Crystal Clear Financial Group

What Crystal Clear Financial Group does

Crystal Clear Financial Group is a privately held financial advisory firm headquartered in DeWitt (Syracuse), New York, operating as an independent group of licensed financial advisors, insurance agents, and registered representatives within the New York Life distribution ecosystem. The firm delivers a comprehensive suite of services including fee-based financial planning, retirement planning, wealth management, employee benefits design, brokerage, insurance solutions, estate planning, and donor advised fund accounts. Its core methodology is a six-step written financial planning process that produces a customized financial plan with ongoing monitoring. Advisors are registered through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC) for brokerage and Eagle Strategies LLC (Registered Investment Adviser) for advisory services, and access The Nautilus Group for advanced estate, business, charitable, insurance, and retirement strategies for affluent clients.

The firm monetizes through a mix of professional-services fees (flat fee for comprehensive planning, hourly rates for specialized engagements) and transaction-based revenue streams including insurance commissions (life, disability, long-term care, Medicare supplement, P&C), securities transaction fees (mutual funds, ETFs, managed accounts, variable annuities, fixed income), and advisory fees on managed portfolios. Customer segmentation is vertical and persona-driven, with formal specializations for physicians, business/franchise owners, engineers/technical professionals, pre-retirees/retirees, and philanthropic individuals and nonprofits. The physician segment is the longest-tenured, with over 20 years of dedicated service to medical residents, fellows, and attendings.

Operationally, the firm distributes through 9 office locations across 8 states (New York, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Washington, Mississippi), serving a domestic US client base. Go-to-market relies on a field sales model with face-to-face advisory and phone-based consultations, supported by professional designations (CFP, ChFC, CLU, CAP, AEP, RICP, LUTCF, CLTC), industry recognition (Forbes, MDRT, Agent of the Year), and community board involvement that drives referral-based client acquisition. Technology infrastructure is described as a standard financial services platform integrated with New York Life enterprise systems, supplemented by proprietary financial calculators and a Nautilus Gateway case management platform; there is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Crystal Clear Financial Group

Legal name

Crystal Clear Financial Group LLC

Website

https://crystalclearfinancialgroup.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Crystal Clear Financial Group is a privately held financial advisory firm in Syracuse, NY, offering fee-based planning, wealth management, brokerage, retirement, estate, and insurance services through licensed advisors operating within the New York Life distribution network across 9 US offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Planning–Led RIAs (FSAAACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAA), Private Client/High-Net-Worth Advisory (FSAEAAAN), Business Owner & Executive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAO)

Keywords

• Retirement planning services
• Wealth management advisory
• Financial planning firm
• Insurance and estate solutions
• Brokerage and investment advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fee-Based Financial Planning: Flat fee for service arrangement for comprehensive financial planning. Fee structure dependent on advisor time and complexity of client situation. May result in annually renewing fee arrangement but not required.
2. Hourly Rate Planning: Hourly rate service for specialized planning services on select occasions.
3. Securities Products and Services: Revenue from mutual funds, ETFs, managed accounts/portfolios, variable annuities, fixed income solutions, individual securities, and modified endowment contracts through NYLIFE Securities LLC.
4. Insurance Products: Commission revenue from insurance products including Medicare supplements, liability insurance, umbrella coverage, homeowners/vehicle insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care insurance, and health insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Crystal Clear Financial Group provides comprehensive fee-based financial planning, retirement planning, wealth management, brokerage services, insurance solutions, estate planning, and employee benefits delivered by licensed financial advisors through NYLIFE Securities LLC and Eagle Strategies LLC. Core planning is structured around a proprietary six-step written financial planning process and produces customized written financial plans for individuals, business owners, and HNW clients across multiple U.S. states.

Product overview

Crystal Clear Financial Group offers a comprehensive suite of financial planning and advisory services through a unified platform approach. The core offerings include Fee Based Financial Planning (using a six-step process producing customized written plans), Retirement Planning, Wealth Management (with fiduciary-driven asset management), Employee Benefits, Brokerage Services, Insurance Solutions, Estate Planning, Donor Advised Fund Accounts, and Financial Calculators. The firm specializes in serving Physicians, Business/Franchise owners, Engineers/Technical professionals, and Pre-Retirees/Retirees. The Nautilus Group partnership enables advanced estate, business, charitable, insurance, and retirement planning for affluent clients. All services are delivered through NYLIFE Securities LLC and Eagle Strategies LLC, with agents holding various professional designations from the American College and FINRA registrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fee Based Financial Planning A comprehensive six-step financial planning process that produces a customized written financial plan, offered primarily through a flat fee for service arrangement with annual renewal optional. Targets individuals and households seeking integrated planning advice.
• Retirement Planning Fact-finding process that identifies assets, debts, obligations, and retirement goals, creating action plans to accumulate wealth through investment strategies, with emphasis on distribution strategies designed to prevent outliving assets. Targets individuals approaching or in retirement.
• Wealth Management Fiduciary-driven asset management strategy incorporating risk/reward analysis, inflationary trends, global economic shifts, and market transitions, with quarterly or annual asset reviews. Delivered through Eagle Strategies LLC. For HNW and mass-affluent clients.
• Employee Benefits Design of retirement savings packages for employees including 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, deferred compensation, executive compensation, and various insurance products. Targets business owners and their companies.
• Brokerage Services Wide range of investment options including mutual funds, ETFs, managed accounts/portfolios, variable annuities, fixed income solutions, modified endowment contracts, and individual securities, delivered through NYLIFE Securities LLC. For individual investors.
• Insurance Solutions Risk management solutions including Medicare Supplement Plans, liability insurance, umbrella coverage, homeowners policies, vehicle insurance, and business overhead insurance, plus life, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. For individuals and business owners.
• Estate Planning Assessment of state and federal tax impact on estates with strategies to minimize taxable implications, working with attorneys and CPAs through the Nautilus Group partnership. For individuals and families with taxable estates.
• Donor Advised Fund Accounts Setup of donor advised fund accounts allowing investment of irrevocable charitable dollars in Fund Advisory or Separately Managed Accounts, with contributions growing tax-free over time. For philanthropic individuals and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years serving medical professionals including residents, fellows, and attendings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New York Life Insurance CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerParent company affiliation providing access to NYLIFE Securities LLC for securities products, Eagle Strategies LLC for investment advisory services, and The Nautilus Group® for high net worth planning resources. Advisors are licensed agents of New York Life offering insurance products through the company.
• The Nautilus Group®coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive resource accessible to Member Agents working with affluent, high net worth and business owner clients. Provides consultative services and technical case design in estate, business, charitable, insurance and retirement strategies. Staffed by professionals in law, taxation, accounting, business, insurance, finance and philanthropic planning. Located in Dallas, TX.
• NYLIFE Securities LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember FINRA/SIPC, licensed insurance agency, and wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life. Provides platform for offering securities products and services including mutual funds, ETFs, managed accounts, variable annuities, and individual securities.
• Eagle Strategies LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered Investment Adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life. Provides investment advisory services through the firm's financial advisers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national RIA offering financial planning, wealth management, and retirement income planning, with strong digital capabilities. Comparable as a planning-led advisory competitor serving HNW clients across geographies.
• New York Life Insurance Company: Parent organization of NYLIFE Securities and Eagle Strategies through which Crystal Clear operates. Comparable as the umbrella platform providing product access, compliance infrastructure, and the Nautilus Group resource.
• Ameriprise Financial: Large diversified financial services firm with extensive advisor network offering financial planning, wealth management, retirement, and insurance products. Comparable in serving HNW clients with comprehensive planning-led advisory model.
• Northwestern Mutual: Large established financial services firm with captive advisor network offering similar comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, life insurance, and retirement products. Directly comparable as a career/affiliated advisor model serving professionals and business owners.
• Wells Fargo Advisors: Wirehouse brokerage arm with nationwide financial advisor network offering financial planning, investment advisory, and insurance products. Comparable in serving physicians, business owners, and retirees through face-to-face advisory model.
• MassMutual Financial Group: Mutual financial services company with affiliated advisor network providing wealth management, retirement planning, life insurance, and estate planning. Comparable to Crystal Clear as another large insurance-led advisor distribution model.

Direct peers

• Cetera Advisor Networks: Independent broker-dealer supporting independent financial advisors with wealth management, financial planning, and insurance solutions. Comparable as another independent advisor platform serving similar professional client segments.
• Commonwealth Financial Network: Independent broker-dealer/RIA supporting independent financial advisors with comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services. Comparable as a similar-sized independent advisor platform serving HNW clients.
• Cambridge Investment Research: Independent broker-dealer/RIA platform supporting independent financial advisors with planning-led practices. Directly comparable as an alternative affiliation model to NYLIFE Securities for independent financial planning firms.

Emerging players

• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Fast-growing national RIA serving HNW clients with comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, and estate planning. Comparable as a planning-led advisory competitor in the same professional/HNW segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/crystalclearfinancialgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crystal-clear-financial-group-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Crystal Clear Financial Group