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Glenn Scharf spent nine years at Prudential Securities before realizing that he wanted to create a different kind of financial services company. Of his time at Prudential, Scharf says that he learned a great deal about how he wanted to service his clients. He describes Prudential’s Philadelphia office as a dynamic working environment, but came away with an understanding that the large-scale corporate model was not suited to his personality, or to the needs of the clients with whom he wanted to do business. He realized that he could provide his clients with more opportunities by moving away from the traditional brokerage houses. “In the large firms, it is virtually impossible to put the client’s needs first,” he explains. Thus, Scharf Group LLC was born; a company whose organizational model and experienced, dedicated staff are structured first and foremost around best serving their clients.

Anthony Zalesky, a certified financial planner, joined Scharf Group in early 2007 after leaving his job at a company of over 600 employees. He noticed the difference immediately. “From offering advice to building portfolios, I’m very pleased with what I’ve been able to do for my clients here,” he says. “The amount of attention and care paid to individual clients is something I had been unfamiliar with coming from the larger companies I’d previously worked for.” Scharf is passionate about what he does, and thrives on conveying that enthusiasm to others. He finds personal inspiration in helping people achieve their financial goals, and notes “When you love what you do, it does not feel like work.” That kind of enthusiasm pays off, as 99% of Scharf Group’s clients come to them by way of referral.

Scharf also emphasizes the importance of listening to the particulars of each client’s personal situation, and cites client education as a crucial factor in his company’s effectiveness. “We educate clients about the entire investment process, not just about products and services,” he says. When a client approaches Scharf Group for the first time they are introduced to a team of staff members for a discussion of their needs and how the Group’s services can best assist them in reaching their goals. Though this initial consultation is complementary, Scharf is confident about its value. “We need to see if there is a fit,” he explains. “Will the client benefit from us and vice versa? We’re looking for a win-win relationship.”

Scharf Group’s unrivaled technological support system includes the revolutionary BetaVest™ CASE Management System. “This is the most pliable, comprehensive and client specific asset allocation tool I have ever used,” says Edward Di Pietro, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Strategist at Scharf Group. Di Pietro has been with the company since February of 1995 when he also left Prudential Securities to join Scharf Group. “BetaVest assists us in creating asset allocation models based on sequence of return rather than average annual return. It is completely centered on each individual client’s goals and objectives. Unlike many advisors who try to fit their clients into predetermined models, we design asset allocation models to fit the client-specific situation.” In exchange for their expertise and commitment to service,

Scharf asks for the respect and trust of his clients. “The media too often misleads people into thinking that individuals can and should handle their own finances, but this is not always the case,” he points out. “There are many people who simply don’t have the time or resources to do it themselves. This is where we come in.”