2021 & 2025 Forbes Best In State Wealth Advisors, created by SHOOK Research. The 2025 award was presented in April 2025 based on data gathered from June 2023 to June 2024. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3cyp2d47
This award was issued on 02/01/2026 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2025 through 09/30/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. Boston-area wealth managers were considered for the award; ( % of candidates) were named 2026 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2025: 4,671, 528, 11%, 02/01/25, 05/22/24 - 10/31/24; 2024: 4,421, 580, 13%, 2/1/24, 4/10/23 - 10/31/23; 2023: 3,923, 578, 15%, 2/1/23, 5/23/22 - 1/6/23; 2022: 4090, 513, 13%, 2/1/22, 5/24/21 - 11/19/21; 2021: 4069, 480, 12%, 2/1/21, 5/25/20 - 11/30/20; 2020: 3580, 463, 13%, 2/1/20, 4/1/19 - 12/13/19; 2019: 3619, 566, 16%, 1/1/19, 4/18/18 - 11/6/18; 2018: 2819, 532, 19%, 1/1/18, 3/23/17 - 11/10/17; 2017: 2467, 623, 25%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/23/16; 2016: 2530, 632, 25%, 12/1/15, 5/18/15 - 11/6/15; 2015: 3542, 801, 23%, 1/1/15, 5/18/14 - 11/6/14; 2014: 1707, 655, 38%, 1/1/14, 5/18/13 - 11/6/13; 2013: 2362, 713, 30%, 1/1/13, 5/18/12 - 11/6/12; 2012: 2591, 454, 18%, 1/1/12, 5/18/11 - 11/6/11. 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 (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA 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. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Stephen P. Blanchette, CFP®, AIF®
President, Financial Advisor
Stephen Blanchette is a dedicated financial planner, private wealth advisor, and founder of The Blanchette Financial Group, Inc. A proud graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business, Stephen began his career at AllianceBernstein in New York City, where he gained invaluable experience working with one of the world’s leading institutional money managers. However, it was through this experience that he realized his true passion was building lasting, personal relationships with clients. He founded The Blanchette Financial Group with the goal of offering a more personalized, client-focused approach, treating each client like family and helping them achieve their unique financial goals through trust and genuine connection.
Stephen is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) professional, demonstrating his commitment to ethical standards and ongoing education in financial planning, risk management, investments, tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning. He also holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation, highlighting his expertise in fiduciary standards and client-centered decision-making.
Personal Life
Stephen and his family live in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where they remain deeply involved in their community. Alongside his wife, Jeannine, and their two sons, Nicholas, who attends Boston College, and Andrew, a student at St. John's Prep, Stephen enjoys giving back through local organizations like Our Neighbor’s Table and other philanthropic endeavors. The Blanchette family shares a love for skiing, golfing, Boston sports, and both Penn State and Boston College football, though Stephen’s loyalty to PSU takes priority if the two teams ever face off, a sentiment not entirely shared by the rest of the family. They also treasure time spent together with their Golden Retriever, Loki.
In addition to his professional commitments, Stephen serves as a trustee for The Newburyport Bank and is actively involved in the financial oversight of nonprofit organizations, including Immaculate Conception Parish and the Saint Basil’s Salvatorian Center.
This award was issued on 02/01/2026 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2025 through 09/30/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. Boston-area wealth managers were considered for the award; ( % of candidates) were named 2026 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2025: 4,671, 528, 11%, 02/01/25, 05/22/24 - 10/31/24; 2024: 4,421, 580, 13%, 2/1/24, 4/10/23 - 10/31/23; 2023: 3,923, 578, 15%, 2/1/23, 5/23/22 - 1/6/23; 2022: 4090, 513, 13%, 2/1/22, 5/24/21 - 11/19/21; 2021: 4069, 480, 12%, 2/1/21, 5/25/20 - 11/30/20; 2020: 3580, 463, 13%, 2/1/20, 4/1/19 - 12/13/19; 2019: 3619, 566, 16%, 1/1/19, 4/18/18 - 11/6/18; 2018: 2819, 532, 19%, 1/1/18, 3/23/17 - 11/10/17; 2017: 2467, 623, 25%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/23/16; 2016: 2530, 632, 25%, 12/1/15, 5/18/15 - 11/6/15; 2015: 3542, 801, 23%, 1/1/15, 5/18/14 - 11/6/14; 2014: 1707, 655, 38%, 1/1/14, 5/18/13 - 11/6/13; 2013: 2362, 713, 30%, 1/1/13, 5/18/12 - 11/6/12; 2012: 2591, 454, 18%, 1/1/12, 5/18/11 - 11/6/11. 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 (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA 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. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Timothy Helman, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Financial Advisor
Career Background
Tim attended the University of Miami (FL) and earned a degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from the University of Vermont.
With an unwavering dedication to delivering superior client outcomes and a career marked by diverse experiences, Tim stands as a trusted financial advisor recognized for his multifaceted expertise.
Launching his career in financial services in 2014, he grew into a trusted leader at Commonwealth Financial Network, showcasing his versatility and expertise across the Insurance, Annuity Research, Investment Consulting Services, and Business Solutions departments.
His dedication is evident through his acquisition of the prestigious CFP®, ChFC®, and CLU® designations, proving his commitment to continuous learning and expert financial planning. He is known for his client-focused approach, consistently providing customized solutions that address unique needs. His academic foundation and extensive designations reflect his devotion to excellence.
Personal Life
While dedicated to the financial well-being of his clients, Tim is equally passionate about life beyond the office. Tim lives in Boxford, Massachusetts with his wife, Shannon. Family time holds a special place in his heart. Other passions include improving his golf game, crafting new and creative dishes in the kitchen, and traveling the world. Adding a unique flair, Tim has embraced woodworking, transforming raw materials into furniture and indulging in DIY projects that reflect his creative prowess
Allison DeLena, CFP®
Financial Planning Associate
Career Background
After graduating from American University in Washington, D.C., Allison began her career as an administrative assistant in the financial services industry. With her CFP® certification in hand, she advanced through various roles — starting as a paraplanner, then becoming a financial planning specialist, and eventually serving as the co-director of financial planning, where she led a team of 12 responsible for creating financial plans for a broad network of advisors.
In 2018, after the birth of her son, Allison sought a position closer to home, where she could continue to make a positive impact on people’s lives. After meeting the Blanchette Financial Group team, Allison knew she’d found a company where she could feel at home. In her role, Allison assists Stephen with building and analyzing financial plans and provides exceptional customer service to our clients.
Personal Life
Allison lives in Groveland with her son, Julian, and daughter, Zoe. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family and cheering on all Boston-based sports teams. Allison also volunteers with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a financial coach, providing pro bono financial planning assistance to patients and their families.
Jackie Madrid
Operations Manager
Career Background
Jackie began her career in the financial services industry following her graduation from Regis College and brings more than a decade of experience supporting financial advisors. She has developed a strong foundation in operations and previously served on the Transition and RIA Services team at Commonwealth Financial Network, where she guided advisors through complex business transitions and contributed to the implementation of efficient, well-structured operational processes. Her behind-the-scenes expertise plays an important role in ensuring a seamless and positive experience for both our office and clients.
Jackie is known for her attention to detail and dedication to providing a high level of service. She works closely with our team to help maintain strong client relationships and ensure we remain focused on guiding our clients toward their financial goals. Her commitment helps ensure a consistent and thoughtful experience across every client interaction.
Personal Life
Outside of the office, Jackie resides in Lynn and enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Jose, their daughter, Mila, and their dog, Rudy. She especially loves the warmer months, whether that means relaxing at the beach or traveling with her family to create lasting memories.
Marion Lidsky
Front Office Administrator
Career Background
Marion began her career in the mutual fund industry where she worked in shareholder services and held various securities licenses.
Driven by her passion for education, she earned a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University and spent five years teaching elementary school in Maryland. Later, while raising her family, she served as an inclusion aide for seven years in Southborough, Massachusetts.
Over the past eight years, Marion expanded her expertise in Operations and Human Resources, earning her SHRM-CP certification and honing her skills in systems, project management, and people development.
Now, Marion has come full circle, returning to the financial industry by joining The Blanchette Financial Group.
Personal Life
Marion began her family in the Washington, D.C. area, raised her three daughters in MetroWest Massachusetts, and recently moved to Newburyport to enjoy both the ocean and mountains.
She currently lives with her husband, Si, their Vizsla dog Mosley, and two cats, Ace and Aly. In her free time, Marion loves visiting her daughters: Dana in New York City, Leah in Chicago, and Anna in Boston. She also enjoys hiking, biking, and cooking, and has embraced college sports, cheering for the Wisconsin Badgers and UConn Huskies as her daughters attended these universities.
Marion is an active supporter of several non-profits through walks and volunteering, including the Jeannie Geiger Crisis Center, Find The Cause Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association.