Top general estate planning guidance 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.

You might seek estate planning guidance when you want to ensure your assets pass smoothly to your heirs or to avoid probate delays. A common mistake is overlooking how property taxes can affect your estate's value and your beneficiaries' inheritance.

  • Property tax awareness. Confirm how the advisor accounts for Chicago's high property taxes in your estate plan to prevent unexpected burdens on your heirs.
  • Will and trust integration. Ask how they coordinate wills and trusts to streamline asset transfer and minimize legal complications.
  • Beneficiary coordination. Ensure they review and update beneficiary designations regularly to align with your overall estate goals.
  • Long-term flexibility. Inquire about strategies that allow your estate plan to adapt to changes in your family or financial situation over time.

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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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

General estate planning guidance
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Kayla S

Series 63, Series 65

Warwick, RI

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Warwick, RI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously at MetLife Securities. In addition to her advisory role, Santos is an independent insurance agent, offering life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance products. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, wrap and money-manager programs, and educational seminars, structuring engagements as annual collaborative relationships focused on goal analysis and written recommendations.

Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Attorney Executive Married/Couples/Partners Divorced

Gordon B

Series 66

Luling, LA

Edward Jones

Gordon Brown III is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment options, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Wealth management Oil & Gas Engineering Professional
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William S

Series 63, Series 65

College Station, TX

Smith & Wyatt

William Soltow is a financial advisor at Smith & Wyatt with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at CoreCap Advisors, LLC. Outside of advising, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and serves as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million across 724 clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, estate-planning consulting, and specialized educational programs, utilizing mutual funds and ETFs as primary investment vehicles.

Government Employee
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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
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