Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Batavia, NY

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 (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) accounts. A common mistake is not aligning the savings plan with your family's financial situation and future education costs, which can lead to unexpected tax consequences or insufficient funds.

  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm how the advisor navigates state and federal tax rules, especially around gift tax limits and estate tax cliffs that can affect your savings.
  • Account selection guidance. Ask why they recommend 529 plans versus UTMA accounts based on your goals and control preferences.
  • Investment strategy fit. Look for advisors who adjust investment choices as your child approaches college age, balancing growth and risk appropriately.
  • Coordination with financial goals. Ensure they consider how college savings fit with your retirement and other financial priorities to avoid funding conflicts.

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

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Donald B

Series 63

Batavia, NY

Cetera

Donald Bouchard is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 63 designation and 42 years of industry experience. He has worked at various firms, notably Avantax Advisory Services for 16 years and has operated his own business, Bouchard Financial Services, LLC, since 2009. Outside of advising, he is also a musician who performs solo and occasionally teaches music lessons. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party managers through a multi-manager platform with both discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

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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David Z

Series 63, Series 65

Batavia, NY

LPL Enterprise

David Zauner is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America since 2016 and joined LPL Enterprise in 2024. Zauner operates Empire Financial Advisory Services, a registered private office associated with Prudential and LPL. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm uses model-driven investment strategies developed by internal and third-party research sources and offers access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and insurance products.

Tax-loss harvesting

Emily M

Series 63, Series 66

Batavia, NY

Merrill

Emily Marling is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she joined the RGRWT team in 2015. She holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Emily works with clients to create and regularly review personalized, goals-based wealth management plans, focusing on areas such as personal retirement planning, women and wealth, and retirement income. Emily began her career in financial services within the insurance industry in 2011. She earned her bachelor's degree, Cum Laude, in Business Administration from the State University of New York System at SUNY Brockport in 2012. In 2017, she earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification. Beyond her client work, Emily is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Genesee and serves as Vice President on the board of the Genesee County YWCA. She is also involved in community activities such as the United Way Day of Caring. Emily lives in Elba with her husband, Josh, and their children, Max and Ava.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Wealth management Charitable giving & philanthropy Women Professionals Women's Finance

Michael M

Series 66

Batavia, NY

Edward Jones

Michael Marsh is a Series 66 registered financial advisor with Edward Jones in Batavia, NY, with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2011. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices across the United States.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Judy T

Series 63, Series 66

Batavia, NY

LPL Financial

Judy Thompson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has been with LPL Financial since 2011. 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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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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