Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Columbia, 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.

You might need general estate planning guidance if you're organizing your assets to protect your family or planning for healthcare decisions in case you become unable to speak for yourself. Without clear guidance, you risk creating confusion or disputes among heirs that can complicate your wishes.

  • Comprehensive document review. Confirm they help update wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to reflect your current situation.
  • State-specific knowledge. Ask how they incorporate South Carolina's laws and benefits, like favorable retirement deductions, into your plan.
  • Family dynamics insight. Effective advisors consider your family relationships to minimize conflicts and ensure smooth asset transfer.
  • Coordination with other professionals. Check if they work with your tax advisor or attorney to align your estate plan with your overall financial goals.

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

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Ann B

Series 66

Columbia, SC

LPL Financial

Ann Bone is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Columbia, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has been with LPL Financial since 2017 and previously worked for Lexington School District Two from 2013 to 2017. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive resources and a large network of over 22,800 advisors.

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

Steven J

Series 66

Columbia, SC

Edward Jones

Steven Junis is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Columbia, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018, he held roles at Aqua Splash Inc. and Pool Patrol Service. 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 strategies supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Brandon B

Series 66

Columbia, SC

Ameriprise

Brandon Briggs is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Columbia, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He previously worked at Davidson, Wren and DeMasters, P.A. for four years before joining Ameriprise in 2021. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides tailored retirement planning advice focused on reliable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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David W

Series 63, Series 65

Columbia, SC

Davinci Financial Designs

David Wells is a financial advisor at DaVinci Financial Designs with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for 14 years. Wells provides investment advisory services primarily through DaVinci Financial Designs, an independent firm he joined in 2022. DaVinci Financial Designs serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business owners with comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm employs a risk-adjusted, alpha-based investment approach, offering tailored portfolios and specialized services such as generational and business planning through a five-person team affiliated with LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Business ownership considerations Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals
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Carolyn M

Series 63, Series 65

Columbia, SC

Primerica Advisors

Carolyn Mendelssohn Drake is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Advisors since 1995 and has worked with Primerica Financial Services since 1987. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in the sale of investment-related products and receives compensation for referrals of home security, automation, and other home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, which includes model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed account options for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers, uses a tiered wrap fee structure, and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Income planning
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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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