Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is Manley Capital Management?
Manley Capital Management is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) founded in 2013 and headquartered in Far Hills, New Jersey. The firm serves high-net-worth individuals and families who are approaching or recently entering retirement — typically ages 55 to 70 — and helps them transition confidently from accumulating wealth to living from it.
As a fiduciary, Manley Capital Management is legally required to act in clients' best interests at all times. The firm earns no commissions and accepts no product referral fees, which means every recommendation is made solely to benefit the client.
Core services include retirement income planning, Social Security timing and claiming strategies, Roth conversion planning, tax optimization, required minimum distribution (RMD) management, and active investment management focused on long-term growth, risk control, and capital preservation.
Founder Larry Manley, CFA, CIPM brings more than a three decades of experience working with pre-retirees and retirees in New Jersey, offering a personalized, high-touch relationship-driven approach.
Manley Capital Management is registered with the state of New Jersey. To verify registration, visit the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Is Manley Capital a fiduciary, and what does that mean for me?
Yes, Manley Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and operates as a fiduciary. This means we are legally and ethically obligated to always act in your best interest, period.
This distinction matters more than you might think. Many financial advisors and brokers operate under a lower “suitability” standard, which means the advice only has to be “suitable”—not necessarily the best choice for you. Under suitability, an advisor can recommend a higher-cost investment if it’s technically appropriate, or sell you a product that generates them a larger commission, as long as it meets minimum standards.
As your fiduciary, we must put your financial goals and interests ahead of our own compensation. This means:
- No conflicts of interest – We never earn commissions on products we recommend, eliminating incentives to sell you something that benefits us more than you
- Transparent, honest advice – You get our unbiased recommendation based solely on what’s best for your retirement
- Complete fee transparency – You know exactly what you’re paying, with no hidden costs or proprietary product markups
- Accountability – We’re legally liable if we breach our fiduciary duty, giving you recourse if we fail to act in your best interest.
This fiduciary obligation is the foundation of how we work with every client. It’s not just part of our service—it’s a legal and ethical commitment that shapes every recommendation we make and every decision we take on your behalf.
What services do you provide?
Manley Capital Management offers three core services designed to help you retire with confidence:
- Sound Retirement Planning – Understanding your unique goals, concerns, risk tolerance, and financial situation to create a personalized retirement roadmap
- Intelligent Tax Strategy – Creating detailed strategies to minimize tax liability and optimize retirement income across different account types
- Prudent Investment Management – Building diversified, cost-efficient portfolios designed to perform well across different economic environments while reducing volatility and preserving capital.
When should I start working with a retirement planner?
Ideally 10-15 years before your target retirement date — typically in your early-to-mid 50s. This window allows
for Roth conversion strategies, Social Security timing optimization, and tax bracket management before RMDs
begin at age 73.
What is the process for working with Manley Capital Management?
Schedule an “Retirement Strategy Session,” where we learn about your current situation, retirement goals, and any concerns you may have.
Discovery Meeting – Our deeper dive into your retirement goals and current situation to understand:
- When can you retire safely?
- Can you pay less tax?
- Can you invest better with less risk?
- Can you be confident that you will retire well?
Delivery Meeting – We show you how to achieve your goals. We discuss your:
- “Retirement One Page Plan.”
- Personalized Tax Report
- Portfolio Analysis and Stress Test
- At the end of our consultation, you decide if working together makes sense—there’s no pressure or obligation.
What makes Manley Capital different from other wealth management firms?
As an independent investment boutique with a small client base, our experience, accountability, and high-touch personalized service will help:
- Maximize your income in retirement
- Lower your lifetime tax bill
- Reduce the risk and volatility in your investment portfolio
- Protect you from unforeseen financial threats
True Independence = Unbiased Investment Selection
Because Manley Capital is independent, you receive unbiased investment selection tailored to your goals and risk tolerance. We’re not constrained by proprietary product lineups, internal incentives, or revenue-sharing arrangements that cloud investment decisions at larger firms. Our independence means we select investments based solely on what’s best for you.
High-Touch Service Built Into Our Model
We believe retirement planning requires more than an annual review. Manley Capital clients meet with Lawrence Manley monthly to review their investment portfolios, address questions, and ensure their plans remain aligned with their evolving goals and life circumstances. This consistent, proactive communication builds confidence and allows us to proactively address concerns and opportunities.
Building Genuine Partnerships, Not Transactional Relationships
We understand that investing for retirement can be complicated, stressful, and even scary when you’re trusting someone with your life savings. That’s why we invest time to truly understand your unique situation, concerns, and priorities before we ever discuss investments. By combining transparent fee-only compensation, fiduciary discipline, direct access to Lawrence Manley, and monthly meetings with personalized attention, we build the trust and confidence you need for retirement security.
Who are Manley Capital’s clients?
Our clients are individuals and families who are approaching retirement or already retired and want confidence and security in their financial future. Typically, our clients seek professional guidance to navigate complex retirement-planning decisions, including when to retire, how much money they need, how to minimize taxes, when to claim Social Security, and how to ensure they won’t outlive their savings.
Many of our clients have accumulated significant assets through their careers but recognize that investing for retirement can be complicated and stressful, and they want to work with someone they can trust who has the expertise to manage their wealth responsibly.
Our clients value working with a fiduciary advisor who is legally bound to act in their best interest, appreciate the institutional investment experience we bring, and want personalized attention rather than being treated as just another account number. We serve clients locally in New Jersey and across the country.
How does Manley Capital Management charge clients and what is the minimum investment to work with your firm?
We are fee-only. We charge a percentage of AUM with no commissions, no product sales, no hidden fees. Our fiduciary duty means we always work for you. Our typical client relationship begins at $500,000 in investable assets. We primarily serve HNW pre-retirees
and retirees in New Jersey, and the Tri-State area.
