Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Westlake, Ohio
Finding the right financial advisor can be difficult. To help you narrow down your search, we formed a list of the top advisors in the Westlake area. Though the area presents many firm options, our list only includes firms that met certain requirements. In our review, we compare each firm’s advisory services, assets under management (AUM), fee structure, investment strategies and more. If you’d prefer another option, SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool connects you with up to three vetted advisors who serve your area within minutes, and you can have free introductory calls with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
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| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Lesjak Planning, LLC
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$313,700,000 | No set account minimum |
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Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 2 |
Cornerstone Wealth Management
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$329,921,552 | No set account minimum |
|
Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 3 |
Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC
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$261,100,000 | No set account minimum |
|
Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 4 |
JPS Financial, LLC
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$232,639,632 | $500,000 |
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Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
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| 5 |
Elios Financial Group, Inc.
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$208,684,000 | $150,000 |
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Minimum Assets$150,000Financial Services
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| 6 |
Michael Brady & Co., LLC
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$138,868,928 | $250,000 |
|
Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Westlake, 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.
Lesjak Planning
Lesjak Planning is a fee-only advisory firm providing wealth management services to individuals with and without a high net worth, pension plans, estates, trusts and charitable organizations. The firm serves nearly 400 clients, and Lesjak has hundreds of millions in AUM. Additionally, each of the firm’s advisors holds the certified financial planner (CFP) designation.
Lesjak is compensated for its advisory services through asset-based fees, hourly charges and fixed fees. The firm has no set account minimum.
Lesjak Planning Background
Lesjak Planning functions as a family-owned financial planning firm that was formed in 1980. The firm mainly provides investment advisory and financial planning services. Lesjak also offers new clients Premiere Asset Management Program and its Annual Management Program (AMP). The firm uses both programs in conjunction with an asset allocation model that’s specific to each client’s investment objectives.
Lesjak’s financial planning services may also include estate, tax, retirement and insurance planning. Clients have access to various educational opportunities, including private seminars, newsletters and one-on-one client meetings.
Lesjak Planning Investment Strategy
Lesjak Planning generally employs a long-term investment strategy, and the firm uses portfolio diversification as a means of increasing investment return rates. Lesjak also explains on its firm brochure that it believes its buy-and-hold approach will reduce volatility in client portfolios.
Firm advisors generally create asset allocation models using equities, fixed income and treasury securities.
Cornerstone Wealth Management
Fee-only financial advisor firm Cornerstone Wealth Management has the third-largest amount in client assets and more than 370 clients, 302 of which are individual clients. The firm’s advisors offer financial guidance to non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations.
The firm doesn’t require a minimum account size. Firm qualifications include the certified financial planner (CFP) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations.
Cornerstone Wealth Management Background
Established in 1995 under the ownership of Nick Dionisos, Cornerstone Wealth Management chiefly offers portfolio management and financial planning. The firm’s wealth management services encompass various areas of financial planning, including:
- Insurance
- Tax and cash flow
- Retirement planning
- Education
- Death and disability
- Personal
Firm professionals may also offer advice on estate planning, budgetary planning and business planning.
Cornerstone Wealth Management Investment Strategy
Cornerstone Wealth Management invests in a range of securities, including stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options contracts, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal and corporate debt securities and U.S. government securities.
The firm utilizes fundamental and technical analysis to evaluate investment opportunities and market trends. Cornerstone also implements a long-term investment approach, typically investing securities within a 12- to 24-month time horizon.
Paradigm Wealth Management
Paradigm Wealth Management has millions in AUM, and the firm’s small staff of advisors serves over 100 individual clients. Paradigm is compensated through asset-based fees and hourly fees for its advisory services. The firm doesn’t impose a minimum account size for its clients, which include non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations.
Paradigm’s fee structure is fee-only, so advisors only receive compensation for the services they provide and not for the products they sell.
Paradigm Wealth Management Background
This Westlake-based firm was formed in 2008. Primarily owned by managing partner Douglas Kuhlman, the firm specializes in asset management, financial planning and advisor referral services. Paradigm also offers educational seminars that cover topics such as asset allocation, diversification, time horizon and risk tolerance.
Paradigm Wealth Management Investment Strategy
The firm uses investment policy statements to identify each client’s long- and short-term investment goals. Paradigm uses modern portfolio theory (MPT) and portfolio diversification to allocate assets across different asset classes. The firm generally offers advice on CDs, equities, municipal securities, mutual fund shares, ETFs, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and options contracts on securities and commodities.
Paradigm also employs long-term purchases, margin transactions and option writing. The firm’s securities analysis methods include charting, technical, cyclical and fundamental analysis.
JPS Financial
JPS Financial is a fee-based firm serving 173 clients, as of March 2023, including non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Because the firm is fee-based, advisors may recommend or sell insurance products for a commission. This can create a conflict of interest if advisors favor commission-based products over client needs. The firm’s fiduciary duty prevents this, as it requires advisors to work in each client’s best interest.
JPS Financial requires a minimum account size of $500,000, and the firm charges advisors asset-based, hourly charges and fixed fees. However, the firm may waive the minimum account size requirement at its discretion.
JPS Financial Background
Established in 2014, JPS Financial offers portfolio management and consulting, financial planning, pension consulting and portfolio consulting services. The firm also provides educational seminars on diversification, asset allocation, risk tolerance and time horizon.
JPS Financial’s owners are John Pinter, Greg Pinter and Steve Pinter. John Pinter is a chartered life underwriter (CLU) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC), while Greg Pinter is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP).
JPS Financial Investment Strategy
JPS Financial primarily offers investment advice on mutual funds and equity securities, but it may shift its advice to securities that suit a client’s specific investment objectives. The firm’s investment strategies include long-term purchases, fundamental analysis and short-term purchases.
Elios Financial Group
Elios Financial Group ranks fifth on our list and is a fee-based financial advisor firm. Therefore, advisors can earn commission-based compensation from the sale of insurance products and mutual funds, potentially creating a conflict of interest. However, the firm’s fiduciary duty protects client needs.
The firm has more than 260 individual clients, both high-net-worth individuals and non-high-net-worth. The firm’s advisor team consists of chartered financial consultants (ChFCs), chartered life underwriters (CLUs) and accredited investment fiduciary designations. Elios has a $150,000 account minimum.
Elios Financial Group Background
Elios Financial Group, a financial planning and investment management firm, was founded in 1994. The firm mainly provides portfolio management and financial planning and consulting services, but it also offers advisor referral services. Elios’ services additionally feature free portfolio risk analysis.
James T. Elios is the firm’s sole owner, and he serves as chief executive officer (CEO).
Elios Financial Group Investment Strategy
Elios says on its website that its mission is to help its clients by easing their transition to retirement. The firm employs several investment strategies, including asset allocation, fundamental analysis, portfolio rebalancing, modern portfolio theory (MPT), technical analysis and long- and short-term purchases.
The firm uses mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks and bonds when building client portfolios.
Michael Brady & Co.
Fee-only Michael Brady & Co. is an entirely individual-centric firm. In fact, its client base is dominated by non-high-net-worth individuals, along with a smaller number of high-net-worth individuals. The firm requires a minimum initial investment of $250,000 from new clients, though it may be willing to waive this. On-staff advisors at this firm are certified financial planners (CFPs).
Michael Brady & Co. Background
Michael Brady & Co. was founded back in 2003, meaning it's been in business for almost two decades. The firm is majority-owned by its founder, Michael Brady, and minority-owned by his son, Cameron Brady.
Investment management and financial planning services are both available through Michael Brady & Co. Financial planning can cover a wide variety of topics, like retirement, insurance, taxes, cash flow, estates, education funding, financial issues and more.
Michael Brady & Co. Investing Strategy
Michael Brady & Co. tailors each client portfolio based on their personal needs. This involves a number of important factors, such as your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, income requirements and long-term financial goals. The firm may even allow you to deem certain types of securities uninvestable should you so choose.
Your advisor will build a diversified asset allocation plan for you based on the above. This plan will detail what types of securities will exist within your portfolio and what percentage of the whole they will occupy. Investments typically made by the firm include individual stocks, bond mutual funds, balanced mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), money market funds and bonds.
