# Rockbridge Investment Management

Rockbridge Investment Management is a Bank / Wealth / Trust based in Syracuse, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Bank / Wealth / Trust
- **Headquarters:** Syracuse, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Syracuse, NY, United States
- **Founded:** 1991
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** rockbridgeinvest.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/rockbridge-investment-management

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 115754
- **SEC file number:** 801-60639
- **Registration status:** APPROVED
- **Latest Form ADV filing:** 2026-03-27T05:00:00.000Z
- **Reports private funds:** No
- **Private funds reported:** 0
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/115754

## About

Rockbridge Investment Management was established in 1991 by Paul Palmatier in Syracuse, New York. The firm emerged to serve a specific need among Upstate New York's corporate executive class — managing concentrated single-stock positions from long-term equity compensation plans. The second generation, led by President and CIO Steven Palmatier, has maintained that focus while broadening the client base to include high-net-worth families, nonprofit endowments, and private business owners across the region. The firm constructs bespoke taxable portfolios using individual equity and fixed-income securities rather than commingled funds. Core disciplines span tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing, and concentrated-position management — often for executives holding employer stock with a low cost basis. The fixed-income book emphasizes municipal bonds suited to New York State residents. Client portfolios commonly include allocations to private real estate through syndicated offerings and private credit exposure via interval funds, though the firm does not operate proprietary commingled vehicles. Rockbridge maintains an in-house tax preparation practice, making tax-aware asset location and withdrawal sequencing central to its investment process rather than an overlay. Rockbridge operates from a single office in Syracuse. The firm does not publicly disclose assets under management or total advisory headcount. Philanthropic advisory services form part of the client offering, with guidance on donor-advised funds and charitable remainder trusts integrated into wealth transfer planning. In 2023 the firm formalized a next-generation education program for client families, structuring curriculum around investment literacy and trustee readiness for inheriting wealth. What distinguishes Rockbridge structurally is its pairing of a registered investment advisory practice with an in-house CPA firm — a configuration more common in multi-family offices than among regionally focused wealth managers. This architecture allows the investment team to model tax consequences of portfolio decisions within the same planning cycle, compressing what at most advisory firms is a handoff between separate providers into a single workflow. The succession from father to son has been publicly documented, with the second generation now holding the CIO seat since the mid-2010s.

## Sectors

- Wealth Management

## People

- Steven Palmatier — President and Chief Investment Officer
- Paul Palmatier — Principal

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Rockbridge Investment Management?

Steven Palmatier serves as President and Chief Investment Officer, leading portfolio construction and investment policy. The firm was founded by his father, Paul Palmatier, who remains a principal. The transition to second-generation leadership occurred during the mid-2010s, with Steven now holding the CIO seat.

### How does Rockbridge manage concentrated stock positions for clients?

The firm uses a combination of direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and structured diversification plans tailored to executives holding employer stock with a low cost basis. Because Rockbridge constructs portfolios from individual securities rather than pooled funds, it can isolate specific tax lots for sale and reinvest proceeds into a diversified equity portfolio while managing capital-gains exposure across multiple tax years.

### How does Rockbridge integrate tax planning with investment management?

Rockbridge maintains an in-house CPA practice alongside its registered investment advisory business, which is uncommon for a regionally focused wealth manager. This structure means portfolio decisions — asset location, withdrawal sequencing, charitable giving, and concentrated-position unwinding — are modeled for tax impact within the same advisory team rather than outsourced to an external accountant.

### What is Rockbridge's known posture on co-investments or direct private deals?

The firm does not appear to sponsor direct private company co-investments or operate a deal-by-deal platform. Private-market exposure is generally obtained through third-party syndicated real estate offerings and interval-fund structures for private credit rather than direct minority or control equity stakes in operating companies.

### Where does Rockbridge's client base primarily come from?

The firm serves Upstate New York — particularly Syracuse and surrounding communities — with a client base historically built around corporate executives holding concentrated employer equity, local business owners, nonprofit endowments, and high-net-worth families seeking integrated tax and investment counsel.

## Related profiles

- [Rockbound Wealth Management](https://altss.com/profile/rockbound-wealth-management)
- [Rockefeller Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/rockefeller-foundation)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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