Finding the Top Financial Advisor Firms in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Are you looking for a financial advisor in the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania area? To help you begin your search, SmartAsset has put together this list of the top firms in the city. You can check out specific information about each firm, including their investing strategies, qualifications, services, minimums and more. To connect with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, try SmartAsset's free matching 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 | Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $7,611,767,964 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
2 | Valley National Advisers, Inc. Find an Advisor | $1,254,691,224 | $1,500 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$1,500 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
|
3 | Quadrant Private Wealth Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,410,012,634 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
4 | Corbenic Partners, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,111,901,622 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
5 | Youngs Advisory Group, Inc. Find an Advisor | $587,755,086 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
6 | O'Hagan Group, Inc. Find an Advisor | $612,000,000 | No minimum requirement |
| Minimum AssetsNo minimum requirementFinancial Services
|
7 | MTM Financial Group, LLC Find an Advisor | $367,200,000 | $100,000 |
| Minimum Assets$100,000Financial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Bethlehem, 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:
- 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.
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management is the top firm on our list. The firm doesn’t impose a set account minimum for its services, though it notes in its Form ADV that it has "target client sizes that vary dependent on advisor, client type, relationship and breadth of services." At its own discretion, the firm may choose not to work with a particular client outside of its target size.
Fittingly, this fee-based firm has a large staff. It collectively features such certifications as accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), chartered retirement plan specialist (CRPS), certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) and more.
Certain advisors at this firm can earn commissions from the sale of insurance products or securities. Despite the potential conflict of interest this creates, the firm is legally bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests at all times.
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management Background
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management began offering investment advice in 1998. Today, Cornerstone Benefits, Inc. (CBI) owns the firm, and it is in turn owned by Cornerstone employees.
The firm can provide guidance around many aspects of your financial life such as managing debt, retirement savings, estate planning and tax concerns. The firm works with about as many high-net-worth individuals as it does non-high-net-worth individuals. It also extends its services to charities, pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses, insurance companies and government entities.
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management Investment Strategy
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management aims to build diversified portfolios that adhere to the client’s investment goals, tolerance for risk and other key factors. To determine the proper asset allocation for its clients, the firm also takes into account market conditions and available research. Using research compiled by major firms in the industry, the firm notes, “these are prognostications of what can be expected over the next five, 10 and 15 years from these sources and can vary significantly from historical measures.” The firm uses those sources to model out the returns it expects from particular portfolios.
Valley National Advisers
Valley National Advisers (VNA) is a large fee-based financial advisor firm. This means that some of the advisors who work here can receive commissions when they sell insurance products or trade securities. While this does represent a potential conflict of interest, the firm is legally bound by its fiduciary duty to act in your best interest at all times.
VNA does not impose a specific minimum account size for its services. However, it may require a minimum annual fee of $1,500. Overall, the firm works mostly with non-high-net-worth individuals, though it also maintains advisory relationships with high-net-worth individuals and their trusts and estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations and businesses.
Valley National Advisers Background
Valley National Advisers was established back in 1985. Chairman and founder Thomas M. Riddle owns 100% of this firm. The advisory team at VNA collectively holds several notable industry designations, including certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA), accredited estate planner (AEP) and more.
VNA specializes in tax services, trust services, insurance planning, retirement planning, education funding through 529 plans and investment management.
Valley National Advisers Investment Strategy
Valley National Advisers seeks to build an investment strategy that takes your risk tolerance into consideration while achieving your financial goals. In order to do this, the firm may engage in the following:
- Long-term purchases (securities held at least a year)
- Short-term purchases (securities held less than a year)
- Trading (securities sold within 30 days)
- Margin transactions
Advisors may invest using a wide variety of different investment securities.
Quadrant Private Wealth Management
Quadrant Private Wealth Management is a financial advisor firm in central Bethlehem. The firm's team of advisors includes such certifications as certified private wealth advisor (CPWA), certified investment management analyst (CIMA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), and certified financial planner (CFP).
The firm's client base features a nearly even split between high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm does not work with any institutional clients. Although Quadrant does not require a minimum account size, it does use a $15,000 minimum annual fee.
As a fee-based firm, certain on-staff advisors here may be able to earn commissions for trading securities or selling insurance products. The firm still abides by fiduciary duty, though, legally binding it to act in your best interest.
Quadrant Private Wealth Management Background
In 2014, Quadrant Private Wealth Management was founded under the name Quadrant Private Wealth, LLC. Today, the firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus Operating, LLC, a large network of financial advisor firms.
The firm offers an array of wealth planning and portfolio management services. More specifically, its services can offer guidance around several topics like business planning, cash flow forecasting, trust and estate planning, financial reporting, charitable giving, distribution planning, tax planning and manager due diligence.
Quadrant Private Wealth Management Investment Strategy
Quadrant Private Wealth Management seeks to build diversified portfolios by evaluating securities utilizing fundamental analysis and other techniques. This entails studying company financials, sector conditions, market projections, readily available market research and other data to make investment decisions.
Corbenic Partners
Corbenic Partners is a fee-based advisory firm that technically doesn't a minimum account size for new clients. However, should you engage the firm, there will be a $7,500 minimum annual fee for investment advisory services. Most of Corbenic's client base is made up of high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also works with businesses and retirement plans.
The advisory team at this firm has certifications such as certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA) and financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP).
There are advisors who work at this firm that can earn commissions from insurance and securities transactions. This creates a potential conflict of interest, though the firm's fiduciary duty still legally binds it to act in clients' best interests.
Corbenic Partners Background
Corbenic Partners was formed in 1998. Managing partner Brad Griswold, Robert Vitale, William Velekei, Anthony Deutsch and Anthony Bragano currently own the firm. Griswold has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years.
Corbenic Partners Investment Strategy
Like many firms on this list, Corbenic Partners aims for strong returns and achieving long-term goals of clients by prioritizing asset allocation strategies and market research. When building your portfolio, the firm considers your risk tolerance and financial situation. It also utilizes the following methods:
- Charting: This method of analysis is performed using patterns to identify current trends and trend reversals to forecast the direction of prices.
- Fundamental: This method of analysis is performed on historical and present data, with the goal of making financial forecasts.
- Technical: This method of analysis is performed on historical and present data, focusing on price and trade volume, to forecast the direction of prices.
Youngs Advisory Group
Youngs Advisory Group is a fee-only firm, which means all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees rather than a combination of advisory fees and third-party commissions. The advisory team at this firm includes certifications such as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited asset management specialist (AAMS), accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA) and more.
To open an account with this firm, you'll need at least $1 million in investable assets. As a result, the firm mostly works with high-net-worth individuals. Non-high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations are also clients of Youngs Advisory Group.
Youngs Advisory Group Background
Youngs Advisory Group has been in operation since 1996. The firm’s principal shareholders are president Webster J. Youngs, chief compliance officer (CCO) John G. Youngs and chief planning officer James M. Beenders. All three owners still work for the firm.
The team’s advisors provide financial planning and investment management services. The firm’s advisors can build a comprehensive financial plan addressing multiple tasks based on your individual needs. The firm uses thorough personal interviews to gather information about your financial standing, tax status, future goals and risk tolerance.
Youngs Advisory Group Investment Strategy
The firm creates diversified portfolios based on your personal financial and investment goals. But it generally focuses on long-term investments, typically holding positions for at least one year or longer. Youngs Advisory Group states the following in its Form ADV: "We are generally not seeking to time the markets with short-term trades; we want exposure to a broad assortment of asset classes and styles, and we want to maintain this over time."
O'Hagan Group
O'Hagan Group offers financial advisory services to trusts, and estates, and specializes in helping individuals in the airline industry. The firm is fee-based, meaning either they or a broker-dealer they work with may receive commissions from products they recommend. While this may cause a potential conflict of interest, the firm is under a legal fiduciary responsibility to provide the best advice for their clients.
The firm does not have an account minimum.
O'Hagan Group Background
The O'Hagan Group was founded in late 2009 by John O'Hagan, who started his career as an airline pilot. He worked at Raymond James before starting his own firm to help employees throughout the airline industry be prepared for retirement. The firm grew over the years to what is today through that main goal.
O'Hagan Group Investing Strategy
The O'Hagan Group believes that all good financial planning starts with understanding the needs of the individual investor. The firm doesn't deliver pre-packaged investment portfolios and instead creates the right mix of investments based on what they learn from their clients. The firm primarily uses a combination of stocks, mutual funds and ETFs with their clients.
MTM Financial Group
MTM Financial Group is a financial advisory firm that has a minimum account size of $100,000. However, depending on the specifics of your financial situation, the firm may waive this requirement. The staff of advisors at MTM includes one accredited asset management specialist (AAMS).
This firm works primarily with individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. It also provides services to non-high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and pension and profit-sharing plans.
This firm operates on a fee-based arrangement. This means some advisors may be registered to sell certain products or securities and make commissions for doing so. Despite this arrangement, the firm abides by fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in clients' best interests.
MTM Financial Group Background
MTM Financial Group can trace its roots back to 2008. The firm is currently owned by founder and president Gene Dickison. According to MTM's website, Dickison also runs a show called "More than Money with Gene Dickison." It includes "TV and radio shows, newsletters, live events and other content to help thousands enjoy their financial lives to the greatest extent possible."
The firm provides advice on several financial topics including portfolio management, estate planning, trust funds, and education funding through vehicles like 529 college savings plans. In addition, the firm produces content around such topics for both a tv show and a radio segment.
MTM Financial Group Investing Strategy
MTM Financial Group creates and monitors investment portfolios on behalf of its clients. It also emphasizes cash flow strategies from these investments at retirement. Its securities selection process hinges on modern portfolio theory. This prioritizes diversification in order to capture strong returns and protect against market risk.