Top CFOs is pleased to announce The Top 50 Financial Advisors of New Jersey for 2022. The state of New Jersey is well known for its long and beautiful coastlines. All of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas making a high demand location for individuals in need of solid financial advice. This year’s awardees have excelled in their field providing individual and institutional financial guidance allowing their clients to thrive today and for the future.
Among this year’s awardees are Lynn Fryckberg, SVP of Wealth Management, Financial Advisor, and Portfolio Manager for UBS, who has been named one of Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors and is said to be one of the original pioneers for women in a traditionally male-oriented field; Jeffrey Browne, Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director of The Browne-Dugary Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, who provides unparalleled service along with wealth management strategies to each and every client; and Joseph Karas, Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor for The Karas Advisory Team of Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, who has designed his team to help ultra-high net worth families and individuals address the complex challenges of managing significant wealth.
Their knowledge and expertise provide confidence and comfort to the individuals they serve. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Financial Advisors of New Jersey for 2022.
1. John Kelley
SVP, Financial Advisor & Portfolio Management Director, Morgan Stanley
John Kelley began his professional career 26 years ago. Today, he is a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, and Portfolio Management Director at The Boardwalk Group at Morgan Stanley. The financial services company offers securities, asset management, and credit services. For over 85 years, the firm’s reputation for using innovative thinking to solve complex problems has been well earned and rarely matched. A consistent industry leader throughout decades of dramatic change in modern finance, Morgan Stanley continues to break new ground in advising, serving and providing new opportunities for its clients.
Kelley first got his start in 1996 as Vice President of Investments at Janney Montgomery Scott LCC before eventually rising to Senior Vice President of Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, his most recent position prior to joining Morgan Stanley. Kelley graduated from University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in economics.
2. Lynn Fryckberg
SVP of Wealth Management, Financial Advisor & Portfolio Manager, UBS
Lynn Fryckberg is a Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, Financial Advisor, and Portfolio Manager for UBS. She first joined the company in 2016. UBS is a Switzerland-based financial services firm that offers services such as investment banking and wealth management for enterprises and institutions across 50 countries.
Previously, Fryckberg was a First Vice President, Portfolio Manager, and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She has been named one of Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors for 2020, 2021, and 2022. Fryckberg has also been said to be one of the original pioneers for women in a traditionally male-oriented field of financial and investment planning. She earned an undergraduate degree from Philadelphia University.
3. Michael Pallozzi
President and Financial Advisor, HFM Investment Advisors
Michael Pallozzi is President and Financial Advisor of HFM Investment Advisors. He first joined the company in 2006. HFM Investment Advisors is an independent, fee-only financial planning and investment management firm that utilizes education based on Nobel prize-winning academic research to help clients invest to achieve their goals. It is dedicated to providing professional advice and strategies to help guide clients' family's financial future.
As president of HFM Investment Advisors, Pallozzi has cultivated a team of professionals who prioritize the specific needs of each of their clients. HFM reflects his values of listening first and then working collaboratively with clients to create financial plans that achieve their goals. As an independent Registered Investment Advisor, Pallozzi and his firm are freely able to serve as their clients’ fiduciary advisors. It is this independence that is a driving force in his firm’s 401(k) services for businesses that provide retirement plans for their employees. Previously, Pallozzi was a treasurer at Washington Township Education Fund and before that an SVP, Financial Planner and Senior Wealth Advisor at MML Investors Services. Earlier in his career he was Owner and President of Total Planning Management. Pallozzi earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Rutgers University - Camden, where he was also the Co-Founder of the Rutgers University Family Business Council.
4. Douglas Pires
Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor, UBS
Douglas Pires began his professional career 19 years ago. Today, he is the Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor of UBS, a Switzerland-based financial services firm that offers services such as investment banking and wealth management for enterprises and institutions across 50 countries asset management expertise, or private and corporate banking services in Switzerland
Pires first got his start in 2003 as a mortgage consultant at CFIC Home Mortgage before eventually rising to Vice President and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, his most recent position prior to joining UBS. Pires graduated from University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in cognitive science and has received several awards and honors throughout his career. Among those include being named by Forbes as America's Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors in 2018 - 2021, as well as, the Five Star Wealth Manager designation issued by Philadelphia Magazine, where Udine has been named annually since 2013.
View the complete list of awardees.
5. Michael Balkey
Senior Financial Advisor and First Vice President of Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Michael Balkey is a Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch. He started with Merrill Lynch in 1996 and has achieved the Charted Retirement Planning Counselor*(SM)(CRPC®) designation. Balkey recognizes that his ultimate responsibility is to help clients build a solid foundation on which to make confident retirement decisions. He strongly believes in educating clients as he advises them. He feels this education process helps to create trusting relationships with clients throughout their retirement. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Balkey lives in Haddonfield, NJ with his 2 sons Griffin and Caden. He is active in youth athletics as a volunteer soccer and swim coach.
Merrill financial advisors combine financial knowledge and experience with a deep understanding of clients’ needs to help clients pursue the lives they want. With a deep commitment to placing clients' interests first, Merrill financial advisors draw upon the investment insights of Merrill and the banking insights of Bank of America to unlock opportunities tailored to their clients’ needs in many areas of their financial lives. The strategies financial advisors offer go beyond investment management to include college savings strategies, retirement planning, eldercare, philanthropy, estate planning services, small business services, and access to cash management and banking strategies.
8. James Manuola
Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
James Manuola is a Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, one of the largest wealth management businesses in the world. Merrill financial advisors combine financial knowledge and experience with a deep understanding of clients’ needs to help clients pursue the lives they want. With a deep commitment to placing clients' interests first, Merrill financial advisors draw upon the investment insights of Merrill and the banking insights of Bank of America to unlock opportunities tailored to their clients’ needs in many areas of their financial lives. The strategies financial advisors offer go beyond investment management to include college savings strategies, retirement planning, eldercare, philanthropy, estate planning services, small business services, and access to cash management and banking strategies. Manuola has 23 years of experience. He began his career in 1999.
Before joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Manuola was a Vice President and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. He graduated from Rutgers University with an undergraduate degree.
10. Ryan Udine
Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Wealth Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Ryan Udine is Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager and Wealth Advisor at The Udine Group at Morgan Stanley. The Udine Group is a family wealth advisory practice built on a foundation of trust, transparency and integrity, three critical elements essential to the relationships they have formed among themselves, as well as the individuals and families they proudly serve.
Morgan Stanley is a financial services company that offers securities, asset management, and credit services. It mobilizes capital to help governments, corporations, institutions and individuals around the world achieve their financial goals.
Udine began his career in 2008 and now has over 14 years of experience. In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner®, he also holds several other licenses and certifications such as Series 66 and Series 7. Udine graduated from Penn State University and is currently a member of the Penn State Alumni Association.
11. Ralph Autuore
Wealth Management Advisor, Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Ralph Autuore is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President at The Autuore Oakley Group of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, one of the largest wealth management businesses in the world. Like many seasoned financial advisors, Autuore brings clients more than 25 years of rich wealth management experience. However, unlike most financial advisory teams, members of The Autuore Oakley Group have worked together for two full decades.
Autuore and his colleagues bring a focused, team approach to a limited number of clients in New Jersey and up and down the East Coast – including C-suite executives, business owners and their corporate retirement plans, young professionals, retirees, widows, and the LGBT community. Merrill financial advisors combine financial knowledge and experience with a deep understanding of clients’ needs to help clients pursue the lives they want. With a deep commitment to placing clients' interests first, Merrill financial advisors draw upon the investment insights of Merrill and the banking insights of Bank of America to unlock opportunities tailored to their clients’ needs in many areas of their financial lives. Autuore began his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2008 and has just over 13 years of experience. He graduated from the University of Connecticut and is a volunteer at Cape Regional Medical Center.
13. Manuel Aponte
Senior Financial Advisor and First Vice President of Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors
Manuel “Manny” Aponte began his professional career 23 years ago. Today, he is a Senior Financial Advisor and First Vice President of Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, a Missouri-based financial services firm that provides services such as financial advisory and asset management for individuals and businesses. It helps clients succeed financially. It honors its relationship with clients and being fully invested in their success.
Aponte first got his start in 1999 as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. He graduated from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with an undergraduate degree. Aponte is also a part of several organizations in his community, including AtlantiCare Regional Health Services where he has served on the Board of Trustees since 2009. In addition, he has also been a planning board member of the Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey Planning Board since 2006.
14. Christopher Zappy
First Vice President and Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Christopher Zappy is a First Vice President, Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, a financial services company that offers securities, asset management, and credit services. It mobilizes capital to help governments, corporations, institutions and individuals around the world achieve their financial goals. For over 85 years, the firm’s reputation for using innovative thinking to solve complex problems has been well earned and rarely matched. A consistent industry leader throughout decades of dramatic change in modern finance, Morgan Stanley will continue to break new ground in advising, serving and providing new opportunities for its clients.
Zappy began his career in 2011 and has 11 years of experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Zappy was an analyst at J.P. Morgan and before that a financial professional at Prudential Financial. He graduated from Rutgers University-New Brunswick with an undergraduate degree in finance, and in addition to being a Certified Financial Planner®, he also holds several other licenses and certifications such as Series 66 and Series 7.
16. Paul Tropea
Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management
Paul Tropea is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Management. RBC Wealth Management has provided trusted advice and wealth management solutions to individuals, families and institutions for more than a century. As part of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Canada’s largest bank and a leading global bank, it serves the needs of high net worth and institutional clients worldwide through private banking, credit, investment management, asset management, estate and trust and other services. By offering the breadth of its global reach, its deep capabilities, and an integrated team of experts, it aims to bring the best possible solutions to its clients.
Tropea began his career in 2004 and has just over 18 years of experience. Before joining RBC Wealth Management, Tropea was a First Vice President of Investments at Janney Montgomery Scott. Tropea graduated from Saint Joseph's University with an undergraduate degree in finance and financial management services.
View the complete list of awardees.
18. Tim Keegan
Financial Advisor, SVP of Investments, and Portfolio Management Director, Morgan Stanley
Tim Keegan began his professional career 27 years ago. Today, he is a Financial Advisor, Senior Vice President of Investments, and Portfolio Management Director at Morgan Stanley, a financial services company that offers securities, asset management, and credit services. It mobilizes capital to help governments, corporations, institutions and individuals around the world achieve their financial goals. For over 85 years, the firm’s reputation for using innovative thinking to solve complex problems has been well earned and rarely matched. A consistent industry leader throughout decades of dramatic change in modern finance, Morgan Stanley will continue to break new ground in advising, serving and providing new opportunities for its clients.
Keegan first got his start in 1995 as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, and has been a Master's Club Member since 2020. He graduated from Georgetown University with an undergraduate degree in finance and was inducted into the Georgetown University Athletic Hall of Fame 2013. He has since received several honors and awards such as Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisor in 2021.
20. Robert Shulman
Vice President and Wealth Management Financial Advisor, Janney Montgomery Scott
Robert Shulman is a Vice President and Wealth Management Financial Advisor of Janney Montgomery Scott, a leading financial services firm dedicated to putting client needs first. Providing the best in financial and investment advice to help clients toward their personal or business goals is what drives its daily operating philosophy. Janney provides advice to individual, corporate and institutional clients. Its expertise includes guidance about asset management, corporate and public finance, equity and fixed income investing, equity research, institutional equity and fixed income sales and trading, investment strategy, financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, public and private capital raising, portfolio management, retirement and income planning, and wealth management. Shulman has 37 years of experience. He began his career in 1985.
Before joining Janney Montgomery Scott, Shulman was a financial advisor at Smith Barney and before that a financial advisor at Legg Mason. Earlier in his career he worked with Butcher and Singer as a financial advisor. Shulman graduated from Penn State University with an undergraduate degree in business logistics and was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
22. Adam Puff
President, Founder, and Financial Advisor, Haddonfield Financial Planning
Adam Puff began his professional career 18 years ago. Today, he is the Founder and President of Haddonfield Financial Planning. Haddonfield Financial Planning does things differently, starting with telling what clients actually want to know. Its biggest job is to keep clients from making bad decisions. No timing the market. No reactions to news, just patient and proven investing. Haddonfield's goal is to give back 5% of profits each year to causes and charities based in and around Haddonfield, NJ.
Puff first got his start in 2004 as a financial consultant at Janney Montgomery Scott before eventually rising to financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, his most recent position prior to founding Haddonfield Financial Planning. Puff graduated from Bucknell University with an undergraduate degree in economics, and in addition to being a part of the men's swimming and diving team, he was also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Puff has also been a member of The Rotary Club of Philadelphia Center City since 2012.
25. Mark Fisher
Financial Advisor, ABMM Financial
Mark Fisher is a Financial Advisor at GWN Securities, Inc. of ABMM Financial, a wealth management firm that offers retirement planning, investment programs and risk management services. It delivers wealth management solutions for all investors, with an emphasis on providing top annuity and open architecture investment platforms for public sector and not-for-profit employee retirement plans.
Fisher began his career in 2002 and has 20 years of experience. Prior to joining ABMM Financial, Fisher was a wealth manager at Fisher Wealth Management and before that an advisor at TD Ameritrade. Fisher graduated from Penn State University with an undergraduate degree in health and wellness.
27. Jeffrey Browne
Managing Director and Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Jeffrey Browne is a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director of The Browne-Dugary Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He first joined the company in 2009. Founded in 1914, Merrill is one of the largest wealth management businesses in the world. Merrill financial advisors combine financial knowledge and experience with a deep understanding of clients’ needs to help clients pursue the lives they want. With a deep commitment to placing clients' interests first, Merrill financial advisors draw upon the investment insights of Merrill and the banking insights of Bank of America to unlock opportunities tailored to their clients’ needs in many areas of their financial lives.
Browne earned an undergraduate degree from Babson College. Since then, in addition to being named to the 2022 Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" list, Browne has also been ranked one of "Financial Planning's 40 Under 40" top advisors in the country in 2022. According to Browne, this and other recognitions are due to his amazing team that make up the Browne-Dugary Group, where they pride themselves on putting the client first and focusing on what matters most in their lives. Browne’s team strives to provide unparalleled service along with wealth management strategies to reach each client's goals. Their clients are executives, small business owners, and multi-generational families.
29. Joseph Karas
Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Joseph Karas is a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor for The Karas Advisory Team, a boutique group within the global firm, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. The Karas Advisory Team is a highly experienced wealth management group that serves two distinct sets of clients under two banners. The Karas Team is designed to help ultra-high net worth families and individuals address the complex challenges of managing significant wealth. Foundation & Endowment Services is structured to provide highly customized investment solutions to nonprofit organizations, as well as to simplify the tasks of complying with their fiduciary and regulatory responsibilities. They believe that their two complementary businesses inform each other and enable them to provide fresh insight and a refined level of service to all of their clients.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, Karas was a Vice President of Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs. Karas has nearly 25 years of experience. He graduated from Rutgers University with an MS in statistics and from University of Connecticut with an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and statistics.
30. Patrick McGlashan
AVP and Financial Advisor, TD Wealth
Patrick McGlashan is an AVP and Financial Advisor at TD Wealth, a Canada-based financial institution that provides personal and commercial banking products and services for individuals and businesses. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, McGlashan has been actively engaged in fostering strong client relationships and helping clients with their financial goals in Haddon Township, NJ. He works closely with clients to explore strategies and solutions as part of their overall financial plans as they work together towards their unique financial goals.
Prior to joining TD Wealth in 2017, McGlashan held roles as a VP Annuity and Life Sales at Safe Money Resource LLC and as a VP Sales at Roster Financial LLC. He is a graduate of the Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Psychology degree.
View the complete list of awardees.
32. Gary Shickora
Wealth Management Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Gary Shickora is a Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual. Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to millions with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, and investments. As a Wealth Management Advisor, Shickora has a passion for helping his clients build a bridge between their current financial lives and the lives they dream of by taking clients through a holistic financial planning process. He has been with Northwestern Mutual since 2008 starting in their Philadelphia office and in 2012 was appointed Managing Director of the Mount Laurel, NJ office from 2012-2018. In Shickora’s time with Northwestern Mutual, he was named Rookie of The Year in 2008, and has earned membership to the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) (2015, 2017 - 2019) - an independent association for the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals. Shickora has earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and is also proud to have been named as one of the Top 20 Business Leaders Under the age of 40 by South Jersey Biz Magazine in 2013, and one of the Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 by SJ Businesspeople in 2015.
Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Shickora worked for 5+ years at Ryan Homes where he began his career in 2003 after graduating #1 in the finance department at East Carolina University.
34. Sean McGlinchey
Senior Financial Advisor, Vanguard
Sean McGlinchey is a Senior Financial Advisor at Vanguard. Since Vanguard’s founding in 1975, helping investors achieve their goals has been its main reason for existence. With no other parties to answer to and therefore no conflicting loyalties, it makes every decision, including keeping investing costs as low as possible, with the client's needs in mind.
With over a decade of experience in the financial industry, McGlinchey first joined Vanguard in 2011 as investment specialist. Previously, McGlinchey was a financial professional at Prudential Financial. He earned an MBA in business administration and management from Villanova University and an undergraduate degree in finance from Rutgers University - Camden.
36. Neil McPeak
Managing Director, Investments and Financial Advisor, McPeak Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Neil McPeak is a Financial Advisor at McPeak Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors is a Missouri-based financial services firm that provides services such as financial advisory and asset management for individuals and businesses. McPeak’s work ranges from investment planning to portfolio management services. To implement his strategies, he draws upon a broad range of investment alternatives to help achieve the optimum fit for each client's specific goals and objectives.
McPeak earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Drexel University before joining a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo in 1981. He has received local and industry-wide recognition for his capabilities as a financial advisor. McPeak has been named a Premier Advisor within his firm every year since 1993 and has most recently been named one of Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in 2016 and 2017.
39. Shea Harvey
Financial Advisor, First Command Financial Services
Shea Harvey is a Financial Advisor at First Command Financial Services, which coaches the Nation’s military families in their pursuit of financial security. He first joined the company in 2018 does not believe in shortcuts to financial security. Harvey advocates time-tested financial principles including prudent and responsible debt management, disciplined saving and investing and a thoughtful insurance strategy for managing financial risk. And as an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR), he is held to a fiduciary standard, required in all cases to act in the clients’ best interests.
Previously, Harvey was a Vice President in Institutional Client Business at BlackRock and before that a staff accountant at Petroni and Associates. He earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Rowan University.
40. Peter Sciortino
Managing Partner and Financial Advisor, Integrity Wealth Management
Peter Sciortino began his professional career 24 years ago. Today, he is a Managing Partner and Financial Advisor at Integrity Wealth Management, a full-service company specializing in retirement planning and investment management. Sciortino’s central focus is on educating clients on the fundamentals of personal finance and investment planning.
Sciortino earned a BS in Accounting from Rutgers University and a MS in Financial Services from Saint Joseph’s University. In 15 years of experience, he worked with JP Morgan Private Banking as a Tax Administrator, Wachovia Securities as a Financial Advisor, Prudential Financial as a Financial Services Manager, and Beneficial Advisors as a Financial Advisor prior to joining Integrity Wealth Management.
45. Eric Lorenz
Financial Advisor, Voya Financial Advisors
Eric Lorenz is a Financial Advisor at Voya Financial Advisors, which is a leading health, wealth and investment company that provides products, solutions and technologies that help Americans become well planned, well invested and well protected. Voya is purpose-driven and is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible.
Lorenz began his career in 2000 and has 22 years of experience. Before joining Voya Financial Advisors, Lorenz was a Director of Financial Services at ABCO Federal Credit Union and before that a financial advisor at AXA Advisors, LLC. Lorenz graduated from Wake Forest University with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
50. Jeff Walker
Financial Advisor, Thrive Financial Services
Jeff Walker began his professional career 11 years ago. Today, he is a Financial Advisor at Thrive Financial Services, a client first, independent, wealth management firm. Thrive believes people were intended to thrive and succeed, but the right information can be hard to find in the industry today. That's why Thrive focuses on an education-first approach with all of its clients. Its commitment to operating as an independent financial services agency means it can partner with numerous companies, enabling objective comparison to maximum savings and provide solutions that are truly in the best interest of those it serves.
Walker first got his start in 2011 as an investment representative and branch manager at Bridge Wealth Advisor. From there, he went on to Gottleib and Associate LLC, before eventually rising to financial advisor at Citizens Investment Services, his most recent position prior to joining Thrive Financial Services. Walker graduated from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree.
View the complete list of awardees.
