Strategic Expands Employee Ownership, Welcomes New Partners
Utica, NY – May 14, 2026 – Strategic Financial Services, Inc. (“Strategic”), an independent wealth management firm based in Central New York founded in 1979, is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its ownership team with the addition of five new partners. With $3B in assets under management, the firm remains 100% employee owned, with 19 team members now Strategic shareholders.
“We’ve been very intentional about building a team of genuinely good people — people who care deeply about our clients and about each other,” said Alan R. Leist III, CFA, CEO. “Expanding ownership is how we recognize the commitment of our team and continue to build around that strategy.”
Strategic proudly recognizes the firm’s newest partners for their leadership, dedication, and commitment to our vision of helping people live a great life:
- Nick Accordino, CFP® | Lead Advisor
- Francesca Asher, CFP® | Lead Advisor
- Holly Cafalone | Operations Manager
- Connor Gaffney, CFP® | Lead Advisor
- Curt Pearsall, CFP® | Lead Advisor
As true independence becomes rarer in the wealth management industry, Strategic remains committed to its clients and a true fiduciary standard. Growth is not driven by outside capital or short-term objectives, but by reinvestment in the firm and its people for the long-term.
“At a time when our industry is evolving quickly, we believe clients are still best served by firms with clear and durable alignment of interests,” said Leist. “When the owners of the business are the people serving clients, decisions are made with a long-term mindset — creating stability, accountability, and consistency over time.”
The addition of these new partners builds upon Strategic’s existing shareholder group, which includes:
- Max Berkovich | Portfolio Manager
- Aaron Evans, CFA, CFP® | Senior Advisor
- Melissa Fernald, CFP® | Senior Advisor
- Katy Heintz | Chief Growth Officer
- Alan R. Leist III, CFA | Chief Executive Officer
- David Lemire, CFA, CIPM, C(k)P | Director of Research
- Greg Mattacola, Esq., CFP® | Senior Advisor
- Michael McGraw, CFP® | Senior Advisor
- Laura Powers, ChFC® | Senior Advisor
- Jeremy Stewart | Chief Technology Officer
- Judy Sweet, CFA | Senior Advisor
- Greg Tedone, CPFA, ARPC | Head of Retirement Plans
- Doug Walters, CFA | Chief Investment Officer
- Kasey Williams | Chief Operations and Compliance Officer
For more information on Strategic and the Client Experience, visit www.investstrategic.com.
About Strategic Financial Services
In business since 1979, Strategic has a team of over 40 wealth management and retirement plan professionals, servicing more than 1,400 clients and managing more than $3 billion in assets. Areas of focus include Investment Management, Financial Planning, and Corporate Retirement Plans.
Strategic is an established independent wealth management firm serving clients across New York State and the northeastern United States, with offices in Utica, Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Little Falls, and West Palm Beach, FL.
