Fiduciary Investment Advisors in Fairfield, CT

A fiduciary advisor is legally and ethically required to act in your best interest at all times. Unlike broker-dealers who operate under a suitability standard, fiduciaries must disclose conflicts of interest, prioritize your financial goals above commissions or product sales, and provide objective, transparent guidance. At Sentinel, we are held to this higher standard in every recommendation, investment decision, and strategy we design for your portfolio.

We build portfolios using modern portfolio theory, refined over decades of real-world application. Each portfolio is personalized based on your investment goals, income needs, tax situation, and risk tolerance. We stress-test allocations against historical market conditions including bear markets, recessions, and inflation. Every client receives an Investment Policy Statement that governs decisions, and we monitor portfolios continuously for style drift, tax efficiency, and alignment with Connecticut's unique tax environment.

Our fee structure is transparent and aligned with your success. We operate on a fee-only basis, meaning we do not earn commissions from product sales. Fees are typically based on a percentage of assets under management, ensuring our interests are fully aligned with growing and protecting your wealth. During your initial consultation, we provide a clear breakdown of all costs, including advisory fees, custodial expenses, and any third-party management fees.

Yes. Retirement income planning is one of our core specialties. We've guided over 2,000 clients into retirement with an average planning horizon exceeding 20 years. Our approach includes structured withdrawal strategies across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, designed to minimize sequence-of-returns risk and longevity risk. We model various income scenarios, integrate Social Security timing, and coordinate Required Minimum Distributions to ensure reliable cash flow throughout your retirement.

Tax management is integrated into every aspect of our advisory process. We strategically manage asset location across your taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, execute tax-loss harvesting to offset gains, coordinate Roth conversions during low-income years, and sequence withdrawals to minimize your lifetime tax liability. Living in Connecticut—a high-tax state—makes this coordination even more critical. We also model Qualified Charitable Distributions and tax-efficient gifting strategies aligned with current IRS regulations.

Absolutely. While we don't draft legal documents, we coordinate closely with estate attorneys to ensure your financial plan aligns with your wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations. We review asset titling, beneficiary elections, and ownership structures to minimize probate exposure, reduce estate taxes, and ensure efficient wealth transfer. We manage accounts, insurance policies, and retirement assets to support your legacy goals.

Yes. We have 25 years of experience working with families requiring lifelong support planning. We've supported over 20 families long-term, coordinating with care planners and attorneys to design financial strategies that protect government benefits, fund quality-of-life enhancements, and ensure continuity of care. Our team understands the unique complexities of special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and Medicaid planning specific to Connecticut regulations.

We serve clients throughout Connecticut from our three offices in Fairfield, Middletown, and West Haven. We work with families and professionals across Fairfield County, New Haven County, Middlesex County, and beyond. We also support clients in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maine, and Florida through our multi-state advisory platform.