Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Carbondale, IL

Mary Swearingen is a financial advisor at Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 10 years of experience at the firm. She has been with Alliance Wealth Advisors since 2016. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides discretionary investment supervisory services primarily to individual clients, including high net worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers tailored investment plans and portfolio management, often utilizing mutual funds or third-party money managers to implement client strategies.

Zach is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional™ who helps clients align their money with their values so that they can live more intentionally now and in the future. With a background in psychology and a deep belief in access and equity, he brings both heart and strategy to every plan. Zach’s approach is collaborative, thorough, and solution-oriented. He’s worked with hundreds of families over his 10+ year career, and he’s especially passionate about demystifying complex topics so clients feel confident making decisions that reflect what they care about most. Prior to Novak Financial Partners, Zach spent over a decade at nationally recognized Registered Investment Advisors, where he became increasingly focused on delivering planning in a way that’s transparent, approachable, and deeply human. Outside of work, Zach enjoys reading, exercising, traveling with family, and cheering on Chicago’s sports teams. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Nicholas Ramsey is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 10 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Regions Bank, First Southern Bank, LPL Financial, and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of advising, he is involved in youth volleyball as an IHSA official, head coach, and club director. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services through a multi-manager platform with over $256 billion in assets under management and more than 10,000 advisors nationwide.

Mark Chalem is a CFP® with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He worked at Edward Jones from 2016 to 2026. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an instructor at John A Logan College, teaching classes on investing. He is affiliated with Independent Wealth Network, Inc., a multi-team firm advising individuals, trusts, pension plans, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers wealth management, financial planning, and consulting services, using a combination of third-party managers and proprietary strategies to manage approximately $518 million in client assets.

Michael Neill is a CFP® professional with over 41 years of experience, currently affiliated with Raymond James Financial in Carbondale, IL. He has worked with First Mid Wealth Management and various Raymond James entities since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee for the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale and is a director for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and supports municipal and public finance advisory services through a broad network of advisors.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.