Allentown, PA
Fee-Only Fiduciary Financial Advisor Serving Allentown
Retirement-focused financial planning for Allentown pre-retirees and retirees, from our office in Center Valley.
The Short Answer
Wealthcare of the Lehigh Valley is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm serving Allentown households from its Center Valley, PA office. We work with pre-retirees and retirees, including medical professionals, higher-education faculty and administrators, surviving spouses, and people holding concentrated stock. Ask any advisor how they are paid.
Choosing an Advisor
Four Questions to Ask Any Allentown Financial Advisor
Advisors in Allentown differ in how they are paid, who they serve, and which services they provide directly. These questions help you compare them.
How are you paid?
Ask whether the advisor is fee-only or earns commissions or other compensation tied to products. Ask for the fee schedule in writing.
Are you a fiduciary at all times?
A fiduciary is legally obligated to put a client's interests first. Ask whether that applies to every recommendation, or only some services.
What credentials do you hold?
Designations such as CFP® and AIF® involve education, experience, and ethics requirements. Confirm them with the issuing organization.
Have you worked with households like mine?
Retirement plans for medical professionals, faculty, and administrators, employer stock, and surviving spouses each raise different questions.
Our own fee schedule is published on this site, and our guide to what an Accredited Investment Fiduciary is explains one of the designations above.
Who We Work With
Planning for Allentown-Area Households
We work with a limited number of households, so we can take time to understand your full financial picture. We have direct experience with local health system and higher-education retirement plans, and we help people approaching retirement from demanding careers.
Common planning topics include retirement income, 403(b) and 401(k) decisions, tax planning, Social Security timing, and diversifying a concentrated stock position. Every strategy involves trade-offs, and results depend on your individual circumstances. Read more on our Who We Serve page, or see how the plans may differ in our 403(b) vs 401(k) comparison.
Our Services
What We Provide
Planning services for Allentown households, delivered by a fee-only fiduciary firm.
Where We Are
Our Office Is in Center Valley
Our office is at 3477 Corporate Parkway, Suite 100, Center Valley, PA 18034, and we serve households in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and across the Lehigh Valley. You can also meet with us by Zoom. Call 484-224-3677 or contact us.
Allentown Questions, Answered
Financial Advisor FAQs for Allentown, PA
How can I confirm that an Allentown financial advisor is a fiduciary?
Ask the advisor to state in writing that they act as a fiduciary for all of the advice they give you, and ask how they are paid. You can also look up a firm's Form ADV, which describes its services, fees, and conflicts of interest, at adviserinfo.sec.gov. FINRA BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org shows the registration and disciplinary history of brokers and some advisers. Fiduciary status and compensation can differ from one advisor to the next, so it helps to compare answers from more than one firm.
Do I need a financial advisor with an office in Allentown?
Not necessarily. Some households prefer to meet in person and others are comfortable meeting by video. Wealthcare of the Lehigh Valley is based in Center Valley, PA, and works with households in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and across the Lehigh Valley. Meetings can be held at our office or by Zoom, depending on what works for you.
What should Allentown-area hospital and university employees ask about their retirement plans?
Employees of local health systems and colleges often have access to a 403(b) or 401(k) plan, and sometimes a pension or other deferred compensation. Useful questions include which investment options and fees the plan has, whether it offers a Roth option, how catch-up contributions apply to you, and what your choices are when you leave the employer. Plan rules vary by employer and by year, so check your plan documents and consider speaking with a tax professional about your situation.
How does a fee-only advisor in Allentown get paid?
A fee-only advisor is paid by clients directly and does not earn commissions on products. Fee arrangements can include a percentage of assets managed, a flat fee, or an hourly rate, and each has trade-offs depending on how much planning and ongoing management you need. Review any advisor's written fee schedule before you engage them. Ours is available on the fee schedule page of this site.
What happens in a first meeting with Wealthcare?
The first conversation is a free consultation. It is a chance to share your situation, ask how we work and how we are paid, and decide whether we are a good fit for each other.
This page is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. See our important disclosures.