The Hershey Group

Let us help you grow more than wealth

What we do

At the Hershey Group, we work with high net worth individuals, businesses and foundations to help them fulfill their goals through our long-term, holistic approach to wealth management. Whether you are planning for retirement, seeking advice to build and preserve your assets, or needing guidance to create your legacy, our team of advisors will work with you to design a customized wealth plan with your specific needs in mind.

Who we are

As a multi-generational team, we understand the importance of family. We believe in building long-term relationships with clients and helping them to not only grow their assets so they can enjoy their own retirement years, but to allow them to pass their wealth on to future generations.

We also believe strongly in giving back to the community and our team members are involved in a number of local organizations. We extend that sense of community to our practice by providing a hands-on level of financial service to our clients as well as by hosting a variety of educational seminars and client appreciation events throughout the year.

Experience you can trust

Our team of professionals has the expertise to provide you with an expansive array of investment services. With over 55 years of combined experience in the financial services industry, the Hershey Group has the skills and resources to help you grow your wealth and achieve your goals.

Proud to work with nationally recognized teammates

At The Hershey Group, we are very proud that Financial Advisors John Hershey III, Laura Herrera, and Gerald Spessard have received prestigious awards. It’s an honor to have teammates nationally recognized as one of the best in the industry—because it means we are serving our clients well. Congratulations!

John Hershey III

Forbes/SHOOK Best-In-State Wealth Advisor - 2025, 2024, 2023

Laura Herrera

Forbes Next Generation Wealth Advisor - 2023, 2022
Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor Best-In-State - 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor - 2025, 2024, 2023

Gerald Spessard

Forbes Next Generation Wealth Advisor - 2024, 2023, 2022
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor - 2025
AdvisorHub Advisors to Watch - 2025, 2024, 2023

We are also honored to be recognized as a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Team - 2026, 2025, 2024

The 2022 "Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" award was announced August 2022. Data as of 3/31/2022. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1983 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2023 Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors" and "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" award was announced February 2023. Data as of 9/30/2022. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2023 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2023. Data as of 6/30/2022. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2023 "Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" award was announced August 2023. Data as of 3/31/2023. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1984 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams award was announced January 2024. Data as of 3/31/23. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and team, and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results.  Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2024 Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors" and "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" award was announced February 2024. Data as of 9/30/2023. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: . <a href="https://www.SHOOKresearch.com">www.SHOOKresearch.com</a>.

The 2024 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2024. Data as of 6/30/2023. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor based on qualitative criteria such as: best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2025 Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams” award was announced January 2025. Data as of 3/31/24. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information:  <a href="http://www.SHOOKresearch.com">www.SHOOKresearch.com</a>.

The 2025 Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” award was announced April 2025. Data as of 6/30/2024. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each advisor’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information go to: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2026 Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams” award was announced January 2026. Data as of 3/31/25. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2026 Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" and "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State" award was announced February 2026. Data as of 9/30/2025. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team's best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client's experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com

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Let us help you grow more than wealth

What we do

Who we are

Experience you can trust

Proud to work with nationally recognized teammates

John Hershey III

Laura Herrera

Gerald Spessard

We are also honored to be recognized as a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Team - 2026, 2025, 2024

Let's start the conversation

Meet our team

Hershey Group blog

Staying the course in the year ahead

Read more >

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Latest Insights

What you can do to avoid tax surprises every year

Visit our Facebook page

Let us help you grow more than wealth

What we do

Who we are

Experience you can trust

Proud to work with nationally recognized teammates

John Hershey III

Laura Herrera

Gerald Spessard

We are also honored to be recognized as a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Team - 2026, 2025, 2024

Let's start the conversation

Meet our team

Hershey Group blog

Staying the course in the year ahead

Read more >

Bulletin board

Latest Insights

What you can do to avoid tax surprises every year

Visit our Facebook page

Social Media

See footer below for group’s social profiles >