Top Financial Advisors on the South Shore, Massachusetts
- Joe Boughan
- 31 minutes ago
- 5 min read
(…and how to tell which one is right for you)
1. Full disclosure: we’re biased—here’s why
I’m Joe Boughan, CFP® and founder of Parkmount Financial Partners in the lovely South Shore town of Scituate. As an independent, fiduciary RIA we focus on mid-career professionals and pre-retirees in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and nationwide at top employers like RTX, CVS, SNY, and GD.
Many people are searching for:
Financial Advisor Costs in Boston MA
Top Financial Advisors in South Shore
Top Financial Planners in Cape Cod
Retirement Planning in Massachusetts
This article is a great resource for you.
Because we combine tax-smart planning, equity-comp‐aware investing, and ongoing coaching for a transparent asset-based fee, many clients tell us the overall value beats national “one-size-fits-all” offers.
Honestly, if you ask me, I believe we are the best financial advisor the areas with the highest value services and expertise which has significant potential in your bottom-line achievements with your finances.
But truth is we are probably not best for everyone for a number of reasons. We do typically work best with mid to late-stage career employees and large corporations. Business owners or Doctors for example, could benefit from working with us, but they are not our specialty.
👉 Want the details on how we work with clients? Watch our 7-minute video newsletter “How Financial Planning Can Boost Your Nest Egg by $100k, $200k, or More.”
You can also book a free consultation with me and my firm. Click --> Here to Learn More
2. What makes a “top” advisor here?
Fiduciary duty. Must put your interests first—look for confirm CFP® professional credentials.
Breadth of service. Some advisors work in one specific areas, Investments, Insurance, or retirement income, but may leave out critical issues such as modeling how taxes could affect retirement, stock-option or RSU advice, employee benefits, Roth conversions in addition to other areas. Generally, you can get a good sense of the scope and breadth of an advisors focus on a complementary interview or consultation free of charge and have all your questions answered.
Fee transparency. Investment Management Fees, Hourly, Commissions—whichever, the pricing should be crystal-clear with no surprises.
Local knowledge. Familiarity with Mass. tax codes, Cape & South Shore property issues, and regional employer benefit plans.
4. Independent Fiduciary Advisor vs. Fidelity
In Massachusetts, most people know someone who has worked for or is working for Fidelity. They have an enormous presence in Boston, and have a well-respected reputation, but often times when selecting an advisor, people think because they have a strong brand affinity with Fidelity, they may be the best option for their wealth management services.
Is this true?
Again, I am biased, and I do believe Fidelity has a good "robo-advisor" platform and self-directed trading services, but when it comes to real, human advice the Fidelity Wealth Management services have important limitations that investors should be aware of before selecting an advisor to work with their nest egg and future.
I certainly believe Fidelity is a reasonable service, but consumers of financial advice may be wise to look critically as to how this option compares with others, and what needs they have that may be unique.
Pros: | Pros: |
Potentially More Services (P&C Insurance Reviews, Tax Analysis and Projections, Medicare Health Insurance Consultations) | Well Known Brand |
Detailed Tax Planning Expertise | Can Take "Virtually" Unlimited Clients |
Less Conflict of Interest in Investment Recommendations and Selections (Potentially More Objective) | Cons: |
Cons: | Potentially Biased Towards "Fidelity" Brand Investment Recommendations Conflict |
Lesser Known Brand. Possibly Higher Due Diligence Required | Potentially Higher or Comparable Cost with Less Financial Planning Areas Covered |
Possible Capacity Constraint for Number of Clients | Likely Less Personalized Relationship and Service with Advisor Turnover |
All that said, there are some similarities. From a cost standpoint, Fidelity advertises a rate of 0.2%-1.5% Asset Cost and Parkmount has a similar asset under management fee structure that has a comparable range. However, in practice, I do see that Parkmount Clients tend to pay less than they would as a client at Fidelity Wealth Management by a small margin.
In terms of long-term investment philosophy, Parkmount Financial and Fidelity are similar in a lot of ways, though there is a lot of nuances to consider in the actual investment vehicles utilized.
4. Finding other vetted advisors
NAPFA.org – National Association of Personal Financial Advisors lists fee-only fiduciaries; filter by ZIP for South Shore towns.
FeeOnlyNetwork.com – Extended directory with education, specialties, and client minimums feeonlynetwork.com.
Full disclosure: I am listed on both of these but you can also check out smartasset.com and their financial advisor directory which I believe I am not listed on, and not affiliated with.
When you interview any advisor, ask:
Are you always a fiduciary?
How are you compensated?
What planning software and tax tools do you use?
Who is your typical client?
How will you coordinate with my CPA/estate attorney?
5. Pros & cons of popular South Shore options
McNamara Financial (Marshfield) – Long-time local RIA with $500k minimum; solid reputation, but capacity limits noted in ADV. mcnamarafinancial.com
Sandy Cove Advisors (Hingham) – Boutique “family office-lite” model for business owners; great for complex balance sheets, yet premium pricing. sandycoveadvisors.com
South Shore Wealth Management (Ameriprise) – Combines brokerage and advisory; convenient insurance solutions but be mindful of commissions. ameripriseadvisors.com
South Shore Investment Services – RIA serving retirees; estate-planning coordination is a plus, though team size is small. southshoreis.com
6. Ready for next steps?
If you value:
A fiduciary advisor who speaks your company-benefits language
Tax-savvy retirement design that looks beyond investments
Straightforward AUM pricing with no hidden product kickbacks
…then we should talk.
Schedule a 15-minute discovery call or catch the quick video to see how thoughtful planning can add six figures—or more—to your long-term wealth potential.
“Parkmount Financial Partners LLC” (herein “Parkmount Financial”) is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the State[s] of Massachusetts and in other jurisdictions where exempt. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The information on this site is not intended as tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. This information should not be relied upon as the sole factor in an investment making decision. Past performance is no indication of future results. Investment in securities involves significant risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. It should not be assumed that any recommendations made will be profitable or equal any performance noted on this site. The information on this site is provided “AS IS” and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable laws, Parkmount Financial disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, non-infringement, and suitability for a particular purpose. Parkmount Financial does not warrant that the information on this site will be free from error. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall Parkmount Financial be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the information provided on this site, even if Parkmount Financial or a Parkmount Financial authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Information contained on this site should not be considered a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any security in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or recommendation would be unlawful or unauthorized.
Disclosures can be found here: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/brochure/323902
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