Why Pharos?

The word "lighthouse" stems from the classical Latin or Greek term Pharos, a tower with a light to guide ships. We chose this name because that is how we view our purpose: to guide you and your families through your personal, financial journeys.
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Experienced, and Here for You

We have both worked to develop our knowledge in investment planning to serve you best. Learn more about how our qualifications can help your investment goals.

Pharos Financial Advisors is delighted to announce that Steve Berman, Financial Advisor, has been named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor and a 2023 & 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager! Congratulations Steve!

2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2025; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/23 - 6/30/24. 2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/22 - 6/30/23. 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21 - 6/30/22 (Source: Forbes.com). Fee paid for use of marketing materials. View Award Disclosures.
The Five Star Wealth Manager award was issued on 6/20/2025 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period11/27/2024 through 6/02/2025. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. 1846 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 59(3 percent of candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
2024
Award was issued on 8/1/24 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 10/10/23 through 5/31/24.
1665 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 56 (3% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. 
2023
Award was issued on 07/01/2023 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 10/10/2022 through 05/05/2023.
1,721 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 52 (3% of candidates) were named 2023 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2022
Award was issued on 7/1/22 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 10/25/2021 through 04/22/2022.
1685 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 51 (3% of candidates) were named 2022 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2021
Award was issued on 7/1/21 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 07/6/2020 through 05/14/2021.
1692 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 48 (3% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 
2020
Award was issued on 3/1/20 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 05/13/2019 through 01/24/2020.
1548 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 62 (4% of candidates) were named 2020 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2019
Award was issued on 2/1/19 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 05/16/2018 through 12/7/2018.
1558 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 71 (5% of candidates) were named 2019 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2018
Award was issued on 2/1/18 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 05/22/2017 through 12/12/2017.
1437 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 53 (4% of candidates) were named 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers. 
2017
Award was issued on 1/1/17 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/26/2016 through 12/27/2016.
872 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 117 (13% of candidates) were named 2017 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2016
Award was issued on 1/1/16 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 07/27/2015 through 12/31/2015.
828 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 123 (15% of candidates) were named 2016 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2015
Award was issued on 2/1/15 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 07/27/2014 through 12/31/2014.
1595 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 130 (8% of candidates) were named 2015 Five Star Wealth Managers. 
2014
Award was issued on 2/1/14 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 07/27/2013 through 12/31/2013.
1838 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 151 (8% of candidates) were named 2014 Five Star Wealth Managers. 
2013
Award was issued on 2/1/13 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 07/27/2012 through 12/31/2012.
1485 Cleveland-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 169 (11% of candidates) were named 2013 Five Star Wealth Managers.
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