In 1988, fresh out of business school with an MBA but no Wall Street experience, Hunterdon County entrepreneur and avid ski enthusiast Ken Schapiro founded Condor Capital Wealth Management. From the beginning, Schapiro knew that it would be difficult to convince prospective clients to give his upstart investment management firm a shot. Fast forward 25 years and he now runs one of the state’s largest independent registered investment advisory firms (RIA). After years of pioneering the use of technology in this business and stressing a client-centric approach, the firm has grown considerably. The employee-owned firm now manages over $800 million, has a staff of 16 professional and support staff, and was recently named one of the Top 300 RIAs in the country by esteemed British financial publication, the Financial Times.
Drive up Chimney Rock Road towards Washington Valley Road in Martinsville, and one can’t help but notice the historic Martinsville School building, featured prominently on a hill with its signature cupola on top. The storied building, now home to Condor Capital’s office, was renovated by Schapiro in 1994 and remains a landmark in the area. On a wall in the conference room of Condor’s office, where the firm’s investment committee regularly meets to discuss strategy, is a “Wall of Fame” that displays the various accolades that Condor and its founder have received over the years. Lately, that wall has become a bit more crowded, with the firm being lauded in recent months for its excellence towards both its clients and employees.
In addition to the prestigious Financial Times recognition, the wealth manager was awarded the number five position on NJBiz’s 2014 ranking of the “Best Places to Work in NJ” for the small/medium companies category. “Being recognized as a Best Place to Work in NJ for the third straight year and achieving our best ranking to date is a high honor. We take pride in creating a positive and productive work environment,” said Schapiro.
Separately, Condor was recognized as one of 2014’s Best Financial Advisors for Dentists by Dental Practice. The company was selected for this list based on its financial knowledge and experience working with dentists, as well as its good standing in the wealth management industry. “Having this type of atmosphere with happy, engaged employees – who are also owners of the firm – helps us to provide the best possible service to our clients. With that said, I am delighted by our recognition in Dental Practice’s report, as we have extensive experience working with dentists and other medical professionals to help with their unique financial needs,” Schapiro went on to say.
Condor offers a number of in-house investment management strategies, using stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, and mutual funds. The firm aims to construct diversified equity portfolios with exposure to various investment styles, market capitalizations, and geographic regions. Bond portfolios are diversified among several different types of fixed income instruments, including bonds of varying maturities and credit qualities. As a fee-only independent wealth manager, the company works to eliminate potential conflicts caused by commissions. Condor Capital clients receive unlimited, free financial planning and a unique investment strategy because, when it comes to money, one size does not fit all.
Condor Capital Wealth Management
Founded in 1988, Condor Capital Wealth Management is an employee-owned, SEC-registered investment advisor based in Martinsville, N.J. employing 15 professional and support staff. Since Condor is a fee-only investment management firm, its fees are based on portfolio size, not sales commissions or number of trades. For more information on Condor Capital Wealth Management, please visit www.condorcapital.com or call 732-356-7323.
