The Top Financial Advisors in Wellesley, MA

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F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co. is a fee-only firm managing the most in client assets on this list. Those clients include a mix of regular individuals and high-net-worth individuals, with more non-high-net-worth clients. There are also institutional clients including charitable organizations, corporations, pensions and profit sharing plans. 

There are dozens of advisors on staff at F.L. Putnam. The team includes 14 certified financial planners (CFPs), 10 chartered financial advisors (CFAs), one chartered mutual fund counselor (CMFC) and one chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA). 

There is generally no minimum account size, but for accounts using the Schwab Institutional Intelligent Portfolio the minimum size is $5,000. Fees for wealth management is based on a percent of assets under management. Financial planning fees are charged either hourly or on a fixed rate.

F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co. Background

The firm was founded in 1983. A parent company owns most of the firm, F.L. Putnam Securities Company Inc. In addition to the Wellesley office, there are also locations in Lynnfield, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Providence, Rhode Island; Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and New York. 

Services offered at the firm include investment management, financial planning, investment analysis, income tax planning, insurance analysis, retirement planning, education funding, estate planning, tax flow analysis and budgeting assistance. 

F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co. Investment Strategy

A variety of securities will be put together to form a client's investment profile. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation framework that's diversified across global equity, fixed income, and alternative investment asset classes. "The strategic weights provide a disciplined and long-term approach to portfolio construction over a market cycle of 3-5 years, while the tactical adjustments allow flexibility to reflect our assessment of investment opportunities in global financial markets over the next 12-18 months," the firm's brochure states. 

As a global all-cap/core equity manager, the firm's equity portfolios often contain large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks. Portfolios comprise a mix of individual securities and externally managed investment vehicles.

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Washington Trust Advisors is a fee-based firm with the second-largest client base and second-most assets under management on our list. WTA primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, but also works with individuals below the high-net-worth threshold, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. 

Some members of the WTA team are affiliated with a broker-dealer and/or insurance company and can earn compensation when recommending those products or services to advisory clients. This financial incentive creates a potential conflict of interest. Then again, WTA is a fiduciary and must always act in its clients' best interests. 

WTA requires a minimum account size of $1.5 million. The advisors at WTA hold a number of financial certifications, including eight who are certified financial planners (CFPs) and six who are chartered financial analysts (CFAs). The team also features advisors with the certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered life underwriter (CLU) designations. 

Washington Trust Advisors Background

WTA has been offering wealth management and holistic financial planning services since 1979. It received its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1983. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. a bank holding company. 

The practice offers financial planning, individual portfolio management, wealth management, sub-advisory services, as well as model portfolios and individual equity strategies. 

Washington Trust Advisors Investment Strategy

When it comes to investment management, the firm may allocate a client's assets in a variety of different ways including separately managed accounts (SMAs), exchange-traded funds (ETFs), fixed-income securities, individual stocks, options contracts and hedge fund shares. The firm's investment choices are informed by a combination of asset allocation, mutual fund and/or ETF analysis, third-party money manager anaylsis, as well as fundamental, technical and quantitative methods of analysis. 

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New England Private Wealth Advisors is a fee-only firm with multiple advisors on staff. Though the firm does not have a roster of advisors on its website, the firm does note that advisors have earned certifications including certified financial planner (CFP), chartered investment management analyst (CIMA), chartered financial advisor (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC).

The firm manages billions of dollars in asset under management. Most of its clients are high-net-worth individuals, although some do not have have a high net worth. Institutional clients are all either charitable organizations or corporations. There is a minimum account size of $2 million.

Fees for investment management are based on a percentage of assets under management. Fixed fees are also used occasionally. 

New England Private Wealth Advisors Background

NEPWA was founded in 2005. Ira Rapaport, CEO and managing member, owns the firm.

Services offered at NEPWA include investment management, financial planning, tax planning, education planning, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance needs, personal cash flow, net worth statements, charitable giving, mortgage refinancing and establishment of retirement plans.

New England Private Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Advisors at NEPWA will consider a client’s overall situation before putting together a portfolio, taking into account investment objectives, risk tolerance, asset-class preferences, time horizons, tax situation and liquidity needs. Mutual funds are the most popular investment, with significant money also invested in stocks. When selecting mutual funds, NEPWA attempts to utilize the lowest cost share class available.

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The Relaxing Retirement Coach (RRC) is a colorfully named fee-only advisor with hundreds of millions in assets under management. The firm's client base is split fairly evenly between regular individuals and high-net-worth individuals. There are no institutional clients at the firm.

While there is no minimum investment required for the firm's Retirement Blueprint Development financial planning offering, there is a fixed, flat fee of $2,500 charged annually. A $1 million minimum account size applies for the firm's Retirement Blueprint Management program. 

There is only one advisor at RRC. He does not list any certifications on his website. Fees for asset management are based on a percentage of assets under management.

The Relaxing Retirement Coach Background

John "Jack" M. Phelps -- the eponymous retirement coach -- founded the firm in 2003 and remains its president and primary advisor.

There are two main services offered by the firm. The Retirement Blueprint Development porogram is a financial planning service focused on retirement, while the Retirement Blueprint Management program is an asset management service.

The Relaxing Retirement Coach Investment Strategy

Phelps creates a custom retirement investment strategy for each client. This requires anyone who wants to take part in his investment management service to first go through his financial planning service. 

RRC recommends cost-effective index mutual and exchange traded funds to capture market returns within their respective investment asset class.

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Claybrook Capital is a small financial advisory firm that works with clients in a boutique setting. The firm's client base is made up entirely of individual investors, both above and and below the high-net-worth threshold. However, you'll need at least $1 million to become a client at Claybrook Capital, though the firm may reduce this requirement in certain situations. 

As a fee-only practice, Claybrook Capital's revenue solely comes from the advisory fees that its clients pay. Advisors at Claybrook Capital do not sell investment or insurance products for commissions. 

Claybrook Capital Background

Founded in 2016, Claybrook Capital is owned by co-founder and managing director of wealth management Jerry A. Nigro, co-founder and board of advisors member Bruce Arella and vice president/chief compliance officer Virginia Aaron. 

The firm's investment management and financial planning services may include any of the following solutions:

• Strategic asset allocation
• Manager search and selection
• Portfolio construction
• Quarterly investment and manager review
• “Big picture” financial review
• Estate and tax planning
• Cash flow optimization
• Risk management and insurance review
• Retirement and education planning
• Transition planning

Claybrook Capital Investment Strategy

Claybrook Capital customizes its investment advisory solutions for individual clients and then manages portfolios on a discretionary basis. To do this, the firm works with each client to identify their investment goals and objectives, as well as assess their overall financial situation and appetite for risk. Claybrook Capital then designs the client's portfolio using exchange-traded funds, mutual funds and dividend-paying equity securities. The firm may also incorporate individual fixed income securities, options, alternative investments and other types of securities into a client's portfolio. Legacy holdings may also be retained, provided they help meet the client's objectives.

Claybrook Capital's typically maintains a long-term investment strategy, but advisors may buy, sell or re-allocate positions that have been held for under a year to meet a client's goals or to respond to market conditions. 

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Peak Financial Management is a fee-based firm with four certified financial planners (CFPs) and two chartered financial analysts (CFAs). There is no minimum account size requirement. 

Peak has hundreds of millions in assets under management. Clients of the firm include both high-net-worth and other individuals, plus institutional clients including pension and profit sharing plans.

Peak charges a fee based on assets under management for investment management. This includes financial planning, as well. For those interested in financial planning without portfolio management, an hourly fee ranging from $300 to $400 per hour is charged. 

Peak Financial Management Background

Pran Nath Tiku founded the firm in 1991 and remains its principal owner.

Client services include portfolio management, model portfolios, financial planning, cash flow planning, insurance analysis, investment analysis, retirement planning and estate planning.

Peak Financial Management Investment Strategy

There are five model portfolios at Peak Financial, each representing an investing mode:

• Conservative
• Income
• Balanced
• Moderate Growth
• Growth

Each model could use a variety of investments including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and securities traded over the counter. 

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Fairfield Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm with hundreds of millions in assets under management. Nearly 60% of the firm’s individual clients do not have a high net worth, while the rest do. Institutional clients are all pension and profit sharing plans. 

There are multiple advisors at the firm, all of whom are women, including one certified financial planner (CFP). There is no minimum account size. Fees for asset management are based on a percentage of assets under management. 

Fairfield Financial Advisors Background

FFA has been around since 1993. Jane V. King is the president and sole owner.

Asset management is the main service offered at FFA. Occasionally it will also offer services outside of securities such as financial planning, taxation issues, estate planning and trust services. This is not generally a major part of the firm’s business.

Fairfield Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

FFA advisors use a strategic asset allocation approach. Client assets are invested primarily in no-load mutual funds and individual common stocks, usually through Charles Schwab & Co. Money market positions, passively-managed indices and other investments may be used as requested by clients. 

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Argonautica Private Wealth Management is the youngest firm on our list, having been founed in 2021. This fee-based firm works with individual investors, charitable organizations, corporations and other businesses, although the majority of its clients are individuals, both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. There is no account minimum at Argonautica. 

Some members of the Argonautica team are also licensed insurance agents and earn commissions for selling insurance in these separate roles. This compensation can give advisors an incentive to recommend third-party products in addition to advisory services, creating a conflict of interest. However, the firm is required to abide by fiduciary duty and always act in its clients' best interests.

Argonautica Private Wealth Management Background

Argonautica derives its name from "The Argonautica" by Apollonius, an epic poem that recounts Jason and the Argonauts' quest for the coveted golden fleece. "We believe this ancient myth accurately depicts the modern investment journey of our clients and of our role in their quest to achieve their financial aspirations," the firm's website states. 

The sole shareholders of the firm are Theodore C. York and Frank X. Rambusch. Services include investment and portfolio management, selection of independent managers, financial planning and consulting, as well as fiduciary and non-fiduciary services for plan sponsors.

Argonautica Private Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Argonautica designs client portfolios using a risk-adjusted, tax-efficient, and cost-effective asset allocation strategy based on a client’s unique cash flow needs, stated return and risk profile. The firm uses qualitative, quantitative, technical, and relative strength metrics when selecting assets for portfolios. 

Advisors primarily employ a combination of active and passive strategies to allocate client assets among publicly traded securities like stocks, bonds, exchnage-traded ufnds, mutual funds and/or separately managed portfolios. The firm may also recommend clients allocate a certain portion of their assets to independent investment managers or alternative investments.

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Kastel Capital Advisors is a fee-only advisory firm that manages the portfolios of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, institutions and business retirement plans. 

Kastel Capital’s team includes one advisor with the chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP) and enrolled agent (EA) designations, as well as one certified public accountant (CPA) with the personal financial specialist (PFS) designation.  

This firm has a $250,000 minimum account size requirement. Its advisory fees include asset-based fees, hourly fees and fixed fees. 

Kastel Capital Advisors Background

Principally owned by Drasko Kovrlija, Kastel Capital began its operations in 2015. The firm mainly offers portfolio management, financial planning and pension consulting services. However, clients can also take advantage of the firm’s portfolio assessment services and investment policy statement services.

Kastel Capital Advisors Investment Strategy

Kastel Capital conducts investment research with charting analysis, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and quantitative analysis. The firm says on its firm brochure that it uses long-term investing with selective short-term trading under short term conditions.