Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Athens, OH

Dawn Wilson is a financial advisor with Athens Impact Socially Responsible Investments in Athens, OH. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 12 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research and Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation. Athens Impact provides individualized investment management, financial planning, and coaching for individuals, corporate clients, charitable organizations, and institutional retirement plans. The firm primarily uses passive investment strategies with ESG and impact screening integrated into portfolio construction, and it offers services including employee benefit plan advisory, investor education, and institutional education programs.

Phillip Smeltzer is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Athens, OH, holding a Series 66 designation and having 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing a tree farm and rental real estate holdings through several LLCs. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing detailed Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis with a centralized consulting team to deliver tailored advice primarily for clients holding assets in Ameriprise managed accounts.

Jacob Haywood is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. since 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he is also employed as a wealth advisor and investment manager at Cornerstone Retirement Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs a non-discretionary, client-tailored approach supported by analytical tools and also offers specialized services in municipal and public-finance advisory.

Michael Carpenter is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at LexAurum Advisors. He has worked at Brokers International Financial Services since 2018 and was previously with Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp. Carpenter is an adjunct instructor at Ohio University’s College of Business, teaching a senior-level financial planning course. He is also involved with local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity and The Athens Foundation. LexAurum Advisors manages investment management, financial planning, and retirement services for individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm operates a multi-advisor team and employs a diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services.

Mark Snider is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with over 50 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, he worked at Kestra Advisory and Kestra Investment Services, LLC, and has been involved with Southeast Planning Agencies Inc DBA Snider Fuller & Associates since 1980. Outside of advisory services, he is a commissioned notary in Ohio. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor at Seasons of Advice Wealth Management with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Outside of finance, she is a singer who sells her own vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book titled "Congenital Alterable Transmissible Asymmetry: The Spiritual Meaning of Disease and Science." Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm follows a life-cycle investment approach called the “Seasons of Advice” process and offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and specialized fixed-income programs through sub-advisors.

Richard Martin is a financial advisor at Cetera with 29 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has a background that includes nearly three decades at Avantax Advisory Services and eight years at Avantax Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and sole proprietor of Martin & Pellegrin, CPAs, a tax preparation and accounting firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

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.

Edward Blatz serves as a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He specializes in working with high net-worth individuals and families, focusing on estate and wealth management needs. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1985, he has provided personalized financial solutions tailored to his clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Edward's expertise encompasses a range of areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He collaborates closely with clients' tax advisors and estate planning attorneys to ensure comprehensive management of clients' financial and personal affairs. Edward is recognized as a member of The Blatz-Rooney Group, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Edward holds a Bachelor's Degree from Adelphi University and has earned several professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Outside of his professional work, he has interests in golfing, reading, and tennis.

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Commonwealth Financial Network. In addition to his advisory role, Ferguson is licensed to sell fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan consulting for businesses and institutions. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and economic analysis in its investment approach and offers due diligence and monitoring of alternative and private investments for qualified investors.