Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Fairfield, New Jersey
Whether you need help managing your investments or your finances in general, hiring a professional is a smart move. But the financial advisory industry is huge - and like many professions, it uses a lot of jargon. So finding the right advisor for you can be daunting, if not downright impossible. To the rescue: SmartAsset’s experts, who did a deep dive into the research and came up with the top three advisor firms in Fairfield, New Jersey. We also developed an interactive advisor matching tool. It connects 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 | Strategic Family Wealth Counselors, LLC  Find an Advisor | $1,341,303,500 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 2 | Key Client Fiduciary Advisors, LLC  Find an Advisor | $499,330,570 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 3 | Cornerstone Planning Group  Find an Advisor | $262,237,024 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Fairfield, 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:
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AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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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.
Strategic Family Wealth Counselors
Strategic Family Wealth Counselors kicks off our list of top financial advisors in Fairfield. It also boasts the largest amount in assets under management (AUM) on the list. The firm doesn’t require a minimum account size to provide services. Most of its clients are individuals, with a nearly even split between those with and without a high net worth. The firm also works with some retirement plan sponsors.
The team includes multiple advisors. Some of them may also be licensed insurance agents and earn sales commissions from third-party companies, which is a potential conflict of interest. That said, Strategic Family Wealth and its advisory representatives have a fiduciary duty to uphold that includes working in clients’ best interests.
Strategic Family Wealth Counselors Background
Strategic Family Wealth Counselors was founded in 2000. Michael T. Dwyer, III, is the principal owner. The firm generally offers wealth management services that combine portfolio management with financial planning advice. The financial planning component may cover:
- Financial independence models
- Survivor income needs analysis
- Education planning analysis
- Cash flow models
- Estate planning analysis
- Investor education
- Wealth transfer
- Statements of financial positions
- Risk management strategy
When it comes to managing investment portfolios, the firm’s team may do so on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.
Strategic Family Wealth Counselors Investment Strategy
Strategic Family Wealth Counselors designs portfolios based on the needs, risk tolerance and time horizon of the client. These portfolios are generally built with mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest across various asset classes. The advisory may also recommend certain collective investment vehicles to accredited investors.
The firm recommends that clients promptly notify it of changes to their goals or financial situation in order to make any necessary adjustments to portfolio asset allocations.
Key Client Fiduciary Advisors
Next on our list is Key Client Fiduciary Advisors. The firm doesn’t impose a minimum investment and most of its clients don’t have a high net worth. The firm also has a sizable institutional client base composed entirely of retirement plan sponsors.
Key Client Fiduciary Advisors is a fee-based firm. This means that some of its advisors may earn transaction-based commissions from third-party firms, which presents a potential conflict of interest. That said, the firm must uphold its fiduciary duty to provide advice that’s in the best interests of its clients.
Key Client Fiduciary Advisors Background
Key Client Fiduciary Advisors began its operations in 2018. Founding partners Richard Flora and Eric Fishman are the majority owners. Combined, they have more than 60 years of experience in the financial services industry. Both started their careers at Merrill Lynch.
The firm offers discretionary portfolio management services. It also provides financial planning advice on numerous topics including:
- Tax management
- Insurance
- Retirement planning
- Death and disability financial planning
- Estate planning
Key Client Fiduciary Advisors Investment Strategy
The firm conducts meetings with its clients to understand their goals, risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. It then uses this information to design individualized portfolios. When diversifying portfolios, Key Client Fiduciary Advisors doesn’t restrict its choices to any particular securities.
A portfolio through this firm may include investments in stocks, bonds, warrants, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), U.S. government bonds, annuities, certificates of deposit (CDs) and more.
Cornerstone Planning Group
The final firm on our Fairfield list is Cornerstone Planning Group. Cornerstone is a small advisory firm with a client base that is primarily made up of non-high-net-worth individuals. However, it also works with high-net-worth individuals, pensions, profit-sharing plans and businesses. There is no set account minimum at this firm.
Cornerstone Planning Group operates on a fee-based model, and as a result advisors may receive commissions from selling financial products to clients. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is still a fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of client at all times.
Cornerstone Planning Group Background
Cornerstone Planning Group was founded in 2007. However, the firm only became an SEC-registered investment advisor in 2019. Carmine Corino is the founder and principal owner of the firm. He is also the firm's managing member. Corino is an accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC).
Cornerstone Planning Group Investment Strategy
Cornerstone Planning Group works with clients to provide investment management services and financial planning services, and it does so on a individualized and tailored basis. This process involves meeting with clients to determine overall tolerance for risk, financial situation, investment goals and any other necessary information.
Advisors at Cornerstone tend to invest passively, using mainly mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
