Sterling Global Strategies

What Sterling Global Strategies does

Sterling Global Strategies LLC is a private registered investment advisor founded in 2008 by managing partners John Paladino and Michael Haig, headquartered in Carlsbad, California. The firm provides wealth management, financial planning, company retirement plan services, and intergenerational wealth transfer services to high-net-worth individuals and families, with additional offerings for business owners, Fortune 500 executives, retirees, and companies seeking qualified retirement plans. Its core products include Wealth Management (tailored asset allocation), Financial Planning (eMoney-based comprehensive planning), Company Retirement Plans, Intergenerational Wealth Transfer (estate planning, family governance, philanthropic giving), and Tactical Strategies using a proprietary algorithm with a risk-management overlay that can move to 100% cash during broad market declines.

The firm operates on a fee-based, fiduciary advisory model with revenue generated through advisory fees for wealth management, planning, retirement plan services, and intergenerational wealth transfer; securities are offered through APW Capital, Inc. (FINRA/SIPC member) and investment advisory services through Laurel Wealth Advisors, Inc. and Integrated Partners. Custodial services are provided by Charles Schwab with Private Client Group support. As of June 30, 2024, the firm reports $18.8 billion in assets under advisement, inclusive of $13.5 billion in AUM.

Distribution is high-touch and relationship-driven, combining educational content (Financial Insights blog), email nurture, and an industry-recognized alliance program partnering financial advisors with CPAs, attorneys, and Property & Casualty professionals — working with 200+ professionals nationwide through the Integrated Partners network. The firm has 11 named team members including Managing Partners, a President (Andree Mohr), Chief Investment Officer (Stephen Kolano), EVP/Private Wealth Manager (John C. Pastore Jr.), and Executive Director (Richard E. Austin), with multiple wealth advisors and operations specialists.

Name

Sterling Global Strategies

Legal name

Sterling Global Strategies LLC

Website

https://sterling-gs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sterling Global Strategies is a private wealth management firm providing investment, financial planning, retirement plan, and intergenerational wealth transfer services to high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and companies, with $18.8 billion in assets under advisement as of June 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial planning advisory
• Retirement plan services
• Intergenerational wealth transfer
• Investment advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-Based Advisory Services: The firm operates as a fee-based advisory firm with fiduciary responsibility. Revenue is generated through advisory fees for wealth management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and intergenerational wealth transfer services. Securities are offered through APW Capital, Inc. (FINRA/SIPC member), and investment advisory services are provided through Integrated Partners Laurel Wealth Advisors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sterling Global Strategies is a fee-based registered investment advisor delivering holistic wealth management to high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. The firm provides tailored investment portfolios, comprehensive financial planning, company retirement plan services, intergenerational wealth transfer and estate planning, and proprietary tactical strategies managed via an algorithm with a risk management overlay. Services are delivered through fiduciary advisory relationships, with securities offered via APW Capital, Inc. and operations supported by Integrated Partners and Charles Schwab custody.

Product overview

Sterling Global Strategies offers a unified wealth management service suite composed of five integrated offerings: Wealth Management (tailored investment portfolios and asset allocation), Company Retirement Plans (business retirement plan design and management), Financial Planning (comprehensive personal financial plans), Intergenerational Wealth Transfer (estate planning and family wealth strategies), and Tactical Strategies (proprietary algorithm-driven investment strategies with risk management overlays). These services work together as a holistic approach to help clients accumulate, preserve, and transfer wealth across generations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wealth Management
• Company Retirement Plans
• Financial Planning
• Intergenerational Wealth Transfer
• Tactical Strategies

Quantifiable outcome

• $172,500 estimated healthcare expenses for a 65-year-old retiree in 2025, $345,000 for couples (per Fidelity Investments data)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Integrated PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Since 1996, Integrated Partners has been the premier hybrid RIA providing a structured yet open-architecture, multi-custodial environment. Integrated equips Sterling Global Strategies with infrastructure and back-office support, including robust financial planning resources, technology platform, practice management programs, training, and independent research. Sterling operates under Integrated's RIA fiduciary umbrella while maintaining independence and objectivity.
• APW Capital, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurities offered through APW Capital, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, located at 100 Enterprise Drive, Suite 504, Rockaway, NJ 07866. APW Capital provides brokerage services and regulatory membership, enabling Sterling Global Strategies to offer securities products to clients.
• Charles SchwabcoreTechnology or IntegrationCharles Schwab acts as the custodian for client assets, providing technology and comprehensive compliance services. Through this affiliation, Sterling can choose products and services that address client needs while maintaining objective financial advice. Charles Schwab also provides Private Client Group services including dedicated support center (800-515-2157) and online account access.
• Laurel Wealth Advisors, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationInvestment advisory services are offered through Laurel Wealth Advisors, Inc. (CRD #157139), a Registered Investment Adviser. Laurel Wealth provides the RIA infrastructure and regulatory framework under which Sterling Global Strategies operates, enabling them to provide fiduciary advisory services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Integrated Partners: The hybrid RIA platform under which Sterling Global Strategies operates. Integrated Partners provides the RIA registration, back-office, and practice management infrastructure for Sterling and 200+ other advisors, making it the most directly comparable platform peer in terms of business model and service mix.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large independent RIA serving HNW and UHNW clients with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and intergenerational transfer services. Highly comparable in target clientele, holistic service suite, and fee-based fiduciary model.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Hybrid RIA platform and wealth management firm offering fee-based advisory, financial planning, and tactical asset allocation. Directly comparable as a hybrid-RIA competitor serving HNW individuals with similar fiduciary, planning-led positioning.
• Carson Group: RIA alliance and wealth management firm serving HNW clients through a partner network of advisors with similar back-office support, financial planning focus, and CPA/attorney partnership models.
• HighTower Advisors: National RIA platform providing custody, technology, and practice management to breakaway wirehouse advisors serving HNW families. Comparable in target client, fee-based model, and advisor-recruitment growth strategy.
• Mercer Advisors: National RIA focused on HNW individuals with comprehensive wealth management, estate planning, and intergenerational transfer services. Comparable service mix and client demographic to Sterling.
• Sequoia Financial Group: Fee-based RIA offering wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to HNW individuals, families, and institutions. Comparable in business model, service mix, and target clientele.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Planning: One of the largest independent RIAs in the U.S., offering comprehensive wealth management to HNW/UHNW clients. While significantly larger and broader in scope, it competes for the same clientele with overlapping services.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national RIA combining traditional advisory services with digital advice and retirement plan focus. Overlaps with Sterling in retirement plan services and HNW wealth management, but at significantly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Facet Wealth: Digital-first RIA providing fee-based financial planning and investment advice targeted at HNW households. Represents the emerging digital-advice competitor that could pressure traditional high-touch RIAs like Sterling on the younger end of the HNW spectrum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterling-global-strategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sterling Global Strategies