Top Financial Advisors in Rochester, NY

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Sage, Rutty & Co., Inc. is a fee-based firm with numerous advisors on staff. Certifications include Certified Financial Planners (CFPs®) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF).

Although the firm serves high-net-worth clients, nearly three-quarters of its clients are non-high-net-worth individuals. In addition, the firm serves trusts and estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses. You’ll need anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 to open an account with the firm, depending on the type of account you’re looking to open.

The firm offers quite a few advisory services, including retirement income planning, estate planning, tax mitigation, investment management, trust creation and management and legacy/inheritance planning

Many of the above offerings encompass a range of services. For example, retirement planning encompasses the management of your IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) account, as well as any pension or profit-sharing plans, and the process of turning your investments into retirement income.

A relationship with Sage, Rutty & Co. Inc. opens with an advisor-client meeting. At this time, you’ll discuss and come to an agreement on what your financial goals and retirement needs are, in addition to your risk tolerance and time horizon. The firm strives to make this an inclusive process for clients.

Although the firm tends to focus on long-term investing strategies, it does use some short-term tactics. These are used to try to take advantage of upticks in the market, as well as to satisfy any need for liquidity you might have.

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Cobblestone Capital Advisors is a fee-only firm with a minimum account requirement of $1,500,000. There are several advisors on staff; certifications earned include chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).

The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, insurance companies, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, insurance companies and corporations.

The firm offers a standard range of services to its clients, including portfolio management, private placement management, financial planning, family office and general consulting services.

Cobblestone Capital Advisors uses fundamental analysis most when analyzing securities. This involves attempting to discern the intrinsic value of a company rather than looking at historical pricing data.

The firm uses a mix of long-term purchase strategies, which involves purchasing securities with the idea of holding for at least a year, and short-term purchase strategies, which involves holding for less than a year.

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Ashton Thomas Securities is a hybrid firm that offers both investment advisory and broker-dealer services. While it provides fee-based investment management and financial planning, certain professionals affiliated with the firm may also earn commissions through the sale of securities and insurance products, such as variable annuities or life insurance. The firm acts as a fiduciary when offering investment advisory services and is obligated to act in its clients' best interests at all times.

Professional credentials found among the firm’s representatives include Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified public accountant (CPA).

There is no investment minimum required to become a client. However, individual programs may carry their own thresholds or fee schedules. For example, fees for certain wrap accounts may go up to 2.99% annually depending on the program and asset composition. Hourly financial planning and consulting services are also available, generally ranging from $150 to $1,000 depending on scope.

Ashton Thomas works with a diverse client base that includes individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. 

The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management through multiple platforms, including proprietary portfolios, Morningstar Managed Portfolios and independent third-party managers. Strategies may involve individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and, if requested, exposure to alternative investments and digital assets. Risk tolerance, time horizon, financial goals and liquidity needs are evaluated through client questionnaires and interviews to determine appropriate asset allocation. 

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Howe and Rusling has a chartered financial analyst (CFA) on staff, and requires at least $500,000 in investable assets to open an account. 

Howe and Rusling is a fee-only firm, meaning it only earns income from charging its clients management fees; this means it's not incentivized by commissions to sell you insurance or other financial products. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, investment companies, pension plans, insurance companies, charitable organizations and corporations.

The firm specializes in investment management, with a focus on large cap equities and intermediate fixed income. It also provides financial planning and consulting services.

When it comes to investment research, Howe & Rusling relies on what it calls “top-down” macroeconomic research and “bottom-up” fundamental analysis. Using its proprietary valuation model, the firm seeks out securities it deems to be undervalued. Then, the firm will make sure that the selected securities fit with a client’s risk profile and existing asset allocation.

When analyzing fixed income securities, the firm uses a proprietary econometric model, as well as yield curve analysis and monetary policy analysis.

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Novem Group is a fee-based firm with no account minimum. The firm primarily serves non-high-net-worth individuals. Novem Group says it also offers accounts that support anyone with a pension or profit-sharing plan, as well as businesses and corporations.

The team at Novem has earned a number of ceritifications including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), chartered life underwriter (CLU), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered divorce financial analyst (CDFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Clients may be offered insurance policies if they open an account with this firm. If you accept, your advisor may make a commission. While this may pose a potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary, which means it’s required to act in your best financial interest at all times.

Individuals can take advantage of services such as investment management, estate planning, charitable gift planning, long-term care planning and insurance analysis. There are also many services available for businesses and business owners, including retirement and pension planning, business succession, payroll services, executive compensation plans, college education 529 plans and insurance coverage evaluation. 

The advisory team at Novem Group considers your time horizon and risk tolerance to determine which short-term, long-term and margin trading investment strategies make sense for your portfolio. The firm uses a short-term approach to satisfy more immediate liquidity needs.

The firm focuses on diversifying across multiple asset classes and selecting an appropriate asset allocation. Your assets will likely be invested in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, equities, fixed income, debt securities, options, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and annuities.

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Forte Capital is a fee-only advisory firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. You’ll need at least $500,000 in investable assets in order to enter into a relationship with this firm.

The firm's staff holds certifications including certified public accountant (CPA), chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), chartered mutual fund counselor (CMFC) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).

The firm provides portfolio management services, financial planning services and general consulting services.

Forte Capital tailors each client’s portfolio to match the client’s investment goals and risk tolerance. It prioritizes asset allocation overstock selection as the most important long-term factor in a portfolio. The firm uses both fundamental and technical analysis to analyze securities.

The firm typically invests in domestic and foreign equity securities, ETFs, preferred securities, master limited partnerships, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, municipal and U.S. government and agency securities, mutual funds and options.

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Whitney & Company is the next firm on our list with millions in assets under management. The firm has multiple advisors on staff, including a certified public accountant (CPA).

The firm works with just over 400 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and corporations. You’ll need at least $500,000 in investable assets to be a client of this fee-only firm.

Whitney & Company centers its primary investment strategy around a simple concept: investing in quality securities that are selling below their economic value.

The firm primarily invests in equity securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, corporate debt securities, municipal and U.S. government securities and money market instruments.

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High Fall Advisors, Inc.’s serves primarily non-high-net-worth individuals, who comprise more than three-quarters of its client base. The firm requires a minimum account balance of $100,000.

While individual investors are its most common clients, the firm also works with charities, business owners and those with estates and trusts. Its advisors hold designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), certified business exit consultant (CBEC) and chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

High Fall Advisors, Inc. is a fee-based firm, and clients may be offered insurance policies which would earn advisors a commission. You are under no obligation to accept, and because the firm is a fiduciary, it is required to act in your best interest.

Clients who open individual accounts with this firm can get aid with retirement planning, estate planning, college planning, tax minimization and investment management. Business owners can also have plans built for the succession of their ownership. If advice is all you’re seeking, High Falls can oblige, and it offers advice on employee benefits, Social Security, insurance, tax preparation and health care.

The firm offers seven portfolio strategies: 401(k) management service, market trends account (MTA), sector rotation MTA, core market index portfolio, enhanced allocation strategy, select sector portfolio and personal securities portfolio. Each strategy uses varying types of investments and asset allocations.

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Seneca Financial Advisors, LLC manages millions in client assets. The firm’s team has certifications including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA) and personal financial specialist (PFS). This is a fee-only firm.

Seneca Financial Advisors has a multi-family office, which gives investors the chance to take a holistic and strategic look at their family assets. But this is just one of the many client types the firm serves: Its clients also include individuals, businesses, charitable organizations, trust and estate holders and those with pension and profit-sharing plans.

There is no minimum asset level required to open an account. This firm serves more individuals than high-net-worth individuals.

This firm says that it customizes its traditional financial planning services based on your needs, goals and account size. This comprehensive offering includes all of the following services: tax minimization and planning, healthcare and insurance cost planning, retirement planning, investment management, estate/gift planning, higher education planning, employee benefits planning, banking choices and legal matters. 

Seneca Financial Advisors’ portfolios are built on an “open architecture platform,” which better enables firms to create portfolios fully in the clients’ best interests. The firm typically invests its clients’ assets in ETFs and mutual funds, and it also uses multiple account managers. This deeper application of diversification, which is used on top of the diversification of your investments, makes it so no one manager controls too much of your money at once.

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Prentice Wealth Management is a fee-based firm headquartered in Rochester, New York. The firm provides investment management, financial planning and divorce consulting services to a broad range of clients, including non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations and small businesses. While Prentice describes itself as a fiduciary investment advisor, certain members of the team are also registered representatives of LPL Financial and may receive commissions for the sale of insurance or investment products.

PWM advisors may hold designations such as Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), enrolled agent (EA) or other credentials relevant to tax, estate and financial planning. 

There is no firmwide minimum investment requirement for standard asset management services. However, minimums apply to PWM’s Knightbridge Capital Management Program portfolios, ranging from $5,000 for cash management strategies to $500,000 for custom portfolios.

Prentice Wealth Management offers tailored financial strategies designed to help clients meet a wide variety of personal goals. Its asset management services include development of personal investment policies, portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring. 

In addition to traditional portfolio management, PWM offers specialized investment options through its Knightbridge Capital Management Program, which includes custom-built strategies, quantitative models, separately managed accounts, ESG-focused portfolios, and dividend strategies. The firm takes a disciplined approach to portfolio construction that blends strategic and tactical allocation with both fundamental and technical analysis.