, though custodian or platform minimums may apply.

Services offered by the firm include investment management, financial planning and consulting, retirement and life goals planning, institutional investment programs and portfolio reporting. Winthrop Wealth also offers a wrap fee investment management program and may assist clients with securities-backed lending programs offered through LPL. Fees for advisory services generally range from 0.30% to 2.00% annually and are charged quarterly in advance based on assets under management.

Winthrop Wealth uses long-term investing, active management, passive management and asset allocation strategies. The firm may use fundamental, technical, charting, cyclical and quantitative methods of analysis, as well as modern portfolio theory. Portfolios generally focus on equity and fixed-income investments, though alternative investments, options, margin, short sales, leverage or derivatives may be used when appropriate for the client.

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The Bollard Group LLC is a fee-only firm that works with a very small number of high-net-worth clients. The minimum account size for clients is $25 million. The firm also manages money for pooled investment vehicles. Advisors do not make commissions for selling financial products to clients.Services from Bollard include discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory, portfolio management and alternative investments.

Fees are based on a percentage of assets under management, and the minimum fee is $75,000 per year. Some services are billed at an hourly rate. Advisors may recommend clients invest in funds from the firm’s sister company Spinnaker Capital, which will charge a performance-based fee.

The firm uses charting, fundamental analysis and technical analysis to make investment decisions for clients. Risk tolerance and other factors unique to each client are considered when constructing client portfolios. Several asset types are used, including equities, fixed-income securities, options, futures, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and concentrated holdings. Short sales and leverage could be used for some clients.

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This fee-only firm requires that you have at least $2 million in assets to open an account, though it is willing to negotiate that minimum sometimes. Welch & Forbes has a client base made up of a mix of individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, other advisors and corporations.

The staff at this firm includes chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accountants (CPAs). Fees paid for investment management are based on a percentage of assets under management. No advisers at the firm are registered as representatives of a broker-dealer and they do not make money from commissions for selling securities or insurance products.

Advisors at Welch & Forbes can create a portfolio for any client, but there are some models the firm notes as common that include multi-cap core equity, with investments in stocks (domestic and international), specialty, income and alternative investments.

Castle Rock Advisors is the newest firm on the list, as it was founded in 2024. The firm provides financial planning, investment advisory and family office services to a variety of client types. Client types fo rinvestment advisory services include high-net-worth, their families and estate planning vehicles. 

The firm also coordinates services for its clients that include service provides such as attorneys, accountants, insurance brokers and other specialized financial advisors, as needed. Fees at the firm can vary widely and can include either fixed or variable fee arrangements. 

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Crestwood Advisors Group, LLC works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients, as well as pensions, profit-sharing plans, charities and businesses. You'll need an account of at least $1 million to work with the firm. Crestwood works to provide clients with comprehensive wealth management solutions. It also provides an automated investment strategy platform.

Crestwood Advisors crafts individualized investment strategies to help clients meet their individual financial needs and objectives. Because the firm's advisory services are comprehensive, each client relationship involves a series of information-gathering meetings in order to properly assess and take note of each client's risk tolerance, liquidity needs, investment history and, and other relevant information.

Crestwood advises on any type of investment held in a client's portfolio but mainly invests in equity and debt securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded notes (ETNs), mutual funds and equity options. Advisors rely primarily on fundamental methods of analysis to help them inform investment decisions.