Why Socha Financial Group Chose Savant: A Conversation with Michelle Socha Vang and Jolie McCarthy 

When Socha Financial Group, LLC, joined Savant Wealth Management on August 31, 2026, the partnership gave Savant its third office in New York and brought together two firms with a shared commitment to comprehensive financial planning. 

Nancy Socha founded the firm in Corning, New York, in 1983, building her career as a woman in the traditionally male-dominated financial services industry of New York’s Southern Tier. Over more than four decades, Socha Financial Group grew to approximately $542 million in assets under management (AUM) by August 2026. It built its reputation by combining financial planning, investment management, and tax planning and preparation under one roof. The firm also gained extensive experience serving employees and retirees of Corning Incorporated, one of the region’s largest employers. 

To learn what drove the decision and what comes next for clients, Savant spoke with Michelle Socha Vang, CFP®, EA, Socha’s managing partner and chief compliance officer, and Jolie McCarthy, CFP®, EA, managing partner. 

A Purpose That Has Held for More Than 40 Years 

Much has changed in the profession since 1983, but the firm’s purpose hasn’t. 

“Our purpose has always been to walk beside our clients, guiding them through life’s decisions, supporting them through challenges, and celebrating their successes,” Michelle says. “To us, clients have never been a number. They are individuals with unique needs, experiences, and goals. Service to our clients always comes first.” 

Experience Serving Corning Employees 

Corning Incorporated has deep roots in the community. This summer, the company celebrated its 175th anniversary with an event in Corning’s town center and invited the whole community to join. 

 Through years of working with employees, executives, and retirees of Corning Incorporated, the Socha Financial Group team developed experience incorporating company compensation and benefit programs into clients’ financial plans. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, these programs may include stock options, restricted stock, performance-based awards, retirement plans, and other employer-sponsored benefits. 

“This experience helps us to plan strategically with our clients,” Michelle says. 

In practice, that can mean helping clients evaluate company stock and strategies for managing taxes and diversification. It can also include considering employer contributions to retirement and savings plans, along with available insurance benefits. The team then considers each of those decisions in the context of the client’s broader plan and short- and long-term goals. 

What the First Year Looks Like 

For the Socha team, a new client relationship starts with an introductory consultation. Both sides use that meeting to decide whether working together makes sense. The team walks through its fees, offerings, and process. It also asks the prospective client to bring the usual documents: a balance sheet, cash flow, pay stubs, prior-year tax returns, investment statements, and a list of goals and questions. 

The data matters, but it isn’t the most important part of the meeting. 

“Most importantly, we are listening, not just to what clients say, but also to what they leave unsaid,” Jolie says. “What is the tone or emotion? How are they coming to the table? That’s where you often find the connection.” 

Next, the team completes a holistic analysis of the client’s investment allocation, assets, debts, income, company benefits, tax projections, cash flow, and insurance needs. New questions often come up during this phase, and the team follows up with the client as needed. 

The team then builds a plan, outlines recommended implementation steps, and reviews everything with the client, making adjustments where needed. The discovery continues in that meeting too. 

“We continue to learn more about the client,” Jolie says. “What are their non-negotiables? How do they feel about money? What are their priorities? We keep listening.” 

After the plan presentation, the team recommends actionable next steps and guides the client through implementation. That work continues for the life of the relationship. “As clients pursue their goals and life changes, we continue to work alongside them every step of the way,” Michelle says. 

Why Tax Work Belongs in the Plan 

“Taxes are often one of the largest expenses a household encounters,” Jolie says. “To provide comprehensive advice, we must consider each client’s individual tax situation as part of the broader planning process. Without it, we may be missing a significant piece of the puzzle.” 

Tax analysis can inform investment decisions, retirement analysis, withdrawal strategies, Medicare costs through the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), estate planning, and more. “Integrating tax planning with other areas of a client’s financial plan can help support more informed and coordinated decisions,” Michelle says. 

Why Savant 

As the firm grew, its leaders saw that there were limitations to what a team of eight could provide on its own. “We recognized the need for additional resources, technology, and specialized expertise to support our team and meet the evolving needs of our clients,” Michelle said when the firms announced the partnership. “Savant provides those resources while preserving the values and culture that have defined our firm for more than 40 years.” 

Jolie pointed to shared philosophy as the deciding factor. “Savant stood out because of its commitment to serving clients, its collaborative culture, and the breadth of services available to support families through every stage of life,” she said. 

New Depth in Trust and Estate Planning 

When the team began sharing news of the partnership, many clients expressed interest in Savant’s trust services and estate planning and wealth transfer offerings. 

“We have been able to provide general guidance in these areas, but having access to these experts at Savant expands the resources available to our clients,” Michelle says. 

What Stays the Same and What Changes 

For clients who have worked with the firm for decades, many aspects of the relationship remain unchanged. Clients continue to work with the same advisors, the same staff, the same office, and the same phone number. Charles Schwab remains the custodian, and clients are not expected to see changes to their current management fees as a result of the partnership. The firm’s core values, client focus, and current service offerings carry forward. 

What changes is what the team can offer. Clients gain access to additional technology, trust and estate planning resources, and a broader range of services and capabilities. 

More than 40 years after Nancy Socha opened the firm, the team’s goal remains the one she set at the start: to walk beside clients through different stages of their financial lives, now with a larger team behind them.