Finding the Top Financial Advisors in Pennsylvania
If you’re trying to find a financial advisor in Pennsylvania, SmartAsset can help. We did all the initial research for you, digging through financial firm data and pulling fundamentals such as assets under management (AUM), fees and investment strategy. Then we put the info together, here, for convenient comparing and contrasting. Start your search with this list of the top financial advisor firms in Pennsylvania. Then use SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool to connect with advisors who serve your area.
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---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Veritable, LP ![]() | $19,849,836,687 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
2 | HBKS Wealth Advisors ![]() | $5,341,129,116 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
3 | Sage Financial Group, Inc. ![]() | $3,015,929,198 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
4 | myCIO Wealth Partners, LLC ![]() | $11,840,125,986 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
5 | Mill Creek Capital Advisors, LLC ![]() | $9,436,962,965 | $5,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$5,000,000Financial Services
|
6 | Fort Pitt Capital Group, LLC ![]() | $4,999,220,241 | $250,000 |
| Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
|
7 | Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors ![]() | $7,888,019,145 | Varies by account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries by account typeFinancial Services
|
8 | Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, LLC ![]() | $7,611,767,964 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
9 | McAdam, LLC ![]() | $1,236,481,240 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
10 | Coho Partners, Ltd. ![]() | $6,660,600,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Pennsylvania, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the state. 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.
Veritable
Topping our Pennsylvania list is Veritable, a fee-only firm based in Newtown Square, a city in the southeast corner of the Keystone State. Veritable manages billions in assets for clients, most of whom are high-net-worth individuals. There are also institutional clients, including pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations and corporations.
Dozens of advisors work at the firm. They include chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accountants (CPAs), among other credentials.
There is officially no minimum account size at Veritable, but in practice, most of the firm’s clients have at least $20 million in assets. This is why nearly all of the firm’s individual clients are high-net-worth.
Veritable Background
Michael Stolper founded in Veritable in 1986 and is still responsible for the overall management of the firm. Veritable has gone through various merger activities throughout its existence. Ownership is split between senior employees of the firm and AMG Wealth Partners, who purchased its stake in 2012.
Services at the firm include investment advising, portfolio management financial planning, budgeting, estate planning, tax planning and insurance planning.
Veritable Investment Strategy
Advisors at Veritable use a few principles to build client portfolios. The most basic is that all clients are different and have different needs, so a portfolio will need to be customized to fit those needs and individual goals. Always paying attention to a client’s risk tolerance is also at the top of the list.
HBKS Wealth Advisors
Erie-based HBKS Wealth Advisors has one of the largest advisor teams on this list. Though the firm also has offices out of state, the team in Erie includes multiple certified financial planners (CFPs), among other certifications. There are no account minimums at the firm.
The fee-based firm manages a significant amount in assets. Clients are mostly individuals, most of whom do not have a high net worth. Institutional clients include pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.
Some advisors at the firm are registered as broker-dealers and may earn commissions for selling securities. This could present a potential conflict of interest, but when serving as an advisor they must act in your best interest.
HBKS Wealth Advisors Background
HBKS Wealth Advisors was founded in 2001. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HBK Sorce Financial, LLC, which is wholly owned by HBK Sorce Holdings, LLC. Hill, Barth & King Financial Holdings, LLC is the majority owner of the latter.
Services offered include investment management, financial planning, retirement planning, investment planning, education savings, protection planning, estate planning, income tax planning and ongoing planning.
HBKS Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy
The advisors at HBKS build portfolios using a variety of investments, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, bonds, investment contracts, insurance, annuities, alternative investments and other vehicles. Strategies include both long-term and short-term purchases, plus short sales, margin transactions and option writing.
Sage Financial Group
Sage Financial Group is a West Conshohocken-based financial advisor firm. The firm's client base is almost entirely comprised of individuals, with high-net-worth individuals outnumbering their non-high-net-worth counterparts. Sage Financial also works with retirement plans, charities, businesses and investment funds. The firm's minimum investment requirement for new clients is $1 million.
The team of advisors at this fee-only firm is over a dozen people strong. This group includes certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPCs).
Sage Financial Group Background
Sage Financial Group has been in business for 30 years, having been founded in 1991. It was established by David M. Cohn, who has since passed away, and current co-presidents Alan J. Cohn and Stephen L. Cohn. Today, the firm is owned by Alan Cohn and Stephen Cohn, as well as executive wealth managers Mitchell Bednoff and John Sion.
The services at Sage Financial are quite robust. They include investment management, general financial planning, tax planning, trust and estate counsel, insurance planning and more.
Sage Financial Group Investment Strategy
Sage Financial Group primarily invests in client assets for the long term. As a result, the firm tends to hold onto investments for a year or longer, which also helps to reduce the transactional costs associated with buying and selling securities. Fundamental analysis is the main driver behind the firm's investment decisions, and it involves analyzing investments by comparing current and past data and forecasting trends for the future.
myCIO Wealth Partners
myCIO Wealth Partners is a fee-only firm in Philadelphia. All of the firm’s individual clients have a high net worth, which makes sense given that the firm has a $1 million minimum account size. There are also institutional clients at myCIO, including charitable organizations and corporations.
A full roster of financial certifications is available at this firm. In fact, its the team includes chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified financial planners (CFPs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and more.
myCIO Wealth Partners Background
myCIO Wealth Partners was founded in 2005. It is managed by partners James Joseph Biles, David Edmund Lees and Paul Joseph Bracaglia. Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. bought an equity stake in 2005, and the rest is owned by the aforementioned partners.
Services offered include investment advisory, private investment funds, financial planning, consulting, estate planning and insurance planning.
myCIO Wealth Partners Investment Strategy
Advisors at myCIO Wealth Partners conduct fundamental and technical analysis to make investment choices. They use both short- and long-term purchases, meaning investments will be held for a variable amount of time. The firm may also engage in strategies like short sales, margin transactions and options trading.
Mill Creek Capital Advisors
Mill Creek Capital Advisors is a fee-only financial advisor firm managing the third-largest amount in assets on this list. All of the firm’s individual clients are high-net-worth, likely due to the firm’s $5 million minimum account size. There are also institutional clients at Mill Creek, including investment funds, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses.
There are a couple dozen advisors on staff at Mill Creek. The advisory team here boasts certifications like chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP), chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified public accountant (CPA).
Mill Creek Capital Advisors Background
Mill Creek Capital Advisors was founded in 2006. Its principal owners are CEO Joshua Gross, president Richard Lunsford and investment officers Michael Jordan, Dave Logan, Kevin Keating, Katie Thomas and Brian Maxwell. Each of these owners serve either as executives or advisors at Mill Creek.
Services include investment advising, tax issue evaluation, cash flow analysis, estate planning, retirement planning, financial planning, philanthropic planning and financial concierge services.
Mill Creek Capital Advisors Investment Strategy
Mill Creek Capital Advisors believes in broad diversification both across and within asset classes. It also focuses on the long term, looking to buy and hold investments rather than trading in and out of various markets in search of results that may only hold for the short term.
Fort Pitt Capital Group
Fort Pitt Capital Group is a Pittsburgh-based advisor. Clients of the fee-only firm are mostly non-high-net-worth individuals, along with some who have a high net worth. Institutional clients include investment companies, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, government entities, insurance companies and corporations. The minimum account size here is $250,000, though the firm may occasionally accept those with less than that.
The firm has several advisors on staff, including many who are certified financial planners (CFPs) and accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs). Other certifications include chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA), among others.
Fort Pitt Capital Group Background
Fort Pitt Capital Group was founded in 2015. The firm is a part of the Focus Financial Partners, LLC partnership. Specifically, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus Operating, LLC. Focus is a nationwide network of indepenent firms.
Services include wealth management, investment management, financial planning, estate planning, education planning, business succession planning and insurance needs.
Fort Pitt Capital Group Investment Strategy
Fort Pitt Capital Group has put together a list of composite portfolios, which you can find below. Each of them have their own unique investment strategy, though these are subject to change based on your individuals needs and changing market conditions.
- Total return
- Taxable total return
- Total return under $250,000
- Growth-strategic asset allocation
- Moderate growth-strategic asset allocation
- Balanced-strategic asset allocation
- Conservative-strategic asset allocation
- Investment-grade fixed-income
- Bond mutual fund
- Total retail
Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors
Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors (CSIA) is a fee-only firm in Harrisburg with multiple advisors on staff. This team includes certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial consultants (ChFCs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), enrolled agents (EAs) and more.
CSIA manages billions in client assets. Its client base is mostly comprised of individuals, a little more than half of whom are non-high-net-worth. There are also institutional clients on the rolls, including pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, government entities, insurance companies and corporations.
There is technically no minimum account size at CSIA, but the individual minimum annual fee of $5,000 to $9,000 for individual clients means this firm's services may be cost-prohibitive for those with less than $500,000.
Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors Background
Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors was founded in 2002. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Conrad M. Siegel, Inc., and its team of partners is 20 members strong.
Services offered include:
- Financial planning
- Consulting
- Educational services
- Investment management
Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors Investment Strategy
Low-cost, passive investing with an orientation towards value is the name of the game for CSIA. It also provides Siegel Select Portfolios, a managed portfolios program, to some investors. Most of the firm’s investments are in mutual funds, with stocks making up a small percentage of the assets.
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, a fee-based firm, has billions in assets under management. There are several advisors at this Bethlehem-based firm. The team holds many certifications, including accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), chartered retirement plan specialist (CRPS), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and more.
Clients of Cornerstone include a fairly even mix of high-net-worth and other individuals. There are also a substantial number of institutional clients, such as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, government entities, insurance companies and corporations.
There is no minimum account size at this firm. Some advisors may also earn commissions for selling financial products. This is a potential conflict of interest, but the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to always act in the best interest of the client.
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management Background
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management was founded in 1998. The firm is 100% owned by employees through an employee stock ownership plan.
Services include asset management, investment policy management, risk assessment, investment advisory, financial planning, insurance planning, estate planning, tax analysis and retirement income planning.
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management Investment Strategy
Mutual funds make up the majority of the investment choices at Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management. As a matter of fact, most of its clients' money is invested in mutual funds. Other investments typically made by the firm include stocks, cash and investments with third-party money managers.
McAdam
McAdam is a Philadelphia-based firm. It's also the smallest firm in terms of assets on this list, though it has quite a large advisory staff. The firm's leadership team includes a certified financial planner (CFP) and a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).
Clients of McAdam include individuals with and without a high net worth, though the latter far outnumbers the former. The firm's institutional clients include businesses and retirement plans. There is no set account minimum for new clients here.
As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at McAdam can sell securities and insurance products on a commission basis. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in clients' best interests no matter what.
McAdam Background
McAdam was created in 2014. The firm is wholly owned by Michael McAdam, who also acts as the firm's CEO and principal. McAdam has a couple decades of experience in the financial services industry.
Financial planning and investment management services are both available from this firm. The former can cover topics like retirement planning, risk management, tax planning, insurance planning, estate planning, business planning, cash flow forecasting and more.
McAdam Investment Strategy
McAdam typically invests client assets in mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds and with independent investment managers. The firm may also recommend investing in pooled investment vehicles, like hedge funds.
Which types of securities exist within your portfolio will depend on what type of investor you are. To find this out, your advisor will meet with you to discuss your goals and needs. Through these discussions, the firm will also identify your ever-important risk tolerance, time horizon and income needs. These factors will dictate the complexion of your asset allocation.
Coho Partners
Coho Partners is a massive financial advisor firm based in Berwyn. The firm works with a collection of both institutional and individual private clients. The latter group includes mostly those without a high net worth, though it also has some high-net-worth clients. Its institutional client base includes investment companies, investment funds, retirement plans, charities, government entities, investment advisors and businesses.
For private clients, the firm’s minimum account size is $1 million. For institutional clients, the minimum jumps to $10 million. This is a fee-only firm.
Coho Partners Background
Coho Partners was first established back in 1999. Today the firm is principally owned by its chief investment officer (CIO), Peter Adamson Thompson. Other employees also hold stakes in Coho.
The services available to clients of Coho are heavily focused on investment management. It also provides financial planning to private clients, though.
Coho Partners Investing Strategy
Coho Partners is an extremely independent firm, as all of its investment strategies are built in-house. For starters, the firm builds its strategies in a few variations, with one of them being based around environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. The strategies are also designed to protect client assets in downturns and maximize their gains during brighter times. Although private clients will have a say over how their money is invested, the firm tends to utilize these in-house strategies.