Large-firm, college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Berkeley, CA

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.

You need a college savings advisor when you're planning for your child's education costs and want to use tax-advantaged accounts like 529 plans or UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) accounts effectively. Without focused guidance, you might miss opportunities to optimize contributions or understand how state tax rules impact your savings strategy. Large-firm advisors often have access to a broad range of resources and institutional support, which can influence the options they recommend.

  • Account type expertise. Confirm they understand the differences between 529 plans and UTMA accounts, including tax benefits and withdrawal rules.
  • State tax implications. Ask how California's high income taxes and Proposition 13 property tax limits affect your college savings approach.
  • Investment options. Inquire about the variety and flexibility of investment choices within the college savings plans they recommend.
  • Coordination with financial goals. Ensure they consider how college savings fit with your overall financial plan, including retirement and other priorities.

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

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Shawn H

Series 66

Berkeley, CA

J.P. Morgan Securities

Shawn Huynh is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2018, and previously held roles at Citigroup and UnionBanc Investment Services. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Yahweh K

Series 63, Series 65

Berkeley, CA

Merrill

Yahweh Khao Sok is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2025, he worked at NYLife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company from 2022 to 2025. He serves as Treasurer and Board Member for Futures Explored, a nonprofit focused on providing programs and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm provides model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Tammy P

Series 63, Series 65

Berkeley, CA

Eagle Strategies (NY Life)

Tammy Plotkin Oren is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Berkeley, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 21 years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with New York Life and its related entities since 2005 and has operated TPO Financial and Insurance Services since 2009. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as Treasurer and Board Member for UC Berkeley Hillel and is a board member for the Delaware Street HOA. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, defined contribution and benefit plans, and corporate and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Juliana M

CFP®

Berkeley, CA

Elmwood Wealth Management

Juliana Moravy is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Elmwood Wealth Management in Piedmont, CA. She has been with Elmwood Wealth Management since 2014, including its current team structure since 2023. Elmwood Wealth Management is a fee-based, SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and various account types. The firm employs a total-return, long-term investment philosophy with both actively managed and ETF-based strategies, integrating ongoing financial planning with portfolio construction and offering specialized tax coordination and retirement plan advisory services.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Wealth management Private / alternative investments Cash flow / budgeting
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Richard G

Series 65

Berkeley, CA

Affinity Capital Advisors LLC

Richard Greywitt is a financial advisor at Affinity Capital Advisors LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Cutler Group LP and Greywitt Capital Management prior to joining Affinity in 2023. Outside of finance, he occasionally assists with operations at Metta Yoga Studio, a business owned by his spouse. Affinity Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, managing approximately $851 million in assets across 531 client relationships. The firm provides comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis in building portfolios, incorporating a range of investment vehicles including stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, and alternative investments.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies Real estate investing
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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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Jeffrey P

Series 66

Dacula, GA

Merrill

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Wesley P

Series 63, Series 66

Fort Worth, TX

Wells Fargo Clearing

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Willie M

Series 63, Series 66

Cary, NC

Equitable Advisors

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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