Top Financial Advisors in Pittsford, NY

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Alesco Advisors comes in as our top choice in Pittsford and has 13 advisors on staff. They include chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs).

This fee-only firm has a $3 million minimum account size, which may be relaxed. The minimums for wrap fee programs and model programs are much lower and also negotiable. The Schwab Performance Technologies program comes with a $20,000 opening minimum (you must have a relationship size of at least $50,000), but is also negotiable. But as the $3 million minimum would suggest, Alesco primarily works with high-net-worth individuals. It also maintains relationships with (non-high-net-worth) individuals, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses, defined contribution plans and banks.

Alesco Advisors Background

Alesco Advisors was founded in 2000 by James Gould. The majority owner, Gould currently serves as the independent firm’s president. He has been working in the financial services industry since 1980.

Alesco primarily offers investment management services that are tailored separately for individual and institutional investors. The firm can also aid retirement plan sponsors in managing plans through fiduciary services, plan analysis and more.

Alesco Advisors Investing Strategy

Your personal needs will dictate what your portfolio at Alesco will look like. In customizing portfolios, the firm takes into account clients' tolerance for risk, income needs, time horizon, tax situation and desired goals. Once the firm feels secure in knowing what type of investor you are, it will build an appropriate asset allocation.

When it comes to security selection, the firm primarily uses index funds and index-based mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Alesco does its own proprietary analysis to determine which securities are best for you.

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The advisors at fee-based LVW Advisors, LLC are responsible for the management of more than $2 billion in assets under management (AUM).

The team includes three certified financial planners (CFPs), two chartered financial analysts (CFAs), two certified investment management analysts (CIMAs) and two MBAs.

The firm has no set account minimum. Individuals and high-net-worth individuals (including prominent entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, artists and entertainers) are common clientele. The firm also offers services to foundations, family partnerships, limited partnerships, not-for-profit institutions (primarily in healthcare and education) and retirement plans.

LVW Advisors Background

LVW Advisors has been in business since 2011. Lori Van Dusen, the firm’s current CEO, founded the firm after spending more than two decades in financial services. Today, the firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus Operating, LLC, making it part of the Focus Financial network of advisory firms.

The services at this firm can be divided into four distinct categories: comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory services and corporate services.

LVW Advisors Investing Strategy

LVW believes that deliberate asset allocations and broad diversification are key to keeping a portfolio in line with clients’ needs and goals. In turn, the firm will allocate your money with an emphasis on consistent performance throughout all market cycles.

The advisory typically uses a range of securities. These include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), equities, hedge fund and private equity fund managers and independent managers. Should your portfolio include independent managers, your money may be invested in securities other than what LVW lists.

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At Generation Capital Management LLC (GCM), advisors currently serve many more non-high-net-worth individual clients than those with a high net worth. Charitable organizations, pension, and profit-sharing plans, government entities, and private investment funds also work with the firm. This is a fee-only firm.

In order to become a client of Generation Capital Management, you’ll need at least $100,000 ready to invest. Like many firms, though, Generation Capital Management says that it may waive this requirement under certain circumstances.

Two financial advisors are employed at GCM’s offices in Pittsford. This group includes one chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Generation Capital Management Background

Scott Nasca, Generation Capital Management’s president and chief investment officer (CIO), founded the firm in 2003. Nasca owns GCM and was previously employed as a principal at Karpus Investment Management (see above) for 25 years.

The services at this firm revolve around pairing your financial planning needs with an appropriate investment portfolio. GCM employs a holistic financial planning suite that includes short- and long-term goal planning, income tax considerations, risk-adjusted investment planning, risk management, insurance review, financial statement preparation and retirement planning.

Generation Capital Management Investing Strategy

At the core of its strategy, Generation Capital Management looks to reduce risk in client portfolios through the implementation of broad diversification. This is done not only across domestic markets but global ones as well. The firm also utilizes a top-down macroeconomic approach that believes the market generally moves upward.

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Fee-only Armbruster Capital Management, Inc. does not have a minimum opening account size. Despite this fact, it currently works with more high-net-worth individuals than non-high-net-worth individuals. It also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, businesses and other investment advisors.

The firm employs five advisors, including one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and one certified public accountant (CPA).

Armbruster Capital Management Background

Armbruster Capital Management has been in business since 2009, when it was founded by Mark Armbruster, the firm’s current president. Armbruster is the majority owner of the firm and has 23 years of experience working in financial services.

For individuals, the firm can provide investment management and financial planning services. The latter includes:

• Portfolio construction
• Insurance review
• Estate planning
• Tax planning
• Goal-based financial plans

Armbruster Capital Management Investing Strategy

Armbruster Capital Management takes a long-term, buy-and-hold approach. This means that the firm prefers not to actively trade client assets, as this can drive up transaction costs and increase risk. Global diversification and carefully considered asset allocations are also important to the firm. Should returns or other factors skew your originally intended asset allocation, the firm says it will rebalance your portfolio.

Most of the firms on this list work with individual clients both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. However, Ashford Advisors, LLC distinguishes itself by working exclusively with high-net-worth individuals. The fee-only firm maintains this focus by requiring a $10 million minimum family relationship.

Ashford has three financial advisors on staff and charges performance-based fees as part of its fee schedule. It does not have a website.

Ashford Advisors Background

Ashford Advisors is an independent firm that’s owned by a combination of two employees. Principal Patrick D. Martin is the majority owner, while chief investment officer (CIO) Jeremiah A. Thisse holds a minority stake. The firm was formed in 2001.

The firm’s standard services encompass various financial planning and investment management offerings. For example, you can take advantage of:

• Tax planning
• Retirement planning
• Insurance analysis
• Investment planning
• Estate planning
• Asset allocation creation
• Individual needs review

Ashford Advisors Investing Strategy

At the forefront of Ashford’s investment ideology is an aim to create an asset allocation that aligns with a client’s needs. To do that, the firm determines and takes into account the client's risk tolerance, time horizon and other factors. The practice typically uses such securities as equities, fixed-income securities, cash, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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High Probability Advisors, LLC is a fee-only firm that has a relatively small team, but it includes two chartered financial analysts (CFAs), two certified financial planners (CFPs) and a chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA).

High Probability Advisors serves individuals (including high-net-worth individuals), trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, other business entities and retirement plans. The firm requires new clients to have at least $500,000 in investable assets, though it may negotiate or waive this requirement at its discretion.

High Probability Advisors Background

High Probability Advisors was created in 2017. The firm is principally owned by its two founders, CEO Stephen J. Carl and chief investment strategist Michael E. Jones. Chief Compliance Officer Jeffrey Coons has a small stake.

The financial planning services at this firm are rather robust. Clients can take advantage of tax planning, education fund planning, budgeting, estate planning, retirement planning and investment planning. Of course, the firm also offers standard investment management services.

High Probability Advisors Investing Strategy

When you become a client of this firm, its advisors will follow a four-step process that outlines how it will manage your portfolio:

• Goal identification: This involves reviewing your long- and short-term financial goals through scenario analysis.
• Asset allocation: Before any money is invested, the firm will figure out how your portfolio should be put together based on your tolerance for risk, time horizon and more.
• Portfolio management: Once an allocation is agreed upon, the firm will actually invest your money with an eye towards low-cost, passive investments.
• Communications: At this point, you and your advisor will stay in contact with one another to discuss your portfolio’s performance and general investing insights.

The firm uses various methods of analysis when evaluating securities: quantitative, fundamental, technical and mutual fund/ETF analysis. Investment strategies include long-term and short-term purchases.

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Candace Shira Associates, LLC serves individuals (both of high net worth and not of high net worth), trusts, businesses and estates. There are no minimum investable asset requirements here.

The three-person advisory team at this firm includes one certified financial planner (CFP). These employees manage more than $300 million in assets, according to the firm's latest SEC filing.

As a fee-based firm, Candace Shirt Associates has an advisor who also sells insurance products. Although this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm is legally bound by its fiduciary duty to act in your best interest.

Candace Shira Associates Background

Although this firm does business under the name Candace Shira Associates, it is legally known as Cross Staff Investments, Inc. The firm is under the sole ownership of president Candace Shira, and it was established in 2012.

Financial planning and investment management are the hallmark services at this firm. On occasion, it may recommend the usage of third-party money managers.

Candace Shira Associates Investing Strategy

This firm utilizes a personalized investment strategy that is tailored to a client’s needs and circumstances. To ensure that it takes into account everything important, the firm will do a deep dive into your risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. For the most part, Candace Shira Associates invests in a mix of mutual funds, individual publicly-traded securities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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If you’re interested in becoming a client of Post Resch Tallon Group, you can do so without worrying about a minimum investable asset requirement. The firm works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also offers services to pensions, profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates and charitable organizations.

The team of four financial advisors includes one certified financial planner (CFP) designation.

Post Resch Tallon is a fee-based firm. This is because the firm employs some advisors that have the opportunity to earn commissions from the sale of insurance products. This opens the door for a potential conflict of interest, but the firm is still a fiduciary, forcing it to act in clients’ best interests.

Post Resch Tallong Group Background

Post Resch Tallon Group was founded in 2004 by the firm’s trio of owners: partner John A. Post, managing senior partner and president David P. Resch and chief compliance officer (CCO) and partner Kerry P. Tallon. Between these three individuals, there is about 90 years of combined financial services experience.

The firm offers a wide range of services, such as college fund planning, income planning, retirement planning, insurance review, small business investing, investment planning and more. You can also take advantage of tax planning and preparation services.

Post Resch Tallon Group Investing Strategy

When investing client assets, Post Resch Tallon Group aims to both minimize risk and maximize returns. It attempts to achieve these goals by using a strategic asset allocation strategy that employs diversification throughout domestic and foreign asset classes. How your money is specifically allocated, though, is dependent upon your risk tolerance, income needs, time horizon and overall investing goals. The firm may use long- or short-term purchases, trading of securities within 30 days, short sales, margin accounts and option writing.

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Last but not least, Professional Financial is located in southeast Pittsford. All advisors at the firm are certified financial planners (CFPs). Founder Paul Byron Hill is also a chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and accredited tax advisor (ATA). VP Kam-lin Hill is also a ChFC, accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA) and chartered global management accountant (CGMA).  

High-net-worth individuals make up the largest portion of Professional Financial’s client base. The firm also manages the assets of individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

Clients of this fee-based firm will encounter a set of minimum requirements that vary depending on the type of services they receive. For example, if you’re looking for investment management services, your minimum quarterly fee could be anywhere from $1,250 to $7,500. For stand-alone wealth, and planning consulting, the minimum shifts to $10,000.

Professional Financial Background

Paul Byron Hill opened the firm in 1993 and remains its owner to this day.

This firm offers its investment management and wealth planning consulting services in tiers. These range from “introductory” to “standard” to “preferred” to “premier.” The higher you go, the more in-depth and comprehensive the services you’ll receive will be.

Professional Financial Investing Strategy

Professional Financial generally invests client assets in stocks. This can mean either directly in individual securities or indirectly through mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). When assessing which investments to incorporate into your portfolio, the firm adheres to these three beliefs, according to its Form ADV:

• Securities are fairly priced in liquid and competitive markets.

• Diversification is essential.

• Investing involves trading off risks and costs with expected returns.

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LynnLeigh & Company is a fee-based investment advisory firm. This means that the firm's advisors may be compensated when they advise clients to buy certain securities, or when they make that decision for the assets they manage. However, it should be noted that while a fee-based model could potentially create a conflict of interest, the firm is required to uphold a strict fiduciary responsibility to each client and always put their interests first. 

The firm does not have a specific minimum asset requirement in order to obtain its services. The firm works primarily with retail investors, which includes offering financial and portfolio management services. The services offered include tax planning, risk management, retirement planning and cash flow management.

LynnLeigh & Company Background

The firm was founded in 2016 by Kelly Olczak and Becky Gillette, an all-female-led ownership and management team. Kelly has obtained her CFP designation while Becky has received the CRPC and focuses heavily on compliance. The firm has three total advisors and works with more than $100 million in assets under management today. 

LynnLeigh & Company Investing Strategy

The LynnLeigh advisory team starts with identifying each individual investor's goals, areas of concern, and life priorities. Then a plan will be developed that aligns with that individual investor's lifestyle and desires. They even offer a website to help track the client's goals. The firm creates a long-term roadmap and continues to have ongoing communications with the client to adjust and adapt as goals or lives change. The firm aims to make the financial goals of each client a reality.