Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in New York
The right financial advisor for you depends on how you weigh location, expertise, experience, the clients they typically serve, and how they work with you.
If you work in education or academia, your financial path often includes unique income cycles, retirement plans, and sometimes delayed career earnings. Without an advisor familiar with these specifics, you might miss opportunities to optimize your benefits or plan for sabbaticals and summer breaks.
- Retirement plan nuances. Confirm how they handle 403(b) and 457(b) plans, which differ from typical 401(k)s in contribution rules and withdrawal options.
- Income variability insight. Ask how they plan for fluctuating income during summers or sabbaticals, ensuring your budget and savings stay on track.
- Loan and debt strategies. Educators often carry student loans; check how the advisor integrates loan repayment with long-term financial goals.
- Benefit coordination. Verify their experience coordinating pensions, Social Security, and other educator-specific benefits to avoid gaps or overlaps.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Michael F
Series 65, Series 63
East Syracuse, NY
Pinnacle Investments, LLC
Michael Figler specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics, leveraging 45 years of industry experience and expertise in options, derivatives, and active portfolio management. Operating from East Syracuse, NY with Pinnacle Investments, LLC, he offers flat-fee financial plans and negotiable AUM fees, distinguishing himself through a seasoned, independent approach within a firm managing over $1 billion in assets and serving diverse client types.
Experience: 46 years
Avg account: $406,232
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Aaron L
Series 66
Long Beach, NY
RFG Advisory, LLC
Aaron Laranetto specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics, understanding their unique financial needs such as retirement plans and income variability. Based in Long Beach, NY, he offers flat-fee financial planning and combines active and passive investment strategies through RFG Advisory, LLC, which also manages institutional clients and multi-ETF products, differentiating him from advisors focused solely on individual portfolios.
Experience: 7 years
Avg account: $295,694
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Alex S
Series 63, Series 66
New York, NY
TIAA-CREF
Alex Smith's extensive 36 years at TIAA-CREF equip him to address the unique financial needs of educators and academics in New York, including managing specialized retirement plans like 403(b) and 457(b). His experience with high-net-worth clients and a fee structure of 0.30% annually through a large firm offers a blend of seasoned expertise and institutional resources, distinguishing him from advisors with smaller practices or less focus on educator-specific benefits.
Experience: 37 years
Avg account: $523,144
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Joshua D
CFP®, Series 66
Amherst, NY
Lincoln Investment
Joshua Denz specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics, leveraging his background at Canisius College and the University at Buffalo to understand their unique financial needs. Operating within Lincoln Investment, a large firm managing $18.9 billion in assets, he offers flexible fee structures including flat and hourly fees, and holds CFP® and Series 66 designations, distinguishing him with both relevant expertise and adaptable client service options.
Experience: 3 years
Avg account: $157,266
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Katherine K
CFP®, Series 66
Huntington, NY
Edward Jones
Katherine Kanes is well-suited to assist educators and academics in New York with retirement income strategies and navigating educator-specific benefits, leveraging her 10 years of experience and CFP® certification. Her affiliation with Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, provides access to diverse investment strategies, while her background in business ownership adds practical insight for clients balancing multiple financial priorities.
Experience: 11 years
Avg account: $246,728
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