Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Dalton, GA

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 want to make a meaningful impact with your wealth, you need an advisor who understands how to align your giving with your values and financial goals. A common mistake is focusing only on the tax benefits without considering how your philanthropy fits into your overall plan.

  • Giving strategy integration. Look for advisors who connect your charitable goals with your broader financial picture, not just tax deductions.
  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm they understand how retirement income exclusions in Georgia can affect your giving decisions.
  • Gift vehicle options. Ask about different ways to give, like donor-advised funds or charitable trusts, and which suits your situation best.
  • Legacy planning focus. Ensure they help you plan for lasting impact beyond your lifetime, not just immediate donations.

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

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William B

Series 66

Chattanooga, TN

Merrill

William Beard is a financial advisor with Merrill in Chattanooga, TN, holding a Series 66 designation and over seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2019 and previously held positions at SunTrust Bank and Bank of America. Outside of his financial career, Beard is involved with Consumer Direct Care, assisting individuals with physical, mental, learning, and emotional challenges through community support activities. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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James B

Series 66

Dalton, GA

LPL Financial

James Boling is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. Before entering finance, he served 15 years with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office. He is a board member of the Dalton Golf and Country Club. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, supported by research and diverse investment strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Amy S

Series 63, Series 66

Dalton, GA

Fidelity

Amy Shopp is a financial advisor with Fidelity who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 14 years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with various Fidelity entities since 2011. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm is notable for its advisory role to multiple registered investment companies and its use of systematic methodologies, including AI and algorithmic tools, in portfolio management.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Active portfolio management
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Allen P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Dalton, GA

CPC Advisors, LLC

Allen Petway Jr. is a CFP® professional with 43 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently a team member at CPC Advisors, LLC and has held advisory roles at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. and Barker Petway Investment & Retirement Management. Petway serves on the finance and investment committee of First Baptist Church of Dalton, GA. CPC Advisors provides financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and other business entities. The firm employs a model portfolio and asset allocation approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on mutual funds, equities, and ETFs with an emphasis on long-term investment strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Wealth management Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Will P

Series 66

Dalton, GA

Ameriprise

Will Patterson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Dalton, GA, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2019 and previously worked at the University of Georgia. In addition to his role at Ameriprise, he is an associate financial advisor at 825 Group LLC in Atlanta, where he is involved in client servicing, trading, financial planning, and back-office duties. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, using a combination of research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver personalized, non-discretionary recommendations. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional firm.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Sally H

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Seasons of Advice Wealth Management

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor at Seasons of Advice Wealth Management with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Outside of finance, she is a singer who sells her own vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book titled "Congenital Alterable Transmissible Asymmetry: The Spiritual Meaning of Disease and Science." Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm follows a life-cycle investment approach called the “Seasons of Advice” process and offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and specialized fixed-income programs through sub-advisors.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals
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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

Forest Hills, 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, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Commonwealth Financial Network. In addition to his advisory role, Ferguson is licensed to sell fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan consulting for businesses and institutions. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and economic analysis in its investment approach and offers due diligence and monitoring of alternative and private investments for qualified investors.

Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner
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