Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in West Hartford, Connecticut
Looking for a local financial advisor? West Hartford, Connecticut has many options to pick from, so we created this list to help you narrow the field and compare firms. Our experts have laid out the services, client bases, account minimums, advisor certifications and more for each firm on our list. If you'd prefer to be matched with an advisor serving your local area, try using SmartAsset's free advisor tool.
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 | GYL Financial Synergies, LLC  Find an Advisor | $6,069,342,027 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
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| 2 | Private Capital Group, LLC dba Wealthspire Advisors  Find an Advisor | $1,012,843,208 | $500,000 |
| Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
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| 3 | Fierston Financial Group Inc  Find an Advisor | $835,963,837 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
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| 4 | Mullaney Keating & Wright Inc  Find an Advisor | $835,963,837 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in West Hartford, 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.
GYL Financial Synergies
GYL Financial Synergies sits atop our West Hartford list with more assets under management (AUM) than the three other firms combined. GYL works with both individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, government entities and businesses. If you're an individual, the minimum account size at GYL is $1 million. Institutional clients are held to a $10 million minimum requirement.
This firm has a wide range of certifications across its staff. These include eight certified financial planners (CFPs), four certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), three certified public accountants (CPAs), two accredited estate planners (AEPs), one certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and more.
GYL is a fee-only advisory firm, meaning the entirety of its compensation comes from client-paid fees. (That's different from a fee-based firm, which may also receive payments from other sources, such as commissions for insurance sales.)
GYL Financial Synergies also claims the No. 2 spot on our list of the top financial advisors in Connecticut.
GYL Financial Synergies Background
Founded in 2016 by CEO Gerald Goldberg, president of private wealth services Jonathan Yolles and senior wealth advisor Martin Resnick, GYL Financial Synergies is a relatively young firm. The trio of co-founders has almost 80 years of financial services experience. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus Operating, LLC, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus LLC.
The firm provides investment management and financial planning services, including retirement planning, risk management, cash flow planning and more. Its investment management services are available on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis, meaning some clients give GYL full authority to manage their account, while others require the firm to consult them when making portfolio decisions.
GYL Financial Synergies Investment Strategy
Advisors at GYL Financial Synergies begin each relationship by defining your goals and expectations. Based on this input, your advisor will then craft an investment strategy and portfolio that fit your risk tolerance, time horizon, income requirements and more. Each client has the right to make amendments to their investment plan at any time.
The firm looks to ensure your portfolio is constantly balanced and in line with your preferences. While advisors do adhere to these guidelines, the firm tends to pursue long-term strategies based on asset allocation rather than market timing and stock picking methods. It does this through Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT), which seeks to optimize the balance between risk and expected returns.
Private Capital Group dba Wealthspire Advisors
Private Capital Group dba Wealthspire Advisors (PCG) is next on our list. The advisory team includes the certifications of certified financial planners (CFPs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered mutual fund counselor (CMFC).
The firm's client base consists primarily of individuals with and without a high net worth. The firm also works with pension plans, profit-sharing plans and corporations. To open an account with PCG, you'll need at least $500,000 in investable assets. This minimum is adjustable and waivable under certain circumstances.
Some of this fee-based firm's advisors can earn commissions from the sale of specific securities or insurance products. While this has the potential to present a conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary, and is therefore legally obligated to act with your best interest in mind.
Wealthspire Advisors Background
Benjamin Kille co-founded the firm in 2003 and is currently the principal owner. Prior to starting the firm, he worked at CIGNA/Lincoln Financial Services for 15 years.
PCG provides a range of financial services, including asset allocation strategies, cash flow analysis, tax planning, estate planning, investment management, retirement plans, endowments and more. The firm manages all assets on a discretionary basis.
Private Capital Group Investment Strategy
The three main principles of PCG's investment strategy are "disciplined management," "investment philosophy" and "investment research." The firm uses fundamental, technical and charting methods of analysis when deciding how to invest your money. Advisors utilize long- and short-term purchases, as well as trading and margin transactions, to help drive returns in client portfolios.
Portfolios usually consist of many different types of investments, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual fixed-income holdings, individual equities and alternative investments. Advisors may use other securities when they see fit. Like many firms, PCG takes into account the financial objectives of each client when crafting individual portfolios, including their risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs.
Fierston Financial Group
Fierston Financial Group, another fee-only firm, works almost entirely with individual clients, both with and without a high net worth. However, it also counts some pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses and charitable organizations among its client base.
The minimum account size at Fierston is $1 million, but can be negotiated. As a fee-only firm, Fierston only receives fees directly from clients. This is markedly different from a fee-based firm, which receives commissions and other transaction-based forms of payment from outside sources. By eschewing such commission-based compensation, a fee-only firm can avoid many conflicts of interest.
Fierston's team of advisors includes the designations of certified financial planners (CFPs) and certified public accountants (CPAs).
Fierston Financial Group Background
Fierston Financial Group was founded in 1989 by David and Seth Fierston, but Brian Fierston joined the firm two years after its inception. Today, Brian and Seth are the firm's principal owners and act as co-presidents. David Fierston is a certified public accountant (CPA), Brian Fierston is a certified financial planner (CFP) and Seth Fierston is both a CFP and a CPA.
The firm provides a relatively standard range of services, from investment management to financial planning and consulting on a wide range of topics. The firm can help clients with estate planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, philanthropic planning, tax planning and more.
Fierston Financial Group Investment Strategy
Fierston Financial Group develops portfolios for each of its clients based on their individual needs and preferences, but clients are able to impose reasonable restrictions as to how their money is managed. Advisors create and supervise client accounts based on their time horizon, risk tolerance and more.
Fierston incorporates the principles of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) into its investment strategies, which are typically geared for the long term. The firm emphasizes an effective and efficient asset allocation strategy rather than trying to time markets to produce short-term gains. Advisors look to diversify portfolios using mainly mutual funds, and it does not support frequent trading.
Mullaney Keating & Wright
The final firm on our West Hartford list is Mullaney Keating & Wright. To become a client, you'll need to have at least $1 million in investable assets, though this requirement is negotiable.
This firm provides its services to a client base consisting mainly of individuals, some of whom have a high net worth. The firm also works with a small number of pensions, profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.
Mullaney Keating & Wright is a fee-only firm. This means that its only compensation comes from client fees, not commissions for selling third-party products or services.
Mullaney Keating & Wright Background
Mullaney Keating & Wright opened its doors in 1997. However, its predecessor firm, Mullaney & Associates, was founded in 1994. President and director Thomas F. Mullaney Jr., Anthony V. Lynch IV and Francis C. Carpentier are the firm's three owners. Carpentier is a certified financial planner (CFP).
This firm provides asset management services through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management. The firm also provides financial planning services in relation to financial goals, taxes, cash flow, investments, insurance, retirement, death, disability and estate planning.
Mullaney Keating & Wright Investment Strategy
Mullaney Keating & Wright tailors its investment strategies to the individual needs of each client. This involves completing an overview of their time horizon, risk tolerance, liquidity requirements and more. In analyzing potential stocks for client portfolios, the firm uses fundamental, technical, mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) methods of analysis.
The firm tends to pursue strategies that incorporate long-term purchases and option writing. Investment recommendations are wide-ranging, and may include mutual funds, ETFs, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities and more.
