Top Financial Advisors in New York State

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Cerity Partners is not only the top-rated financial advisor in New York State, it's also ranked among the 10 top advisory firms in the United States. This massive firm has over $120 billion in client assets under management (AUM), significantly more than any other firm on this list. Cerity, which does not have a minimum account size, serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as institutional clients. 

Cerity Partners is a fee-based firm, since the firm and individual advisors can receive additional commissions related to certain transactions. While this creates conflicts of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in clients' best interests. 

Cerity Partners offers a wide range of services, including investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting and tax planning. Its offerings also include portfolio construction and monitoring, strategic asset allocation, manager selection, estate and trust planning, tax preparation, insurance and risk management and family office services. 

The firm allocates assets across broad categories such as cash, fixed income, equities, specialty and private markets and sub-asset classes. It uses various methods of analysis—including charting, fundamental, technical, cyclical, quantitative and proprietary computer-aided models—when evaluating investments. The firm’s approach emphasizes diversification but acknowledges that diversification does not eliminate market risk.

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Compound Planning is a New York City-based advisory firm that serves individuals, high-net-worth families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients and financial intermediaries. The firm generally requires a $25,000 minimum account size for managed portfolio and TAMP services, though this minimum may be waived or negotiated. It does not require a minimum asset level for financial planning and consulting services.

Compound Planning offers a range of services, including discretionary investment management, financial planning and consulting, retirement planning, estate planning analysis and family office support. Its offerings also include institutional advisory services, retirement plan advisory services and more.

The firm uses risk-based model asset allocations that may include ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities and alternative investments. Its investment approach may incorporate fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, technical and cyclical analysis, direct indexing, ESG-focused funds and periodic portfolio rebalancing.

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Wealthspire Advisors, another fee-only firm, works with more than 8,000 individual clients. These clients are mixed between non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves institutional clients, including retirement plans, charities, government entities and corporations.

Wealthspire's services are geared towards individuals and families who want holistic wealth management. This includes many types of financial planning, as well as investment management. The Wealthspire team includes a number of professional certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified exit planning advisor (CEPA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), among other designations.

The firm follows an investment strategy built around managing risk through diversified portfolios that span a wide range of asset classes. The firm uses an asset allocation model that's influenced by principles employed by large endowments and foundations. Investment decisions are informed by a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, with attention paid to fees, taxes and minimizing unnecessary portfolio changes.

Wealthspire offers a range of portfolio guidelines tailored to different investor profiles and risk preferences, and it continually monitors portfolios and evaluates individual investment decisions in the context of the broader portfolio. 

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Rockefeller Global Investment Management, based in New York City, is a division of Rockefeller & Co. LLC and operates under Rockefeller Capital Management. The firm works with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, family offices, financial advisors, charities, religious organizations, foundations, endowments, ERISA-regulated plans, trusts, sovereign wealth funds, state and local government plans, registered investment companies, UCITS funds and other domestic and offshore investment vehicles. 

Rockefeller Global Investment Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, model-delivery investment management, sub-advisory services and portfolio management for separately managed account program sponsors. Its offerings also include asset allocation guidance, macroeconomic and market insights, proxy voting and class action processing.

The firm manages strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives and multi-asset portfolios. Its equity strategies include global equity, U.S. small cap, ESG equity, climate solutions, ocean engagement and long/short equity approaches. Rockefeller Global Investment Management also manages private equity, venture capital, taxable fixed income, tax-exempt fixed income, custom cash and opportunistic municipal bond strategies.

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First Manhattan Co. (FMC) is a fee-based firm headquartered in New York City. It serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as institutional clients. The firm provides individually tailored investment portfolios in equity and/or fixed-income securities through discretionary and non-discretionary accounts. First Manhattan also advises private investment funds and serves as investment advisor to two exchange-traded funds.

The firm's team of advisors and staff hold a number of professional certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and charterd financial analyst (CFA) credentials. 

First Manhattan focuses on managing assets for long-term capital appreciation and emphasizes research as the core of its investment process. Portfolio managers and analysts generate and vet investment ideas by analyzing a broad universe of companies across industries, often meeting face-to-face with company management, customers, suppliers, competitors and consultants. 

A majority of assets managed by First Manhattan are invested in equity securities, including publicly and privately issued stocks, convertible securities and index-tracking instruments. The firm’s portfolio managers follow a value-focused approach with an emphasis on managing risk, selecting companies that demonstrate strong fundamentals, including consistent profitability, healthy balance sheets and management teams aligned with shareholder interests.

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Vanderbilt Advisory Services is a Woodbury, New York-based advisory firm that serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, LLCs, trusts, estates, 401(k) plans and SEP/PSP plans. The firm does not require a minimum level of assets or income to become a client.

Vanderbilt Advisory Services is a fee-based firm, since advisor representatives may be dually registered with affiliated broker-dealer Vanderbilt Securities, LLC and may also act as insurance agents. These advisors may receive compensation for selling securities and insurance products, which represents a potential conflict of interest. The firm states that advisor representatives may not receive both advisory fees and transaction-related commissions in the same advisory account.

The firm offers a range of services, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning and consulting, annual planning services, third-party investment advisor access and tactical ETF model portfolios. Vanderbilt Advisory Services may use fundamental analysis, technical analysis, charting and strategic asset allocation when developing investment recommendations.

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Snowden Capital Advisors, which also operates under the Snowden Lane brand, is a New York-based advisory firm founded in 2011. The firm is headquartered at 540 Madison Avenue and primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional clients. It generally requires a minimum account size of $100,000, though it may accept smaller accounts at its discretion.

Snowden Capital Advisors is a fee-based firm, since it earns advisory fees and may also receive commissions through affiliated brokerage and insurance entities. This represents a potential conflict of interest. That said, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests.

The firm offers a range of services, including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, wrap fee portfolio management, financial planning, asset allocation and estate planning consulting. It also provides retirement planning, education planning, insurance planning, risk management, ERISA consulting, IRA rollover advice, held-away retirement plan management, cash management and treasury services.

Snowden Capital Advisors generally customizes portfolios based on each client’s objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon. Client assets may be allocated across fixed income, equities, ETFs, mutual funds, alternative investments, derivatives, emerging market securities and digital assets. 

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Ritholtz Wealth Management, based in New York City, is a fee-based advisory firm. Like some other firms on this list, Ritholtz Wealth Management does not have a minimum account size or minimum investment requirement. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, institutional investors and corporate retirement plan clients.

The team features advisors with professional credentials including the chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations.

Ritholtz Wealth Management offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, online wealth management through Good Advice, automated advisory services through Liftoff, retirement plan consulting and college financial planning. Its broader services may also include tax planning, estate planning, insurance services, corporate retirement services, family office services, bookkeeping, bill pay and coordination with outside professionals.

The firm generally uses a goal-based planning process that incorporates behavioral economics, asset allocation and model portfolios. Portfolios are typically designed around each client’s objectives and may be adjusted based on planning needs and investment strategy.

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Summit Rock Advisors, based in New York City, takes the next spot on our list. However, its $100 million investment minimum is higher than any other firm in the top 10, making it one of the most exclusive firms in the country. 

Summit Rock is a fee-only firm, as advisors do not receive third-party commissions from selling securities or insurance. This differs from a fee-based firm, as these firms can earn commissions in addition to client-paid fees.

Generally speaking, Summit Rock serves as an outsourced investment office to a select group of U.S.-based families and charitable institutions, delivering independent and customized financial advice. 

The firm’s investment philosophy centers on preserving capital, reducing volatility and enhancing long-term purchasing power. To do this, Summit Rock employs broad asset class diversification and selects external managers through quantitative and qualitative due diligence. The firm looks to manage risk by diversifying across strategy, manager, geography, sector and vintage year. The firm also manages its own private pooled investment vehicles, which provide clients with investment opportunities across less-efficient asset classes. 

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Manning & Napier Advisors is a fee-based firm that employs a large team of advisors who work with thousands of clients, the majority of whom are individuals and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves institutional clients like retirement plans and charitable organzations. Account minimums at Manning & Napier Advisors range from $100,000 to $20 million.

Some of the advisors at this firm are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer. These advisors may receive compensation for selling securities and other financial products, which represents a potential conflict of interest. That said, the firm is a fiduciary and is legally obligated to put the interests of clients first.

Manning & Napier Advisors provides clients with a wide range of advisory services. The firm primarily offers investment management services, though financial planning is rolled into its wealth management services. Manning & Napier works with clients either directly or through unaffiliated third-party advisors. 

Manning & Napier builds investment portfolios using both top-down and bottom-up analysis. Top-down means looking at broad trends like the economy, interest rates and market cycles, while bottom-up means closely studying individual companies and investments. An internal team sets the firm’s market outlook and makes broad allocation decisions, while strategy teams select specific stocks, bonds and other assets.