Manning & Napier

Manning & Napier — with 56 years in business and more than 200 employees — provides comprehensive wealth and asset management services, including holistic planning, personalized advice and custom investment strategies.

What inspired the founding of your company, and what was its original mission?

Manning & Napier was founded in April 1970 by Bill Manning and the late Bill Napier. They saw a need in the Rochester community for an active investment manager and focused on building long-lasting relationships and making the best investment decisions for their clients, even when that meant going against the crowd. Throughout our 55-plus years in business, we have remained focused on providing exceptional service and results for our clients.

What were the most significant milestones or turning points in the company’s 50+ years in business?

1984 — Launched first mutual fund; 1994 — Bill Manning helped to win a court decision banning brokers from placing their firm’s interest above the client’s, FINRA Rule 5320, also known as “the Manning Rule”; 2011 — The firm went public; 2020 — Celebrated 50 years of serving our clients & community; 2022 — The firm went private and was acquired by Callodine Group, allowing us to provide our clients with an expansive list of services and investment offerings, including private credit strategies.

How have your core values and vision influenced the way your company operates?

Manning & Napier values Bold Initiative, Meaningful Relationships, and Continuous Growth. We put people first — both our clients and our employees — because we believe that when our team is supported and valued, our clients receive the highest level of care and attention. We prioritize building meaningful relationships with our clients and partners, and within our community through volunteerism and philanthropy.

How has your company adapted to industry changes or economic challenges over the years?

We grow by embracing change while also remaining committed to the guiding principles that have led us for more than 55 years. We have a long history of developing new strategies and services to support evolving client needs. While we still create client portfolios and develop innovative investment strategies, we have also developed a full suite of offerings to support clients’ total financial health.

What’s unique about your workplace culture that has contributed to your longevity?

Throughout the firm’s history, Manning & Napier has encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset and has extended ownership to key employees. This has allowed for greater alignment of interests, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation that has benefited our clients and supported the firm’s success. We also encourage a culture of caring, offering four volunteer days each year to employees to support nonprofit organizations that are vital to our communities.

What are your company’s top goals for the near future?

Helping clients achieve their financial goals is always our first priority. Since we serve individuals and families, nonprofits, and institutions, we are focused on enhancing the ways we can support all of our clients through the strategies and services we provide. We continue to implement technology to deliver a superior experience for our clients, partners and employees. That includes a holistic financial portal experience for clients, and tools to help our teams operate efficiently.

What are the key factors that have contributed to your company’s ability to stay competitive?

A willingness to evolve has been essential in meeting the ever-changing needs of our clients and staying ahead of advancements in the industry. We leverage technology, offer modern strategies, and above all else have remained committed to our core values while recognizing the value of new ideas.

We have a sincere and deep appreciation for the relationships we’ve built. Earning client trust is core to our purpose, and our efforts have resulted in a consistent client retention rate of over 95%.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal’s In the Lead: Best Legacy Businesses list for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.