Valley National Financial Advisors (legally known as Valley National Advisers, Inc.) is a large fee-based advisory firm located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The firm employs a team of 10 financial advisors who are responsible for managing more than 1,000 client accounts. Valley National also holds a spot on SmartAsset's list of the top financial advisors in Bethlehem.
As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Valley National can receive extra commissions on top of advisory fees. This differs from a fee-only firm, as they only receive compensation from the fees that clients pay.
Valley National Financial Advisors Background
Valley National Financial Advisors was established in 1985 by firm founder and chairman Thomas M. Riddle, who still owns the firm today. Matthew E. Petrozelli serves as the firm’s CEO.
Valley National specializes in financial planning, investment management and supervisory services, and it uses portfolio building software such as Tamarac and Morningstar.
Valley National’s team offers a range of qualifications, including certifications like the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), enrolled agent (EA), accredited estate planner (AEP), certified public accountant (CPA) and more.
Valley National Financial Advisors Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Valley National Financial Advisors serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates and businesses. However, the majority of its client base is comprised of non-high-net-worth individuals.
The firm imposes a $500,000 account minimum for new clients.
Services Offered by Valley National Financial Advisors
Valley National offers a full range of financial services, including individualized investment management, financial planning and consulting across areas such as retirement, estate, tax and insurance planning. The firm manages portfolios on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, tailoring strategies to each client’s objectives while providing ongoing supervision and reviews. Additional services include retirement plan consulting, private fund due diligence, cash management solutions and referrals to affiliated professionals for tax preparation and insurance needs.
Valley National Financial Advisors Investment Philosophy
Valley National employs fundamental, technical and cyclical analysis to guide its investment decisions. Fundamental analysis looks at a company’s financial health and long-term value; technical analysis studies price movements and trading patterns; and cyclical analysis examines how economic and market cycles may impact investments. Using these methods, the firm combines long-term strategies with flexibility for shorter-term adjustments while tailoring portfolios to client objectives and risk tolerance.
Client portfolios may include a wide range of assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and cash holdings. For qualified clients, the firm may also recommend private investment funds, and in some cases, allocate assets to independent investment managers or separately managed accounts. Additional offerings include retirement plan investments, an online cash management solution called Flourish Cash and other vehicles.
Fees Under Valley National Financial Advisors
Valley National Financial Advisors has two separate fee schedules: one for discretionary accounts and one for institutional accounts. The firm’s discretionary fee schedule applies to individuals holding stocks, bonds and mutual funds. The firm also offers accounts managed and held at American Funds and Nationwide Advisory Solutions. Institutional accounts come with a flat rate of 0.50%, though this may be negotiable.
All clients may be subject to an annual minimum advisory fee of $1,500. The firm's discretionary fee schedule is below:
| Valley National Financial Advisors Fee Schedule | |
| AUM | Management Fee |
| Up to $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 | 0.85% |
| $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 | 0.75% |
| $5,000,000 and above | 0.55% |
| $10,000,000 and above | 0.40% |
Here's a breakdown of how the advisory fee rates above translate to potential fee amounts:
| *Estimated investment management fees do not include brokerage, custodial, third-party manager or other fees, which can vary in amount. | |
| Estimated Investment Management Fees at Valley National Financial Advisors* | |
| Your Assets | Valley National Financial Advisors Fee Amount |
| $500K | $5,000 |
| $1MM | $10,000 |
| $5MM | $41,000 |
| $10MM | $68,500 |
What to Watch Out For
Valley National Financial Advisors doesn’t have any disclosures listed on its Form ADV.
Though Valley National is a fiduciary, some of its advisors are also broker-dealer representatives who may recommend securities or insurance products and earn commissions for doing so. This can pose a potential conflict of interest. Despite this, the firm is legally bound to act in clients' best interests due to its fiduciary duty.
Opening an Account With Valley National Financial Advisors
You can contact Valley National Financial Advisors about opening an account by calling (610) 868-9000. The firm's headquarters are located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but it also operates offices in Phillipsburg, New Jersey and Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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