Chesterfield, MI Office

Team
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Founders Financial Securities, LLC logo

Founders Financial Securities, LLC

Multi-team

Firm-wide stats for Founders Financial Securities, LLC

Total advisors

116

Across 68 offices

Clients per advisor

83 High

Avg AUM per client

$385,425 Low

HNW client ratio

15% Typical

About

Founders Financial Securities (FFS) provides investment advisory services to individuals (including high‑net‑worth clients), retirement plan sponsors, trusts, and corporate clients across an enterprise network of IARs managing roughly $4.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms and services, including Independence Advisory accounts, a Managed Portfolio Program, the Freedom Capital Management Strategies suite (with co‑advised Private Wealth Solutions), third‑party manager access, held‑away 401(k) management, fee‑based variable annuities, financial planning, and 1031 exchange consulting.

FFS delegates investment philosophies and portfolio construction to its investment adviser representatives (IARs), who operate under their own DBAs and may provide discretionary or non‑discretionary management, create model portfolios, or select unaffiliated sub‑advisors such as Orion and Maple Capital while the firm conducts due diligence and oversight. IARs use client information, risk questionnaires, and ongoing monitoring to set asset allocation and suitability, and the firm can serve in ERISA fiduciary roles (including 3(38) plan management) and provide participant education.

Two features that differentiate FFS from many large enterprise advisors are a subscription‑based retirement guidance service (TheFreedomStrategies.com) for held‑away participant accounts and the firm’s broker‑dealer activities: FFS is SEC/FINRA‑registered, clears brokerage through Pershing, and permits IARs to act as registered representatives who may receive commissions on commissionable products, arrangements the brochure discloses can create conflicts of interest (including ticket‑charge sharing and custodian compensation arrangements with Axos). The firm also emphasizes niche offerings — such as 1031 exchange consulting and co‑advised private wealth portfolios with Maple Capital — reflecting a broader mix of product, custody and referral relationships than is typical for many peers.

Based on Founders Financial Securities, LLC

Expertise

Business exit / sale strategy

Based on Founders Financial Securities, LLC

Occupation focus

Founder/Business Owner Retired

Based on Founders Financial Securities, LLC

Location

Chesterfield MI

Advisors at this office

2

Advisors at this office

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Christopher S

Series 63, Series 65

Chesterfield, MI

Founders Financial Securities LLC

Christopher Schwarzkoff is an advisor at Founders Financial Securities LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Founders Financial Securities since 2021, following a prior role at GWFS Equities, Inc. from 2016 to 2020. Schwarzkoff is also involved with Diversified Retirement Services, engaged in the solicitation and placement of fixed insurance products. Founders Financial Securities serves individuals, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, and corporate clients through a network of 118 investment adviser representatives managing approximately $4.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers diverse advisory platforms and services, allowing IARs to tailor investment strategies and provide fiduciary plan management while supporting niche offerings such as 1031 exchange consulting and co-advised private wealth portfolios.

Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Peter P

Series 63, Series 65

Chesterfield, MI

Founders Financial Securities LLC

Peter Potestato is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Securities LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Securities since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is active as an insurance agent specializing in the sale of fixed and equity indexed annuities. Founders Financial Securities serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, retirement consulting, and affiliated brokerage and insurance services, utilizing a range of advisory programs and innovative delivery methods.

Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Retired
View complete list of advisors at this office
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