SAFE PORT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES

What SAFE PORT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES does

Safe Port Financial Associates, LLC is a fee-based, independent financial advisory firm headquartered at 108 East Main Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts, founded in 1988 by Gary Porter and now led by third-generation advisor Michael Buxbaum as President, with fourth-generation advisor Alex Buxbaum (CIMA) as a Financial Advisor. The firm delivers retirement planning, investment management, estate planning, insurance advisory, tax strategy, and ongoing financial coaching to individuals, families, business owners, and technology-industry workers in Gloucester, Rockport, and the Greater Boston Area, typically requiring a minimum of $500,000 in manageable assets for asset management services. Its niche specialty in technology-sector clients (particularly stock option planning and 401(k) management) has been cultivated for over 30 years, and it serves multiple client relationships documented at 30+ years duration.

The firm operates on a subscription-style, fee-based advisory revenue model rather than product commissions, generating income through advisory fees on managed assets and ongoing planning engagements. Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led: prospects schedule a complimentary consultation, proceed to a fact-finding meeting, then receive a custom financial plan and ongoing advisor access. Marketing is content-driven through a website hub featuring a 200+ term glossary, articles, videos, calculators, e-books, and client testimonials, with referrals and direct outreach closing the funnel.

Safe Port has no proprietary technology platform; all operational infrastructure is provided through its core partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network, its registered investment adviser-broker/dealer, which supplies the Investor360 client portal, Wealth Manager platform (with Quicken and Microsoft Money compatibility), compliance supervision, back-office support, and access to an advanced planning team for complex situations. A complementary network of attorneys, bookkeepers, CPAs, insurance professionals, and senior care consultants is coordinated on behalf of clients. The firm holds no patents, has no disclosed funding, is privately held by the founding family, and operates with a total team of nine, including founding members Gary and Mary Porter in advisory/retired roles following a 2023 leadership transition.

Name

SAFE PORT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES

Legal name

Safe Port Financial Associates, LLC

Website

https://safeportfinancial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Safe Port Financial Associates is a fee-based independent financial advisory firm in Gloucester, MA, founded in 1988, providing retirement, investment, tax, and estate planning to retirees, families, business owners, and tech workers across Greater Boston under a Commonwealth Financial Network affiliation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management & Financial Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAEAAAL

Fee-Only Advisory

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

Keywords

• Financial planning services
• Wealth management advisory
• Retirement planning services
• Investment portfolio management
• 401(k) plan advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fee-Based Financial Planning and Advisory Services: The firm operates as a fee-based financial advisory firm, providing fee-based financial planning, retirement planning, and portfolio management services. Revenue is generated through advisory fees rather than product commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Safe Port Financial Associates is a fee-based independent financial advisory firm providing comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, and portfolio management services to individuals, families, retirees, business owners, and technology industry workers. Core services include Financial Planning (organizing financial lives across accumulation, distribution, estate, risk, business, and tax phases), Asset Management (custom-tailored investment selection for clients with at least $500,000 in manageable assets), and Ongoing Financial Coaching. The firm is affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network as its broker/dealer partner and serves clients in Gloucester, MA, Rockport, MA, and the Greater Boston Area.

Product overview

Safe Port Financial Associates operates as a fee-based financial advisory firm offering a unified suite of financial planning and wealth management services. The core offering centers on Financial Planning (organizing financial lives across accumulation, distribution, estate, risk, business, and tax phases) and Asset Management (custom-tailored investment selection for clients with $500,000+ in manageable assets), complemented by Ongoing Financial Coaching for continuous advisor access. Service offerings span Retirement Planning, Investment Services, Insurance Services, Estate Planning, and Tax Strategy. The firm provides access to a network of professionals (attorneys, bookkeepers, CPAs, insurance professionals, senior care consultants). Client-facing digital tools include the Investor360 client portal for account access, Wealth Manager platform with Quicken/Microsoft Money compatibility, and educational resources including a 200+ term financial glossary and tax resources center. The firm is affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network as its broker/dealer partner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Planning Organizes clients' financial lives and brings clarity to their situation, addressing the accumulation phase (asset growth targeting), distribution phase (tax-advantaged asset distribution), estate planning, risk management, business planning, and tax minimization across all life phases.
• Asset Management Custom-tailored investment selection based on client long-term goals, risk tolerance, and performance objectives. Best suited for clients with at least $500,000 in manageable assets.
• Ongoing Financial Coaching Continuous access to financial advisors for ongoing guidance on any finance-related matters, from property sales to car buying decisions, supporting clients in becoming confident financial decision-makers.
• Retirement Planning Retirement strategy development to help clients enjoy the fruits of their labor, including determining optimal retirement dates, Social Security timing, Medicare planning, and ensuring savings sustainability.
• Investment Services Investment strategy development designed to pursue client risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial goals through various investment vehicles.
• Insurance Services Insurance strategy development to protect loved ones from financial consequences of unexpected life events through personal, liability, and life insurance planning.
• Estate Planning Estate planning services combining legal documents with financial planning to preserve assets and create lasting legacies.
• Tax Strategy Tax strategy development to minimize tax impact on investments and financial decisions, helping clients keep more of their nest egg.
• 401(k) and Business Retirement Plan Services Retirement plan services for businesses, including 401(k) plan management, fund analysis, timely market advice, and support for plan sponsors, participants, and third-party administrators.
• Investor360 Client Portal Online client portal for viewing detailed account information and monthly consolidated statements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 35 years of experience helping clients navigate economic downturns since 1988
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Commonwealth Financial NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationCommonwealth Financial Network is Safe Port's broker/dealer partner, providing the infrastructure for their independent advisory practice. Commonwealth is a Registered Investment Adviser-broker/dealer that provides technology platform, market research, compliance supervision, and back-office support. As of December 31, 2024, Commonwealth oversees total account assets of $344 billion. The partnership enables Safe Port to provide objective advice and focus on strategies best suited to client goals.
• Commonwealth Advanced Planning TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonwealth's Advanced Planning team serves as Safe Port's go-to resource for wealth management and financial planning expertise. The team provides guidance on complex financial situations including risk management, investment taxation, charitable giving, estate planning, executive benefits, concentrated stock, and social security planning.
• National Financial Services LLC (NFS) / Fidelity InvestmentssupportingTechnology or IntegrationFidelity Investments provides clearing, custody, and other brokerage services to Commonwealth Financial Network through National Financial Services LLC (NFS). NFS handles trades, statements, reports, and other transactions. Both NFS and Commonwealth are SIPC members with additional excess of SIPC coverage through Fidelity.
• Professional Network (Attorneys, Bookkeepers, CPAs, Insurance Professionals, Senior Care Consultants)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Port provides clients access to a network of professionals including attorneys, bookkeepers, CPAs, insurance professionals, and senior care consultants. When clients have complex financial situations, this professional network works behind the scenes to manage and optimize finances in coordination, creating efficiency and financial advantage.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Independent, fee-only RIA focused on evidence-based financial planning and investment management for individuals and families, often partnering with CPAs and attorneys. Directly comparable to Safe Port in business model (fee-only fiduciary, planning-led, regional), client profile, and reliance on academic-style portfolio construction.
• Moneta Group: Fee-only RIA with multiple advisors delivering comprehensive financial planning and investment management to high-net-worth households and business owners. Comparable in service breadth (retirement, investment, tax, estate) and fee-based fiduciary model; peer in scale bracket.

Broad incumbents

• Commonwealth Financial Network: The independent broker-dealer/RIA platform that Safe Port is affiliated with. Comparable in the sense that Commonwealth provides the technology, compliance, and back-office infrastructure Safe Port relies on; however, Commonwealth is a multi-billion-dollar platform serving hundreds of independent advisors, so it is a broad incumbent rather than a head-to-head competitor.
• Northwestern Mutual: Large U.S. financial services company offering investment advisory, retirement planning, and insurance services to individuals and business owners. Comparable in target segments (retirees, business owners, families) and integrated planning services, but operates at national scale with a career advisor model.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large U.S. fee-based wealth manager with a strong retirement/401(k) advisory practice. Comparable to Safe Port in its fee-based, advisor-led delivery model and focus on retirement plan participants and individuals, but operates at dramatically larger scale and a national footprint.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National independent RIA providing comprehensive financial planning, investment management, tax, and estate services to high-net-worth individuals and families. Comparable in target client (HNW households needing holistic planning) and fee-based fiduciary model, but operates across multiple U.S. offices.
• Creative Planning: One of the largest independent, fee-only RIAs in the U.S., offering comprehensive financial planning, retirement, tax, and estate services. Comparable in service mix (fiduciary, holistic planning, $500K+ client profile) and fee-based revenue model, though vastly larger and nationally distributed.
• Savant Wealth Management: Mid-sized fee-only RIA serving individuals, families, and business owners with financial planning, tax, and investment services. Comparable in target client (HNW individuals and business owners) and integrated planning approach, though larger and multi-region.
• Carson Group: Large independent wealth management firm serving advisors and end clients with financial planning, investment, and coaching services. Comparable in advisor-led, fee-based, planning-centric model, but Carson is a national platform with a coaching and partnership ecosystem.
• Mercer Advisors: National, fee-only RIA providing financial planning, investment management, and tax services primarily to households with $1M+ in assets. Closely comparable to Safe Port's HNW client profile and planning-first model, but operates at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Safe-Port-Financial-Associates-LLC-1663190817227860
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safe-port-financial-associates-llc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 SAFE PORT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES