Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Financial Advisors in Clifton

Our Recommended Top 17

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Clifton Financial Advisors on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

36

Reviewed

28

Curated

17

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
Clifton, NJ
  • Retirement Planning

Why choose this provider?

Cedar Hill Financial Group, LLC, caters to residents in Clifton. Since 2017, it has been working with people planning for retirement and those who want to save up for college. The company uses a data-driven process to establish portfolios based on clients' current needs. It also runs a website that has calculators for individuals who want to know their Social Security benefits. Thomas Hayes, the owner, brings over a decade of industry experience. He is a certified financial planner.

License Verified:

License: 5813774

Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Database, SEC

SmartAdvisor by SmartAsset logo
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SmartAdvisor by SmartAsset

Clifton, NJ
  • Estate Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Financial Planning
  • Investment Management

Why choose this provider?

SmartAsset's free, five-minute tool makes it easy to find qualified financial advisors in your area. The exclusive tool uses a quick survey to help SmartAsset's exclusive algorithm match you with up to three advisors based on your specific financial needs. Each advisor is a fiduciary, legally bound to work in your best interest, and rigorously vetted by SmartAsset. You can speak with each for free, sometimes within a matter of minutes, and choose whom you want to work with. Hundreds of thousands of smart investors and retirees have already used SmartAsset's simple, no-cost service to find the right financial advisors for them.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Price: Free Consultation

Clifton, NJ

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Financial Advisor in Clifton? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Price: Free booking service | Call 848.Book.Pro!

Website
609 Franklin Avenue, Nutley, NJ 07110
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Why choose this provider?

Fortress Financial is a boutique firm that serves clients in Clifton. It specializes in helping K-12 educators and small business owners achieve their financial goals. The firm provides a wide range of financial planning services, including investment management, retirement income planning, and cash flow management. Additional services include succession planning and philanthropic planning. The owner, Neil S. Henning, has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network since 2002.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Website
546 Washington Ave, Nutley, NJ 07110
  • Financial Planning
  • Wealth Management

Why choose this provider?

Ellis Financial Advisory is a boutique financial planning company that serves clients in Clifton and nearby areas. The firm assists individuals and families in making informed financial decisions by offering personalized financial solutions that match their needs. The team crafts financial plans for asset, liability, and cash flow management; retirement account distributions; Social Security claims; income tax management; and wealth management. Jason Ellis, the firm's founder and principal financial advisor, has been helping clients reach their financial goals for over two decades.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
61 South Paramus Road Suite 425, Paramus, NJ 07652

Why choose this provider?

Wealth by Design is a firm catering to individuals, families, and business owners in Clifton and the surrounding areas. It offers financial planning services in asset protection, collaborative family wealth, and retirement accumulation and distribution. It incorporates a personalized design evaluation to determine the most suitable way to assist customers with developing wealth sustainability. Managing partner Craig Bartlett is the founding member of the Lincoln Executive Consulting, a group dedicated to financial planning for executives.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Website
7 North Mountain Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
  • Financial Planning

Why choose this provider?

Bautis Financial is a firm that helps families and individuals in Clifton manage and maximize their assets and wealth. Its advisors educate clients on how to start and run a business, teaching them about budgeting, choosing the right product, marketing, and selling. The agency also has a retirement fitness challenge program that determines how financially prepared a person is for retirement. Marc Bautis formed the company in 2008 and published "The Retirement Fitness Challenge" in 2012.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Google
4.2 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 200, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
  • Finance Planning

Why choose this provider?

Prioritas Financial Advisors is an independent fiduciary that has been serving Clifton residents for more than 15 years. It assists clients in making well-informed financial decisions by developing lifestyle priority plans, overseeing proactive wealth processes, and utilizing balanced investment strategies. It also seeks to understand its clients' needs first in order to create an overall financial plan that matches its clients' unique goals. Principal advisor, Michelle Kaufman, is a chartered financial analyst designee previously affiliated with Bloomberg LP and Credit Suisse.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1680 Rt. 23, Suite 210, Wayne, NJ 07470
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Financial Planning

Why choose this provider?

Highland Financial Advisors has over three decades of experience serving high-net-worth individuals in Clifton. The firm serves clients such as medical practitioners, career changers, corporate executives, and business owners. Its staff handles matters that involve business sales, divorce or the passing of a spouse, inheritance, and retirement. It also assists with tax considerations, multigenerational planning, risk management, and asset allocation. Reed Fraasa, its founder, has been featured in PBS Nightly Business Report, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
16-00 Route 208 South Suite 104, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Why choose this provider?

Baron Financial Group is a fiduciary financial advisor that helps financially distressed retirees, women, families with special needs, and organizations in Clifton and nearby locations. It offers financial planning services that include social security planning, investment management, tax and estate planning support, third-party insurance review, and Medicare specialist analysis. Its financial planning process involves setting goals, developing an initial plan, making a scenario analysis, and monitoring and adjusting the situation. The firm's founder, Victor P. Cannillo, adopted a team-based approach to financial planning.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
97 Lackawanna Avenue Suite 101, Totowa, NJ 07512
  • Finance Planning

Why choose this provider?

Common Financial Sense provides investment advisory services to clients in Clifton and nearby communities. The company focuses on helping individuals meet their financial needs and goals by assisting them in managing their current and future income and expenses. It also offers private wealth management and 401(k) planning services. Its founding partner, Gregory Makowski, has been in the financial services industry since the 1980s. He served as an adjunct faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University, educating students about financial planning.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
79 Midland Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Why choose this provider?

SFI Advisors helps clients get closer to their long-term financial goals through financial solutions and strategies. Serving Clifton, its financial advisors develop personalized planning, investment management, and insurances services that fit each client's individual objectives and needs. In addition, corporate clients are assisted through retirement plan management, corporate benefits planning, and business succession services. SFI Advisors has been in the financial planning industry for more than 45 years and is staffed by Chartered Financial Analysts, Accredited Estate Planners, and Certified Financial Planners.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
548 Franklin Avenue Suite A, Nutley, NJ 07110
  • Retirement Planning
  • Investment Management

Why choose this provider?

Gariano Wealth Management offers comprehensive services to individuals, families, and business owners in the Clifton metro and nearby areas. It provides a range of wealth management solutions, including estate planning, investment management, and education funding. The company also creates small business retirement plans and helps clients acquire life and health insurance policies. One of its financial advisors, Robert Gariano, has been in the industry for over 30 years. He maintains an affiliation with the Cetera Financial Specialists.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (4)

Website
30 Park Avenue, Suite 201, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Why choose this provider?

Park Financial Group offers financial advising services to clients in Clifton and the surrounding areas. It focuses on guiding individuals who wish to protect their wealth by planning their current and future finances. It offers various financial planning services that help clients manage their funds for retirement, education, business, and insurance. The company's founder, Donald F. Gordon, brings over three decades of experience in financial advising and planning. He also holds the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
375 Passaic Avenue Suite 100, Fairfield, NJ 07004
  • Estate Planning
  • Retirement Planning

Why choose this provider?

Established in 1989, U.S. Financial Services is a financial planning services firm that serves individuals in Clifton and the nearby areas. With over 75 years of combined industry experience, its financial advisors help clients attain financial security through services such as financial and estate planning, retirement planning, cash flow management, and pension plan design and administration. Founding partner Altair M. Gobo is a Certified Financial Planner who is also the author of Getting to the Green, a book about the things golf, financial planning, and life have in common.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
3 Claridge Drive Suite 2, Verona, NJ 07044
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Financial Planning

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 1992, Locker Financial Services, LLC, is an investment advisory firm that serves Clifton. It provides personalized solutions related to financial planning, asset management, and investment. Its advisors assess the clients’ financial picture and develop integrated plans that help them achieve their goals. It also offers active portfolio management through mutual funds, stocks, and certificates of deposits. Its founder, Lauren Locker, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
17 Norman Road, Montclair, NJ 07043

Why choose this provider?

Dowd Financial Planning helps the residents of Clifton and nearby locations worry less about their financial future through life-integrated financial planning. It includes budgeting, estate and retirement planning, and insurance. Dowd Financial Planning also helps reduce a client’s tax burden through personal income tax preparation and planning services. Founder David Dowd has amassed over 28 years of industry experience. He is also a Certified Financial Planner and an enrolled agent with the Internal Revenue Service.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Introduction

    There are many titles for financial professionals, so it's challenging to track what each one means. A financial advisor is probably the term you've heard most often. Financial advisor is a broad term for a professional who helps individuals or companies manage their finances, including investment choices. There are over 100 certifications that financial advisors can obtain.

    • Financial planners, wealth managers, and investment advisors are all financial advisors with different focus areas.
    • A financial planner helps an individual or a company make a plan to achieve long-term financial goals.
    • A wealth manager helps individuals maintain their wealth through various disciplines and services, such as taxes, estate planning, and investment advice.
    • An investment advisor offers investment advice and recommendations to individuals or organizations.
    There’s a misconception that you have to be extremely wealthy to use a financial advisor. In reality, they can be beneficial for people from any income level. Keep reading to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about financial advisors, so you know which type can fit your specific needs.

  • Who has the authority to take money out of your Clifton annuity contract?

    Typically, the only person who can take money out of your Clifton annuity is you, the contract owner. In some cases, you might be able to grant the authority to withdraw money on your behalf to a third party, such as someone with power of attorney or a trustee. In most cases, it takes 3 to 5 business days to get the money from your annuity contract if you ask for it through a check.

  • Are required minimum distributions in Clifton taxable?

    Yes. RMDs in Clifton are often considered ordinary income, which is taxed and listed on Form 1099-R. Depending on your situation, you could wait until you contribute your taxes rather than having state or federal taxes withheld when the RMD is paid. The IRS mandates to automatically deduct ten percent of the cost of the RMD for federal tax payments unless you specify alternative instructions before the RMD payout.

  • Are there any restrictions on the total number of IRA rollovers in Clifton during one calendar year?

    Yes. No matter how many IRAs you own, you are only permitted to roll over one IRA in Clifton per year. The cap does not, however, apply to rollovers from one plan to IRA, from one plan to another plan, from an IRA to plan, trustee to trustee transfers to another IRA, and from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

  • Why should you make extra payments on your Clifton student loan debt beyond the required amount each month?

    You should consider making extra monthly payments on your student loans in Clifton to pay the debt faster and spend less on the overall interest. When making additional payments, let your loan provider know that the extra funds should go toward the main balance. Otherwise, the provider might just deduct the surplus funds from your next payment, which will not lessen your principal balance.

  • What paperwork should you bring to your initial meeting with a financial advisor in Clifton?

    When you first meet with a financial advisor in Clifton, you should bring all your relevant financial documents, including pay stubs, mortgage papers, debt declarations, tax returns, and investment statements. You should also include your monthly budget if you have one. A qualified financial counselor will discuss your objectives and present circumstances before delving more into each.

  • Are financial advisors worth it?

    Whether or not a financial advisor is worth it depends on your personal situation. If your finances are fairly straightforward, then you may be better off handling it on your own. But if you have substantial assets or a complex investment portfolio, then hiring someone to handle it for you can be well worth the cost.