Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Chicago, 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're planning to make significant charitable donations or set up philanthropy efforts, you need an advisor who understands how to align your giving with your financial goals. A common mistake is treating charitable giving as a one-time event rather than an ongoing strategy that balances generosity with your long-term wealth.

  • Tax impact awareness. Even though Illinois doesn't tax retirement income, property taxes can be high. Ask how your advisor plans giving to minimize your overall tax burden.
  • Giving vehicle expertise. Confirm they can guide you through options like donor-advised funds, trusts, or direct gifts, explaining how each fits your goals.
  • Legacy planning integration. Charitable giving often ties into estate plans; check how they coordinate philanthropy with your heirs' interests.
  • Impact measurement. Inquire how they help track the effectiveness of your donations to ensure your values are reflected in your giving.

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

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Edgar G

Series 63, Series 66

Chicago, IL

J.P. Morgan Securities

Edgar Giron Ramos is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His career includes roles at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2018 and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012. 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. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework when recommending investment strategies.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Charisma L

Series 63, Series 65

Chicago, IL

Transamerica Financial Advisors

Charisma Lariosa is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with World Financial Group, INC. and Evolve Healthcare LLC. Outside her advisory role, she provides physical therapy services through Select Rehabilitation. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services, utilizing proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

ESG / Sustainable investing Concentrated stock management Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Johnel M

Series 63, Series 65

Chicago, IL

Primerica Advisors

Johnel Mayberry is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having two years of industry experience. His career includes roles at PFS Investments Inc. and self-employment, as well as prior positions in healthcare and academic settings. He is also involved in selling loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors is a large-scale firm managing a wrap-fee asset management program primarily for individual investors, including both non-HNW and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable entities. The firm utilizes model-delivery strategies developed by third-party asset managers and offers custody and trade execution through Pershing, focusing on advisory services rather than institutional portfolio management.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Income planning
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Mario B

Series 63, Series 66

Chicago, IL

LPL Enterprise

Mario Bear is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 11 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at firms such as The Prudential Insurance Company of America, PNC Bank, Fifth Third Securities, JPMorgan Chase, and BMO Harris Bank. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with FinBe USA, promoting relationships with automotive dealerships, and serves as a real estate agent for non-investment residential transactions. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities. The firm emphasizes model-driven investment implementation and offers access to third-party asset managers alongside affiliated insurance and trust services.

Tax-loss harvesting
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Nahal S

Series 63, Series 66

Chicago, IL

Apollon Wealth Management, LLC

Nahal Sabbagh Kermani is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Apollon Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines centrally managed model strategies with locally managed portfolios and offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, sub-advisory, and consulting across various asset classes and investment vehicles.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Business exit / sale strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner
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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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