CFP®-certified, college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) 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.
Saving for college often starts when you want to ease the future financial burden of tuition and related expenses. Without careful planning, you might miss out on tax advantages or choose the wrong savings vehicle for your family's needs. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, including education savings strategies.
- 529 plan expertise. Confirm how they evaluate different 529 plans and their state-specific benefits, since these accounts grow tax-free for qualified education expenses.
- UTMA/UGMA account guidance. Ask how they balance custodial accounts with other savings options, considering control and tax implications.
- Financial aid impact. Discuss how savings accounts might affect your child's eligibility for need-based aid and how the advisor plans around that.
- Long-term savings strategy. Look for advisors who integrate college savings with your overall financial goals, not just isolated education accounts.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
-
Julia Z
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Chicago, IL
Genfi LLC
Julia Zakarias is a CFP® with 20 years of experience in Chicago, specializing in college savings plans like 529s and UTMA accounts, making her well-equipped to guide families through education funding strategies. As an independent advisor at Genfi LLC, she offers flat-fee financial planning and serves high-net-worth clients, integrating tax expertise and comprehensive wealth planning to complement her college savings advice.
Experience: 21 years
Avg account: $739,164
-
Timothy M
CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65
Chicago, IL
Riverpoint Wealth Management
Timothy Mcgrath's 36 years of experience and CFP® certification equip him to guide Chicago families through college savings strategies, including 529 plans and UTMA accounts. His firm, Riverpoint Wealth Management, serves high-net-worth clients with customized portfolio construction and offers flat-fee financial planning, differentiating him from advisors with standard AUM-based fees.
Experience: 37 years
Avg account: $4,195,542
-
Christian V
CFP®, Series 66
Chicago, IL
LPL Financial
Christian Vail's nine years of experience and CFP® certification equip him to guide Chicago families through college savings strategies, including 529 plans and UTMA accounts. Affiliated with Merrill, a large firm offering managed account programs and discretionary portfolio management, he provides flat-fee financial planning, distinguishing him from advisors with hourly fees or smaller firm resources.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $399,489
-
Dale B
CFP®, Series 65
Chicago, IL
Steward Advisors, LLC
Dale Branda specializes in college savings strategies including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, supported by his CFP® certification and a decade of industry experience in Chicago. His firm, Steward Advisors, LLC, serves high-net-worth clients with a flat-fee structure and integrates comprehensive financial planning with private portfolio management, differentiating him from advisors focused solely on education savings.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $1,540,926
-
Mark M
CFP®, Series 66
Chicago, IL
JMC Wealth
Mark Murphy's CFP® certification and 11 years of experience in Chicago equip him to guide families through college savings strategies, including 529 plans and UTMA accounts. His background as a founder and focus on mid-career and young professionals, combined with independent advisory services, distinguish him from others by blending education savings with broader financial planning and business succession expertise.
Experience: 11 years
Want help finding the right advisor?
Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.
Advisors focused on
People also searched
Popular in Chicago, IL
Find advisors by type
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)