Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in West Hartford, Connecticut
Looking for a local financial advisor? West Hartford, Connecticut has many options to pick from, so we created this list to help you narrow the field and compare firms. Our experts have laid out the services, client bases, account minimums, advisor certifications and more for each firm on our list. If you'd prefer to be matched with an advisor serving your local area, try using SmartAsset's free advisor tool.
Find a Fiduciary Financial Advisor
We match nearly 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 | Apella Wealth  Find an Advisor | $4,714,755,698 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 2 | Fierston Financial Group, Inc  Find an Advisor | $942,560,611 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
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| 3 | HFM Wealth Management  Find an Advisor | $712,971,742 | $7,500 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$7,500 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
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| 4 | Mullaney Keating & Wright Inc  Find an Advisor | $326,335,637 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in West Hartford, 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:
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AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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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.
Apella Wealth
Apella Wealth, founded in 2013, heads up our list of the top financial advisors in West Hartford. This fee-only firm provides investment management and financial planning services to a client base of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charities and businesses.
Services include building custom portfolios, developing asset allocation strategies, monitoring accounts, rebalancing and conducting regular reviews with clients. In addition, the firm offers standalone or ongoing financial planning on matters such as retirement, estate planning, education funding, tax strategies, and insurance planning. Clients may engage the firm on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, depending on whether they prefer Apella to make investment decisions directly or only after consultation.
Apella is a fee-only practice, so its advisors don't commission-based products or receives transaction-based compensation from securities or insurance sales. The Apella Wealth team includes a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
The firm’s investment approach relies heavily on model-based strategies that blend equities and fixed income, primarily through mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Portfolios may also include separately managed accounts emphasizing factors such as value, momentum and profitability. Apella’s process integrates quantitative research, diversification across asset classes and ongoing oversight by an investment committee, with the goal of aligning portfolios to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.
Fierston Financial Group
Fierston Financial Group, another fee-only firm, works almost entirely with individual clients, both with and without a high net worth. However, it also counts some pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses and charitable organizations among its client base.
The minimum account size at Fierston is $1 million, but can be negotiated. As a fee-only firm, Fierston only receives fees directly from clients. This is markedly different from a fee-based firm, which receives commissions and other transaction-based forms of payment from outside sources. By eschewing such commission-based compensation, a fee-only firm can avoid many conflicts of interest.
Several of the advisors on staff hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations.
Fierston Financial Group was founded in 1989, making it one of the two oldest firms on this list. The firm provides a relatively standard range of services, from investment management to financial planning and consulting on a wide range of topics. The firm can help clients with estate planning and insurance planning, among other financial needs.
Fierston Financial Group develops portfolios for each of its clients based on their individual needs and preferences, but clients are able to impose reasonable restrictions as to how their money is managed. Advisors create and supervise client accounts based on their time horizon, risk tolerance and more.
The firm incorporates the principles of modern portfolio theory (MPT) into its investment strategies, which are typically geared for the long term. The firm emphasizes an effective and efficient asset allocation strategy rather than trying to time markets to produce short-term gains. Advisors look to diversify portfolios using mainly mutual funds, and it does not support frequent trading.
HFM Wealth Management
Hartford Financial Management, founded in 1989, provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charities and business entities.
The firm offers comprehensive planning that includes evaluating assets, cash flow, debt, insurance needs and estate considerations, as well as conducting scenario analyses and long-term projections. Clients receive ongoing portfolio supervision, quarterly reporting and reviews that adapt strategies to changing circumstances and goals.
The firm is fee-only and does not receive commissions for recommending or selling securities or other products. While there is no stated minimum account size, there is a minimum annual advisory fee of $7,500. Fees are generally based on a percentage of assets under management and billed quarterly.
The HFM team includes advisors who hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designations.
HFM's investment approach emphasizes capital preservation, diversification and customization to align with client goals and risk tolerance. Portfolios typically include individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds and money market instruments, with other securities such as mortgage-backed bonds, options or real estate partnerships used selectively when appropriate. The firm takes a long-term perspective but may adjust holdings as market conditions or client needs change, relying primarily on fundamental analysis of economic and market trends.
Mullaney Keating & Wright
Mullaney Keating & Wright rounds out our list of the top financial advisors in West Hartford. To become a client, you'll need to have at least $1 million in investable assets, though this requirement is negotiable. This firm provides its services to a client base primarily composed of individuals, some of whom have a high net worth. The firm also works with a small number of pensions, profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.
Mullaney Keating & Wright is a fee-only firm. This means that its only compensation comes from client fees, not commissions for selling third-party products or services.
Mullaney Keating & Wright opened its doors in 1997. However, its predecessor firm, Mullaney & Associates, was founded in 1994. The team at Mullaney Keating & Wright includes Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®).
This firm provides asset management services through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management. The firm also offers clients financial planning services in relation to financial goals, taxes, cash flow, investments, insurance, retirement, death, disability and estate planning.
Mullaney Keating & Wright tailors its investment strategies to the individual needs of each client. This involves completing an overview of their time horizon, risk tolerance, liquidity requirements and more. In analyzing potential stocks for client portfolios, the firm uses fundamental, technical, mutual fund and ETF methods of analysis.
The firm tends to pursue strategies that incorporate long-term purchases and option writing. Investment recommendations are wide-ranging, and may include mutual funds, ETFs, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, variable annuities, variable life insurance policies and more.
