Sterling Investment Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, pension consulting, selecting other managers, estate planning, insurance, and tax planning. Financial planning was provided to 101–250 clients last fiscal year.
Sterling Investment Advisors reports 442 clients. They include 242 individual clients, 194 high-net-worth individuals, and 6 corporations and other businesses. Of its assets, 100.0% ($1.08B across 1,611 accounts) are managed with discretion. It advised 20 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 55% | 5% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 44% | 94% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | Fewer than 5 | <1% |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | <1% |
| Corporations and other businesses | 1% | <1% |
Client shares use reported counts. Client types without a reported count are excluded from that total.
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 242 | $58M | 5.4% | $240K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 194 | $1.01B | 93.9% | $5.21M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | Fewer than 5 | $781K | 0.1% | — |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | $2.2M | 0.2% | — |
| Corporations and other businesses | 6 | $5.03M | 0.5% | $838K |
| Total | 442 | $1.08B | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 242
- Regulatory AUM
- $58M
- AUM share
- 5.4%
- Avg. per client
- $240K
- Clients
- 194
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.01B
- AUM share
- 93.9%
- Avg. per client
- $5.21M
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $781K
- AUM share
- 0.1%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $2.2M
- AUM share
- 0.2%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- 6
- Regulatory AUM
- $5.03M
- AUM share
- 0.5%
- Avg. per client
- $838K
Total
- Clients
- 442
- Regulatory AUM
- $1.08B
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 20
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 101–250
Sterling Investment Advisors charges up to 1.00% for its Investment Advisory Services. The brochure does not state whether the rate is annual. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable. The brochure also prices 2 other services, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning and Consulting (Stand-Alone)
- Negotiable fixed fee generally from $2,000 to $20,000, or a mutually agreed hourly rate, depending on scope.
- Retirement Plan Consulting
- Negotiable annual retirement consulting fee generally between 0.06% and 0.75% of the market value of plan assets.
Timothy Flatley owns 75% or more of Sterling Investment Advisors. The leadership team of Sterling Investment Advisors includes President Timothy Flatley and Chief Compliance Officer Catherine Whetstone. It has 7 employees.
Leadership
- Timothy FlatleyPresident
- Catherine WhetstoneChief Compliance Officer
- Sean FlatleyTreasurer
Investment adviser representatives
7 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
- Conor Joseph Bradley
- Matthew Paul Croley
- Gabriel Michael Fairorth
- Sean Michael Flatley
- Timothy Edward Flatley
- Bray Andrew Hansel
- David Scott Newcomb
Staff
- 7 employees
- 7 in advisory functions
- 6 state-registered reps
- 4 broker-dealer reps
- 4 insurance agents
- Owns 75% or more of Sterling Investment Advisors LTD.
Timothy Flatley
Control person · since May 2000
- Owns 5% to 10% of Sterling Investment Advisors LTD.
Sean Flatley
Control person · since May 2006
Sterling Investment Advisors’ regulatory assets grew 2.0× from $551M (April 2021) to $1.08B (March 2026); clients rose from 329 to 442 and employees were 7 in both filings.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | $1.08B | 442 | 7 | 2 |
| April 2025 | $961M | 421 | 8 | 2 |
| March 2024 | $746M | 394 | 9 | 2 |
| March 2023 | $619M | 436 | 8 | 1 |
| July 2022 | $688M | 364 | 8 | 1 |
| April 2021 | $551M | 329 | 7 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Sterling Investment Advisors has 1 office (1 private residence, listed without an address), with 1 listed address in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania · 1 listed address
- 1055 Westlakes Drive, Suite 150, BerwynHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Sterling Investment Advisors LTD.
- Headquarters
- 1055 Westlakes Drive, Suite 150, Berwyn, PA 19312
- Website
- sterling-advisors.com
- Phone
- 610-560-0400
- SEC file
- 801-66769
- Founded
- 2000
- Structure
- Pennsylvania corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
Sterling Investment Advisors uses Charles Schwab ($1.04B) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Sterling Investment Advisors has custody of $325M in client assets for 172 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $1.04B100%
At year end, Sterling Investment Advisors’ separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (57%) and stocks (34%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $599M across 225 positions; the largest are Apple, Inc.. (6.3%), iShares Flexible Income Active ETF (3.9%) and JPMORGAN Flexible Debt ETF (3.8%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks34%
- Funds57%
- Registered funds54%
- Pooled vehicles3%
- Bonds5%
- State and local bonds2%
- U.S. government and agency bonds1%
- Sovereign bonds1%
- Investment grade corporate bonds1%
- Cash4%
Reported 13F holdings
- $599M
- Reported 13F value
- 225
- Positions
- 31.5%
- In the 10 largest
- +8.4%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Apple, Inc..6.3%
- iShares Flexible Income Active ETFETF3.9%
- JPMORGAN Flexible Debt ETFETF3.8%
- Alphabet, Inc.. A3.1%
- Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc..3.0%
- Amazon.com, Inc..2.8%
- Nvidia Corp..2.7%
- iShares Core S&P Small-cap ETFETF2.0%
- Kinder Morgan, Inc..1.9%
- Globus Medical, Inc..1.9%
Together, the ten largest are 31.5% of reported value.
How many clients does Sterling Investment Advisors have?
Sterling Investment Advisors has 442 clients and manages $1.08 billion for them, as of March 2026. They include 242 individual clients, 194 high-net-worth individuals, and 6 corporations and other businesses.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 21 March 2026
What services does Sterling Investment Advisors offer?
Sterling Investment Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, pension consulting, selecting other managers, estate planning, insurance, and tax planning.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4
How much does Sterling Investment Advisors charge?
Sterling Investment Advisors charges up to 1.00% for its Investment Advisory Services. The brochure does not state whether the rate is annual. The fee is billed in advance and is negotiable.
Which custodians does Sterling Investment Advisors use?
Sterling Investment Advisors’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $1.04B. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 21 March 2026
How many financial advisors does Sterling Investment Advisors have?
Sterling Investment Advisors has 6 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 7 employees, and 7 perform investment advisory functions. 4 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 4 employees are licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Sterling Investment Advisors invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Sterling Investment Advisors’ separately managed accounts held 54% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 34% exchange-traded equities, 4% cash and equivalents, 3% pooled vehicles (private funds and similar), 2% state and local bonds, 1% U.S. government and agency bonds, 1% sovereign bonds and 1% investment grade corporate bonds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Sterling Investment Advisors?
Sterling Investment Advisors’ direct owners are Timothy Flatley (75% or more) and Sean Flatley (5% to 10%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 21 March 2026
How does Sterling Investment Advisors get paid?
Sterling Investment Advisors is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Is Sterling Investment Advisors registered with the SEC?
Yes, Sterling Investment Advisors has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 31 May 2006. Its CRD number is 140710 and its SEC file number is 801-66769.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 21 March 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Sterling Investment Advisors?
Sterling Investment Advisors’ main office is at 1055 Westlakes Drive, Suite 150, Berwyn, PA 19312. Its phone number is 610-560-0400. Its website is sterling-advisors.com.