Quick Look: Best Financial Advisors in Albany Near You
- Best for Wealth Management: Curran Wealth Management
- Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
- Best for Assistance after Divorce, Remarriage or Death: Godfrey Financial Associates
- Best for Versatility: Capital Financial
- Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
- Best for Comprehensive Planning: Dutch Asset Corporation
- Best for Investment Management: Arista Wealth Advisors
It’s easy to get lost in the sheer number of available financial advisors in Albany. Using key industry criteria, we’ve narrowed the list to the best financial advisors in New York’s capital city.
Best for Wealth Management: Curran Wealth Management
Curran Wealth Management has been in operation for 40 years as a registered investment advisor. The firm offers advice about retirement, college savings, estate planning and other financial needs. Its account minimum and starting fees are relatively low for a firm of its stature.
The firm specializes in wealth management, investment management and tax services. Curran’s strategy is to use institutional equity portfolios to generate returns above respective benchmark equity indices over a full market cycle with less risk. The firm targets fundamentally strong companies within the appropriate market capitalization ranges.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Commissions
- Performance-based fees
- Other
- Financial planning services
- Publication of periodicals or newsletters
Address
30 S. PEARL STREET, 9TH FLOOR ALBANY NY, 12207
Phone number
518-391-4200
- Customizable Auto Investing
Best Robo-Advisor: M1 Finance
You can create your own wealth-building center with the M1 Finance integrated platform. M1 Finance gives you the tools to create your own investment portfolio and an automated trading system.
Your mobile phone can help you easily track your investments and you can also make free stock or ETF trades on the pie-based interface. M1 Finance also allows you to expand your investment possibilities with fractional shares and loans as low as 2%.
The built-in checking account offers you the ability to accept direct deposits, transfer money and spend with a debit card. It completely integrates your financial system.
Best for Assistance after Divorce, Remarriage or Death: Godfrey Financial Associates
This woman-owned firm puts a premium on communication with clients after 25 years in the business. Godfrey Financial offers investment management, retirement, estate and insurance planning if you live in the Albany area.
Among the list of standard financial service categories, Godfrey Financial helps clients who become suddenly single due to the painful and stressful aftermath of divorce, spousal death or separation. The firm’s advisors can help organize your finances by getting control of cash flow, dealing with debt and managing taxes. Godfrey’s fees are 1.25% for the first $500,000.
Best for Versatility: Capital Financial
Capital Financial offers a wide variety of financial assistance. Each advisor at Capital Financial can choose the products and services best suited for their clients. You’ll get the advantage of a large company with the highly personalized attention of a small practice.
This firm accommodates many types of clients at different life stages. Capital handles brokerage and investment advisory accounts and investment advisory fees vary according to the complexity of the firm’s services, the amount of money managed and other factors.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
Address
6 TOWER PLACE ALBANY NY, 12203
Phone number
(518) 867-4000
- High Net Worth Individuals
Best Portfolio Analysis: Personal Capital
Personal Capital’s dashboard offers the tools you need to track and manage your cash flow and savings, review your net worth and monitor your investments — for free.
If you want dedicated advice and specialist support, it’ll cost more, whether you’re ready for Investment Services (you must have $100,000 to $200,000), Wealth Management (you’ll need over $200,000 to $1 million) or Private Client (you’ll need to invest over $1 million). The fee is 0.89% for the first $1 million. The more money you have, the lower you’ll pay. Personal Capital’s dashboard is compatible with Androids, iPhones and tablets.
Best for Comprehensive Planning: Dutch Asset Corporation
The financial advisors at Dutch Asset Corporation have a single focus — decisive portfolio management. The firm can provide investment management, retirement planning, trust design, tax planning and business exit strategies. Dutch Asset Corporation stresses risk management by investing in fundamentally solid companies, promoting growth with tech stock exposure and practicing tax efficiency.
Dutch Asset offers several 401(k) plans that meet employer demands. The firm also provides assistance for individual and family issues such as trust accounts, college savings and IRA accounts.
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
Address
11 N PEARL ST STE 1405 ALBANY NY, 12207
Phone number
518-478-8077
Best for Investment Management: Arista Wealth Advisors
Arista Wealth Advisors’ team of Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) practitioners and attorneys has a 31-year record of helping clients maneuver all types of financial situations and market conditions. Its goal is to build and maintain your wealth by adhering to a long-term asset management strategy. This involves client guidance for investment planning, retirement decision-making, insurance, taxes, education and other financial concerns.
Arista has a working relationship with Burke and Casserly PC, an Albany-based law firm. You’ll get a free risk assessment that gives you a numeric measure of your investment risk tolerance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it worth paying a financial advisor 1%?
A: Traditional advisors charge between 1% to 2% of assets under management. Robo-advisors can charge between 0.25% to 0.89%. You could put your investment money in managed ETFs. Check the earning history of each option, examine each company’s investment philosophies and determine whether these strategies match your risk tolerance.
Q: Do financial advisors check your credit?
A: No. A financial advisor typically doesn’t do a credit check on you or your family members. However, if you reach out to a financial advisor for debt-related help, a financial advisor can help you. This is where trust between you and your financial advisor is important. Properly assessing your debt may be part of analyzing your entire financial framework.
Q: How do you evaluate a financial advisor?
A: The Investment Adviser Public Disclosure is an excellent source for finding out all of the legal and financial aspects of a financial advisor’s business practices. FINRA’s BrokerCheck is a good place to find out whether a financial advisor has the proper credentials.
Choose the Best Albany Financial Advisor for You
Choose the Albany financial advisor who makes you feel the most comfortable. Ask great questions about money and planning for your financial future. The financial advisors on our list can help.
Methodology: To determine the top financial advisors in Albany, we pored through all SEC-registered advisory firms who have an office in Albany. We winnowed the list by only including advisors that are registered fiduciaries, have no past disclosures and have minimal personal conflicts of interest. To further break down the list to the true top advisors in the area, we gave weight to advisors that offer both investment management and planning, have no conflicts of interest, have offices in multiple states, have a wrap fee program and over $50 million in assets under management.