Top Financial Advisors in Hingham, MA

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Aequitas Investment Advisors is Hingham's top-rated financial advisory firm. This fee-only practice works mostly with individuals as well as some charitable organizations. While high-net-worth individuals make up a majority of the firm’s clients, Aequitas doesn't impose any sort of account minimum.

The team at Aequitas includes two certified financial planners (CFPs), one chartered financial consultant (ChFC), three financial paraplanner qualifed professionals (FPQPs), one chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and one chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

As a fee-only practice, Aequitas is compensated through client-paid fees, not third-party commissions for selling products or services. This compensation structure differs from that of a fee-based firm, whose advisors may collect commissions from broker-dealers or insurance companies. 

Aequitas Investment Advisors Background

Aequitas Investment Advisors was created in 1991 and has four principal shareholders today: founder Warner Arms Henderson, chief compliance officer and investment planner Noreen D. Walsh, chief portfolio strategist Timothy B. Nash and senior financial planner Michelle Fallon. 

In terms of service offerings, Aequitas helps its clients in the areas of asset management and financial planning. The latter can cover such topics as:

• Retirement planning
• Insurance planning
• Investment planning
• Estate planning
• Education planning
• Tax planning
• Charitable gift planning

Aequitas Investment Advisors Investment Strategy

The firm adheres to a long-term investing strategy based on an appropriate asset allocation among fixed income securities and equities. The firm strongly recommends that clients invest in no-load or load-waived mutual funds that are both passively and actively managed. Aequitas generally does try to "time the market," as it sees frequent trading in an attempt to capitalize on short-term developments is counterproductive.

After an initial asset allocation is decided upon, the firm will review clients' portfolios at least once per quarter. It will also rebalance portfolios when necessary to ensure that the original allocations remain intact. 

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The next firm on our list, One Charles Private Wealth (OCPW), is a fee-based practice that mostly works with individuals, both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. Corporations, retirement plans and one charity making up the remainder of OCPW's client base.

OCPW generally requires new clients have at least $400,000 in investable assets, though this requirement is waivable. The firm has one certified financial planner (CFP) and one chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at OCPW may earn commissions for conducting certain securities or insurance transactions on top of the fees that clients pay. While this introduces the potential for a conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the client.

One Charles Private Wealth Background

Founded by Paul A. Squarcia, One Charles Private Wealth has been an SEC-registered investment advisor since 2017. That same year, the firm became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus Operating, LLC, which itself is owned by Focus, LLC. Finally, Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a publicly traded company, is the total owner of Focus, LLC.

Squarcia and Erik Wallin manage the firm's day-to-day operations. 

OCPW provides investment management services, either through a wrap fee program or not through one. Additionally, the firm offers limited financial planning, consulting and retirement plan advisory services for both plan sponsors and participants.

One Charles Private Wealth Investment Strategy

One Charles Private Wealth typically allocates client assets among various independent managers, no-load and load-waived mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), state and local bonds, alternative investment managers and private funds. 

The firm tailors its advisory services to the needs of individual clients and manages portfolios in accordance to clients' investment profiles. 

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Sandy Cove Advisors is the most exclusive firm on our list, with a stated minimum account size of $1 million and a minimum annual fee of $10,000. The firm reserves the right to waive these requirements at its discretion (and it does indeed work with many individuals who do not have high net worths).

Sandy Cove’s clients are mostly individuals, though it also works with a few pension plans. This firm's team includes one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and three certified divorce financial analysts (CDFAs).

Sandy Cove is a fee-only firm, meaning all of its compensation comes from the fees that clients pay. That's different from a fee-based firm, which may also earn third-party commissions that could introduce conflicts of interest.

Sandy Cove Advisors Background

Sandy Cove Advisors was established in 2010 by Deirdre Prescott, who remains the firm’s principal owner. Prescott has more than 25 years of  experience in financial services and acts as the firm's president and chief wealth strategist.

Financial planning and portfolio management services are the bread and butter of the firm's offerings. However, it also provides tax planning services, as well as retirement plan consulting and referrals to third-party money managers.

Sandy Cove Advisors Investment Strategy

Sandy Cove Advisors believes asset allocation has a much more significant impact on long-term investing upside than individual stock selection. Therefore, the firm pays careful attention to ensure that the mix of asset classes in your portfolio fall in line with your investing goals, cash flow needs, risk tolerance and time horizon.

The firm frequently engages in long-term investment strategies, which involves purchasing securities with the intent to hold onto them for at least a year. On occasion, the firm may engage in short-term purchase strategies, but this is far less common. 

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New World Advisors has the smallest client base of any firm on this list, but it's composed almost entirely of high-net-worth individuals. Despite the exclusive focus on high-net-worth clients, New World Advisors does not impose an official account minimum.

The firm's team includes two chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and one chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA).

New World Advisors is a fee-based firm, meaning some of its advisors may collect sales commissions from vendors. While this can create the potential for a conflict of interest, the firm is obligated by its fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its clients.

New World Advisors Background

New World Advisors is one of the youngest firms on our list, having first opened for business in 2018. The firm is owned by New World Financial Holdings, LLC and New World Advisors Management, LLC. The firm’s leadership team includes partners John Fasciano, Christopher Cabral and Frank Burr, as well as Brian Pineau. 

This firm specializes in providing investment management, financial planning and tax planning services. Its financial planning services can touch on retirement planning, personal savings, education savings and other areas. 

New World Advisors Investment Strategy

New World Advisors generally invests client assets in a mix of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Portfolios may also include individual stocks, bonds or options contracts, as well as alternative investments like real estate investment trusts (REITs) and oil/gas interests. 

While New World Advisors primarily employs a long-term investing approach, the firm may also buy, sell or reallocate positions that have been held for under a year. This short-term activity may be used to meet specific goals or objectives of the client or in response to market conditions. 

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AFG Fiduciary Services, the final firm on our list, has a client base primarily composed of non-high-net-worth individuals. About a third of the firm's clients are high net-worth individuals, while corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans also work with AFG. The practice does not impose a minimum account size requirement. 

According to SEC records, AFG has one certified financial planner (CFP) on staff. It's important to note that some advisors at the firm are also representatives of a broker-dealer and/or insurance companies, making AFG a fee-based firm. As a result, these advisors may earn third-party commissions for selling you certain products, creating a conflict of interest. Despite this potential conflict, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in your best interest.

AFG Fiduciary Services Background

Founded in 2020, AFG Fiduciary Services is the youngest firm on our list. Brian M. Kenney is the principal owner of the firm and its chief compliance officer. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2009, a career that has included stops at Raymond James and Wells Fargo as a financial advisor. 

AFG offers clients portfolio management, retirement plan advisory services and financial planning services that may touch on retirement planning, personal savings, insurance needs, education savings and more. 

AFG Fiduciary Services Investment Strategy 

AFG Fiduciary Services works closely with clients to identify their investment goals, risk tolerance and any other financial considerations that may impact how the firm invests their money. From there, AFG builds portfolios using a combination of open-end mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities and individual fixed income securities. 

The firm primarily uses fundamental analysis to evaluate and select securities, and then employs a long-term investing strategy predicated on holding assets for longer than a year. However, the firm may hold securities for less than a year in order to rebalance a portfolio or meet cash needs of a client.