Flat-fee advisors focused on career changers in the US

Samuel Smith is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in assisting clients through career transitions and the unique financial considerations they entail. He works closely with professionals who have recently changed jobs, providing tailored financial strategies that address new compensation packages, retirement account management, and employer benefits optimization. His approach emphasizes creating personalized financial roadmaps aligned with clients' evolving career goals and long-term aspirations. Samuel's areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy and philanthropic planning, liquidity management, retirement income, and portfolio management services. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Samuel earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana State University and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis. Outside of his professional work, Samuel enjoys baseball, basketball, football, spending time with his family, and watching movies. He is a proud father of two boys and a husband, committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals through disciplined, client-focused service.

Jesse Zora is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience and has been with Zora Financial since 2014. He serves on the board of directors for Seabed, Inc., a closely held family farm in Marion Junction, AL. Zora Financial serves individual households—including both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients—and sponsors of employer retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, supplemented by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and offers a range of planning and advisory services.

Laura I. Rotter, CFA, CFP is the founder of True Abundance Advisors, a fee-only financial life planning firm. Laura runs a unique firm built on the belief that true abundance comes when we create meaning with our money. Her meetings are a safe space for her clients to explore what they value and what gives them a sense of meaning and purpose. Together, they develop and implement a plan that broadens the concept of “investing” beyond financial assets to another scarce resource: time. Laura had a successful career on Wall Street, managing money for institutional investors, including Citicorp and Para Advisors. Her definition of abundance shifted, and she realized that she was using her life to make money, rather than using her money to make a life. She is drawn to work with others navigating a big life transition, and who are seeking purpose in their lives.

Avery Krasnow is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2025. In this capacity, Avery partners with clients to develop personalized investment strategies that align with their financial goals, utilizing Fidelity's planning tools to provide clarity and confidence in financial decision-making. Avery's experience in the financial services industry includes previous positions at Fidelity Investments as a Relationship Manager from 2024 to 2025 and as a Financial Representative from 2023 to 2024. This progression reflects Avery's growing expertise in client relationship management and financial planning. Outside of professional responsibilities, Avery has personal interests in cooking and baking, exploring food as a foodie, spending time with pets, practicing Pilates, and engaging in puzzles.

Lelamarie Kelly is a financial advisor at Life UnLocked Partners LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. She has held roles at Leyland Cypress LLC, Carbon Law Group, and RGP Legal, and has operated her own legal practice, LSK Legal, since 2010. Kelly is also principal and general counsel at Tennenbaum & Kelly, Inc., overseeing legal matters related to privately held investments, and serves as CFO and general counsel for businesses in email security and skincare sectors. Life UnLocked Partners provides financial planning, investment monitoring, and recommendations to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach centers on a value and dividend strategy aimed at income replacement around career transitions, followed by a shift toward longer-term appreciation vehicles, including venture capital, hedge funds, and private equity.

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Edwina Martin is a financial advisor at Waverly Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at 9258 Wealth Management for five years and Teradata Corp for eleven years. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as assistant director of tax planning at 9258 Tax and Planning. Waverly Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary services, employing a combination of centralized and customized investment strategies across traditional and alternative asset classes.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Fort Worth, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years and has entrepreneurial experience with #TagMeBro LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services grounded in modern portfolio theory and tailored to plan objectives and risk tolerances. The firm’s advisory process includes a broad range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rockville, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and TD Bank. He is also involved with NIHFCU Wealth Advisors, a DBA for his LPL business. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a variety of delivery options supported by an in-house research team, combining large-scale advisory operations with a broad range of financial products.

Amanda Scheele is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 15 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Amanda is also involved with Lucky Duck, a separate business activity. Raymond James & Associates provides financial planning and investment consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and government clients. The firm offers tailored financial plans and investment recommendations, supported by research and planning tools, and serves both retail and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs.