Top business succession planning financial advisors in Canton, IL

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.

If you own a business and are thinking about stepping back or retiring, you need a business succession planning advisor to help you navigate the complex process of transferring ownership smoothly. Without expert guidance, you might overlook critical steps that protect your business's value and your financial future.

  • Ownership transfer strategies. Ask how they tailor plans to fit your business type and goals, ensuring a clear path for ownership change.
  • Tax implications. Even though Illinois doesn't tax retirement income, property taxes can be high; confirm how they factor this into your succession plan.
  • Stakeholder communication. Effective plans include managing expectations and roles of family members or partners involved in the transition.
  • Valuation expertise. Understanding your business's worth is key; check how they approach valuation to support fair and informed decisions.

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

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Christopher P

Series 63, Series 65

Canton, IL

Thrivent Investment Management

Christopher Piper is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Canton, Illinois. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, he spent several years with Canton 66. Outside of his advisory role, Piper serves as a member of the Elder Board at Canton Evangelical Church, where he participates in planning and community activities. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through its network of financial advisors. The firm offers goal-based, holistic analyses and supports combining planning with managed-account programs while maintaining separation between these services.

Business ownership considerations
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Sarah K

Series 66

Canton, IL

LPL Financial

Sarah Keefer is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Canton, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 2014 and previously held positions at Bank of Farmington and Edward Jones. Keefer also co-owns a real estate rental business in Farmington and Canton, Illinois. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to model portfolios and third-party asset management, supported by technology tools for operational and research purposes.

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

Series 66

Canton, IL

Edward Jones

Tyler Ludlum is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Canton, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and having eight years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2016 and previously worked at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Canton Elks Lodge #626 and is an assistant football coach for Canton Union School District #66. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including a broad range of households and organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a variety of advisory programs, investment strategies, and affiliated financial services.

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

Series 63, Series 65

Cuba, IL

Equitable Advisors

Terry Anderson is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 55 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, Axa Advisors, since 1999. Equitable Advisors serves individuals across wealth levels, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm emphasizes matching clients to program models or discretionary managers, utilizing third-party asset managers and offering a range of investment options including mutual funds, ETFs, and select alternatives.

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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Dwight P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Canton, IL

LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C.

Dwight Pigg Jr. is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He is currently with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. and has previously worked at LPL Financial and Investment Centers of America, Inc. Pigg also serves as President of the Trust and Retail Department at Ipava State Bank. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, pension plans, and other entities. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary management programs, utilizing a mix of asset allocation strategies across mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and options.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran financial advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Livingston, NJ

Raymond James Financial

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors 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 offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement
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Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent involved in the sales of fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers pension consulting, estate planning support, business exit planning, and due diligence on alternative investments, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and economic analysis within a fiduciary framework.

Business exit / sale strategy Multi-generational wealth transfer Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner
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Jerald L

Series 63

San Antonio, TX

Frost Investment Services

Jerald Liesman is a financial advisor at Frost Investment Services with 33 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Frost Brokerage Services, Inc. and Frost Bank since 1993 and 1987, respectively. Frost Investment Services is a retail-focused, SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and managed account programs that integrate model portfolios from its affiliate with third-party managers, utilizing a research-driven investment process and providing optional tax and ESG overlay services.

Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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