Wealth Management in Pittsburgh, PA
Defiant Capital Group is an independent, fiduciary wealth management firm serving founders, business owners, and affluent families in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. Unlike wirehouse advisors whose recommendations may be shaped by institutional interests, our team — led by CFAs Jonathan Dane and Stuart Strasner — operates as a registered investment advisor with a legal obligation to put your interests first, every time.
A Different Kind of Wealth Management Firm in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has no shortage of financial advisors. What it lacks is an independent, founder-led advisory firm built around the specific complexity that entrepreneurs, business owners, and high-net-worth families actually face — not the standardized, product-driven model that large wirehouse institutions deliver.
Defiant Capital Group was built by founders who navigated financial complexity firsthand. That perspective shapes how we approach wealth management: as an integrated discipline that connects investment strategy, tax planning, estate structure, and succession planning into a coherent plan — rather than isolated services delivered by disconnected teams.
As an independent RIA, we are not affiliated with any bank, brokerage, or insurance company. That independence is not incidental — it is structural. It means our analysis, recommendations, and ongoing advisory work are guided by your financial objectives alone.
Jonathan Dane and Stuart Strasner both hold the Chartered Financial Analyst designation — among the most rigorous credentials in investment management.
As a registered investment advisor, Defiant Capital Group is legally required to act in your best interest at all times — not a suitability standard, but a full fiduciary obligation.
No wirehouse affiliation, no proprietary products, no institutional quotas. Our recommendations are driven by your goals — not by what an institution needs to sell this quarter.
Our advisory team built businesses before managing wealth. That firsthand experience with financial complexity informs every client engagement.
Who We Serve in Pittsburgh
Wealth management is not one-size-fits-all. The financial complexity facing a founder who just closed a liquidity event is fundamentally different from that of a high-income W-2 professional or a multi-generational family managing an inherited estate. We work with clients whose financial lives demand more than a standardized portfolio — people navigating meaningful complexity, significant transitions, or both.
Business Founders
Navigating liquidity events, concentrated positions, QSBS, and the transition from operating wealth to invested wealth requires a level of planning that most general advisors are not equipped to provide.
Business Owners
When your largest asset is your business, wealth management must account for succession planning, entity structure, key-person risk, and the eventual transition — whether to family, a buyer, or an ESOP.
High-Net-Worth Families
Multi-generational wealth requires coordinated estate planning, tax-efficient transfer strategies, and investment discipline designed to preserve and grow family capital across decades — not just quarters.
High-Income Professionals
Physicians, executives, and other high-income earners face a distinct tax challenge: income without the planning flexibility that business ownership affords. Integrated tax strategy is essential, not optional.
Major Financial Transitions
A business sale, inheritance, retirement, or real estate liquidity event concentrates both opportunity and risk. These moments require deliberate, experienced guidance — not a reactive portfolio adjustment.
Wealth Management Services in Pittsburgh
We provide integrated advisory across the full spectrum of wealth management — coordinated so that investment decisions, tax strategies, and estate structures reinforce one another rather than operating in silos.
Investment Management
Institutional-caliber portfolio construction and ongoing management, including access to private market investments typically unavailable to individual investors. Risk and opportunity are evaluated together, not in isolation.
Tax Planning & Strategy
Integrated tax planning including Roth conversion analysis, charitable giving strategies, opportunity zone evaluation, QSBS considerations, and year-end tax positioning — coordinated with your investment and estate plans. Tax situations vary; results depend on individual circumstances.
Estate & Tax Strategy
Coordinated estate planning designed to align wealth transfer goals with tax efficiency — including trust structures, beneficiary strategy, and multi-generational planning for high-net-worth families and business owners.
Succession Planning
Business succession advisory covering ownership transition, buy-sell agreement review, family transfer structures, and liquidity event planning — designed to protect both business continuity and personal wealth.
Private Market Investments
Access to private credit, infrastructure, and alternative investment strategies typically reserved for institutional or ultra-high-net-worth investors. Private investments involve illiquidity risk and are appropriate only for qualified investors.
Family Office Services
Comprehensive family office services including coordination across investment, tax, estate, and financial reporting for families whose complexity warrants a dedicated, institutionally structured approach to wealth oversight.
Fiduciary vs. Wirehouse: Why It Matters for Pittsburgh Investors
Most investors in Pittsburgh encounter advisors affiliated with large national institutions — wirehouses, broker-dealers, and bank-affiliated platforms. Understanding how those models differ from an independent fiduciary RIA is one of the most consequential decisions a wealth-building individual or family can make.
| Factor | Independent Fiduciary RIA | Wirehouse / Broker-Dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Standard | Fiduciary — must act in client's best interest at all times | Suitability or Reg BI — recommendations must be "suitable," not necessarily optimal |
| Institutional Affiliation | None — fully independent from banks, brokerages, and insurers | Affiliated with a parent institution whose products may be prioritized |
| Product Access | Open architecture — selects from the full investment universe | May be limited to or incentivized toward proprietary or affiliated products |
| Compensation Conflicts | Fee structure reduces certain conflicts tied to product commissions; conflicts may still exist and are disclosed | Commission-based or hybrid models can create incentives tied to product sales |
| Tax Integration | Investment decisions coordinated with tax strategy and estate planning | Tax planning typically handled separately or referred to outside professionals |
| Regulatory Oversight | Registered Investment Advisor — regulated by the SEC | Broker-Dealer — regulated by FINRA under a different standard |
This table is provided for general educational purposes. Advisory relationships vary by firm. Always review Form ADV and ask your advisor directly about their fiduciary status and compensation structure.
Built by Founders. Designed for Complexity.
Defiant Capital Group was founded by advisors who have personally navigated the financial decisions that our clients face. That experience — building businesses, managing concentrated wealth, evaluating liquidity events — is not a marketing position. It is a practical advantage that shapes how we approach every client relationship.
Jonathan Dane, CFA, CFP®, leads the firm with a focus on investment strategy, tax integration, and wealth planning for founders and high-net-worth families. Stuart Strasner, CFA, brings deep institutional investment discipline to portfolio construction and client advisory.
Our work has been cited in Barron's, Kiplinger, MarketWatch, U.S. News & Report, Investment News, and Financial Planning, among others — reflecting the depth of perspective we bring to complex financial questions.
Schedule a ConsultationJonathan Dane, CFA, CFP®
Founder & Chief Investment Officer. Holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designations. Leads investment strategy, tax planning integration, and advisory for founders and high-net-worth families.
Stuart Strasner, CFA
Partner. Holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Brings institutional investment discipline and analytical rigor to portfolio construction and client advisory across the firm's client base.
Serving the Pittsburgh Region
Warrendale · Pittsburgh · Wexford · Sewickley · Oakmont · Gibsonia · Sewickley Heights · East Pittsburgh · Bradford County · Allegheny County
Frequently Asked Questions: Wealth Management in Pittsburgh
Answers to the questions Pittsburgh investors most commonly ask when evaluating wealth management options.
What is the average fee for a wealth manager?
Wealth management fees vary by firm, service model, and asset level. Independent RIAs typically charge a percentage of assets under management — commonly ranging from approximately 0.5% to 1.25% annually, depending on portfolio size and services included. Some advisors charge flat fees or hourly rates. Always request a clear fee schedule and ask how the advisor is compensated to understand whether any conflicts of interest exist. Defiant Capital Group's fee structure is disclosed in our Form ADV, available upon request.
Is $500,000 enough to work with a financial advisor?
Many independent wealth management firms, including those serving Pittsburgh's high-net-worth community, work with clients beginning at $500,000 or above in investable assets. That said, the more relevant question is the complexity of your financial situation — not just the size of your portfolio. A founder with $500,000 in liquid assets and significant business equity, stock options, or real estate may benefit considerably more from integrated advisory than the dollar figure alone suggests. We encourage prospective clients to schedule a conversation to discuss fit.
What are the different types of wealth management services?
Wealth management typically encompasses five core disciplines: (1) investment management — portfolio construction and ongoing oversight; (2) tax planning — strategies designed to help reduce your current and future tax burden, though results vary by individual situation; (3) estate planning — structuring how wealth transfers across generations; (4) risk management — insurance and asset protection; and (5) financial planning — cash flow, retirement income, and goal-based strategy. The distinguishing factor of a comprehensive wealth manager is that these disciplines are integrated, not delivered in isolation.
What is the difference between a financial advisor and a wealth manager?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but wealth management typically implies a broader, more integrated scope of service. A financial advisor may focus primarily on investment recommendations or retirement planning. A wealth manager coordinates across investments, tax strategy, estate planning, and — for business owners — succession planning. The distinction matters most when financial complexity is high: a business owner navigating a potential liquidity event needs more than a portfolio review.
How do I find a fiduciary financial advisor in Pittsburgh?
To verify fiduciary status, look for advisors registered as Investment Advisors (RIAs) with the SEC or state regulators — these are held to a fiduciary standard. You can verify registration and review disclosures through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) database at adviserinfo.sec.gov. Ask directly: "Are you a fiduciary at all times, for all services?" Also request the firm's Form ADV, which discloses compensation, conflicts of interest, and services offered. Defiant Capital Group is a fee-only financial advisor operating under a fiduciary standard.
What should I look for in a Pittsburgh wealth management firm?
Look for four things: (1) fiduciary status — confirmed in writing, not just stated verbally; (2) relevant credentials — CFA, CFP®, or equivalent designations that reflect depth of expertise; (3) relevant experience — advisors who have worked with clients in situations similar to yours (founders, business owners, high-net-worth families); and (4) an integrated service model — tax, investment, and estate planning coordinated as a single discipline. A red flag: an advisor who cannot clearly explain how they are compensated or declines to confirm fiduciary status in writing.
Ready to Work With a Fiduciary Wealth Manager in Pittsburgh?
Whether you are navigating a business transition, building multi-generational family wealth, or seeking a more integrated approach to investment and tax strategy, Defiant Capital Group is built for the complexity you are facing. Schedule a conversation with our team to explore whether we are the right fit.
Defiant Capital Group is a registered investment advisor. Serving Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Wexford, Sewickley, Oakmont, Gibsonia, and the greater Allegheny County region.