Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Asheville, NC

The right financial advisor for you depends on how you weigh location, expertise, experience, the clients they typically serve, and how they work with you.

Saving for college often starts when you want to make the most of tax-advantaged accounts like 529 plans or UTMA custodial accounts. A common mistake is not aligning the savings plan with your child's timeline and your financial goals, which can reduce the benefits of these accounts.

  • Account type suitability. Confirm which college savings vehicles they recommend and why, ensuring they fit your family's timeline and risk tolerance.
  • Tax implications. Ask how they navigate state tax benefits and potential impacts on financial aid eligibility.
  • Contribution strategy. Look for advisors who discuss balancing contributions with other financial priorities, not just maxing out accounts.
  • Investment approach. Check if they adjust investment choices as your child nears college age to manage risk appropriately.

Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.

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Stephen H

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 66

Asheville, NC

Edward Jones

Stephen Herbert is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones, based in Asheville, NC. He has 21 years of industry experience and has been with Edward Jones since 2004. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supporting approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management.

Divorce financial planning Business ownership considerations Business exit / sale strategy Retirement income strategy Planning for children with special needs Founder/Business Owner Intergenerational Families Divorced
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Angela R

Series 66

Asheville, NC

Merrill

Angela Rutledge is a Series 66 registered financial advisor at Merrill in Asheville, NC, with 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill and its affiliate Bank of America, N.A. since 2014. Merrill provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Wade H

Series 66

Asheville, NC

Cetera

Wade Howell is a financial advisor at Cetera with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked with Avantax and Legacy firms. Howell also serves as a registered agent and financial advisor at Legacy Tax and Accounting and Legacy Capital Advisor, LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, including model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Eric H

Series 63, Series 65

Asheville, NC

Kestra Advisory

Eric Hauser is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Advisory since 2017 and previously held roles at Williams Financial Group and Valic Financial Advisors. Hauser operates under the DBA KB Elliot Financial Advisors, providing investment advisory and insurance services. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm provides fiduciary consulting, plan design, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients such as large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Annuities Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jonathan P

Series 65, Series 66

Asheville, NC

Oppenheimer

Jonathan Payne is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer who holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Oppenheimer since 2009, following roles at Stanford Group Company, UBS Financial Services, and Merrill. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, pooled investment vehicles, and IRAs. The firm offers a variety of programs including asset management, consulting, and retirement services, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Hassan A

Series 63, Series 65

Rockville, MD

LPL Financial

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is also involved with NIHFCU Wealth Advisors, a related business entity. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Richard B

Series 63, Series 66

Austin, TX

Charles Schwab

Richard Brandi is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank ssb since 2003 and 2005, respectively. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, leveraging multi-asset model portfolios and research from its Schwab Center for Financial Research.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Multi-state taxation College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Thaddeus P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Grand Rapids, MI

Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Charitable giving & philanthropy General estate planning guidance General tax planning Options & derivatives strategies
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Paul K

CFP®, Series 65

Zimmerman, MN

Longview Financial, Inc.

Paul Kinneberg is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He has been the principal and sole advisor at Longview Financial, Inc. since 2000 and also holds a long-term corporate role at CenturyLink. Longview Financial, Inc. provides personalized, fee-only financial planning and investment management primarily for individual clients. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation approach with a core-and-satellite framework, combining passive index and ETF core holdings with active funds when appropriate, and manages client assets on a non-discretionary basis with an emphasis on individualized advice.

General tax planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Cash flow / budgeting

Justin S

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Prairie Village, KS

Edward Jones

Justin Scicluna is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Prairie Village, KS, holding the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, including a range of household types, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers various advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and affiliated investment products through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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