PFG - Financial Planning & Management

PFG operates as a fee-only registered investment advisor, which legally obligates it to act as a fiduciary for its clients. This means the firm must put client interests ahead of its own when making investment recommendations. Compensation typically comes from asset-based fees billed quarterly, hourly planning charges, or flat retainer arrangements — not commissions from product sales.

PFG primarily serves individual investors and families, with a focus on pre-retirees and retirees who need coordinated financial planning. The firm also works with small institutions and trusts. Client profiles tend toward professionals, business owners, and those navigating complex tax or estate situations within the central New Jersey and broader Tri-State region.

No. As a registered investment advisor, PFG does not custody client assets. The firm uses third-party custodians — typically large institutional players such as Charles Schwab or Fidelity — to hold client funds. This separation is a key investor protection: it means PFG manages the investment strategy but never takes physical possession of the assets.

PFG builds portfolios using primarily low-cost exchange-traded funds and individual fixed-income securities. The firm employs a goals-based framework, meaning the asset allocation for each client flows from their specific financial plan — near-term cash needs, tax situation, and distribution timeline — rather than a one-size-fits-all model portfolio.

PFG positions financial planning as the central organizing framework. The firm routinely coordinates with clients' CPAs, estate attorneys, and insurance professionals to ensure tax strategies, beneficiary designations, and asset titling align with the overall plan. This integration is a core part of the practice model rather than an ancillary service.

Given its boutique scale and retail-client focus, PFG's alternative-investment access is limited compared to large multi-family offices or institutional allocators. Where client suitability and accreditation permit, the firm may source private real estate or private credit vehicles, but the core portfolio construction is centered on public-market securities.

PFG's Form ADV — including details on assets under management, fee schedules, advisory personnel, and any disciplinary history — is publicly available through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. This is the standard regulatory filing for all registered investment advisors in the United States.