Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Charleston, SC

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're planning to make significant charitable donations or set up philanthropy strategies, you want an advisor who understands how to align your giving with your financial goals and tax situation. A common mistake is focusing only on the donation amount without considering timing, tax benefits, or long-term impact.

  • Tax-efficient giving. Ask how they help maximize deductions and minimize tax liabilities specific to your state and income.
  • Gift timing strategy. Confirm whether they consider the best times to give for both your cash flow and tax planning.
  • Philanthropic goals alignment. Look for advisors who integrate your values and legacy wishes into your giving plan.
  • Coordination with estate plans. Ensure they work with your estate attorney to align charitable giving with inheritance and trust strategies.

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

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Erik H

Series 66

Charleston, SC

Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC

Erik Hofstrom is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has worked with LPL Financial since 2005. Hofstrom operates his advisory business through Independent Advisor Alliance, focusing on investment advisory services. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management methods alongside technology-enabled estate-planning tools.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Charles C

Series 65

Charleston, SC

Wealth Management

Charles Castle is a financial advisor at Wealth Management with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Mainstreet Financial Solutions since 2007, where he provides tax, payroll, and accounting services. Wealth Management advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients, offering discretionary asset management, fiduciary services, and financial planning. The firm employs broadly diversified, passively managed portfolios with a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy and supports other advisors through its backoffice operations.

Passive / index investing Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities General tax planning Founder/Business Owner

Daniel P

Series 66

Charleston, SC

Edward Jones

Daniel Perlmutter is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charleston, SC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2019 and previously held roles at Berlins Restaurant Supply, Rising Tide Marketing, and Hamilton Management Services Company. Outside of advising, he is involved in managing several rental properties and assists with real estate transitions through 2M Properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment options supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 advisors. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, tax-efficient services, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Wealth management General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive Hispanic/Latino/Latinx
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Craig M

Series 66

Charleston, SC

LPL Financial

Craig Mcdonald Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2019 and previously worked at AXA Advisors, LLC and Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a referring agent in a non-variable insurance business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting over 22,800 advisors and managing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

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

Series 65

Charleston, SC

Kinwell LLC

James Carlson is a Series 65-registered advisor with Kinwell LLC in Charleston, SC, bringing 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Questis Advisor Partners, LLC from 2013 to 2017. Outside of Kinwell, Carlson is an independent trustee for Modern Capital Funds Trust and holds shares in Questis, Inc., a financial wellness software platform. Kinwell LLC provides investment advice and portfolio management to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as consulting services for pension and employee benefit plans. The firm employs modern portfolio theory and a long-term trading approach, focusing on individualized investment policies and a diverse investable universe that includes alternative assets and third-party managers.

Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Private / alternative investments Real estate investing
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Sally H

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Seasons of Advice Wealth Management

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor with Seasons of Advice Wealth Management in New York, NY. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 43 years of industry experience, including roles at Ameriprise Financial Services and RBC Capital Markets. Outside of her advisory work, she records and sells vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book on the spiritual meaning of disease and science. Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm uses a proprietary planning process that integrates goal tracking, asset allocation, and tax planning, tailoring investment recommendations to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

General estate planning guidance Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Executive Values-based investing
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Richard M

Series 63

Fort Walton, FL

Cetera

Richard Martin is a financial advisor at Cetera with 29 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has a background that includes nearly three decades at Avantax Advisory Services and eight years at Avantax Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and sole proprietor of Martin & Pellegrin, CPAs, a tax preparation and accounting firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

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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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

Edward B

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Garden City, NY

Merrill

Edward Blatz serves as a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He specializes in working with high net-worth individuals and families, focusing on estate and wealth management needs. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1985, he has provided personalized financial solutions tailored to his clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Edward's expertise encompasses a range of areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He collaborates closely with clients' tax advisors and estate planning attorneys to ensure comprehensive management of clients' financial and personal affairs. Edward is recognized as a member of The Blatz-Rooney Group, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Edward holds a Bachelor's Degree from Adelphi University and has earned several professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Outside of his professional work, he has interests in golfing, reading, and tennis.

Wealth management General estate planning guidance Family Business Retirement income strategy Divorce financial planning
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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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