Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Decatur, 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 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 of donations without considering the long-term effects on your overall financial plan.

  • Philanthropic alignment. Look for advisors who help you connect your charitable goals with your personal values and legacy plans.
  • Tax-efficient strategies. Confirm how they structure gifts to maximize benefits, especially given Illinois' lack of tax on retirement income.
  • Gift vehicle options. Ask about different ways to give, such as donor-advised funds or charitable trusts, and which fit your situation best.
  • Ongoing impact review. Ensure they regularly assess how your giving affects your financial health and philanthropic outcomes over time.

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

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Phillip C

Series 63, Series 65

Decatur, IL

Cetera

Phillip Cruikshank is a financial advisor with Cetera and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 36 years of industry experience, including roles at LPL Financial and CUNA Brokerage Services. He is the owner and operator of Cruikshank Wealth Partners, providing brokerage, advisory, and insurance services. In addition, he is an insurance agent selling fixed insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with diverse portfolio management options, including discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, model portfolios, third-party managers, and custom strategies.

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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James L

Series 63, Series 65

Decatur, IL

STIFEL

James Livasy is a financial advisor at Stifel in Decatur, Illinois, with 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 1988 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Board President of CHELP Inc., a home care provider, and as Treasurer and Board Member of Growing Strong, a nonprofit organization. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment analysis is based on a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group that informs asset allocation and planning strategies.

General retirement planning Income planning
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Richard N

Series 63, Series 65

Decatur, IL

Ameriprise

Richard Nolte is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its predecessor firms since 1994. Nolte serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and has held leadership roles in related nonprofit organizations. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning through personalized Recommendation Reports and ongoing advice.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Jeremy S

Series 66

Decatur, IL

Edward Jones

Jeremy Sarna is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Decatur, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His work history includes two separate periods at Edward Jones totaling seven years, as well as roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Thrivent Advisor Network dba Palomar Wealth. Prior to his advisory career, he worked at Verizon Wireless for four years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across a range of financial needs. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, tax-efficient services, and affiliated mutual funds through a nationwide network of approximately 23,700 financial advisors.

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

Series 63, Series 65

Decatur, IL

IPI Wealth Management, Inc.

James Minton Sr. is a financial advisor with IPI Wealth Management, Inc. in Decatur, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with IPI Wealth Management since 1998 and with its predecessor, Investment Planners, Inc., since 1995. Outside of advising, he is an author and presenter with Westbow Press Publishing, as well as a ministry fundraiser and presenter for Business Men in Christ, and broadcasts boys basketball games on WOKR 107.3 FM. IPI Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individual investors, charitable and corporate clients, and retirement plans. The firm employs a risk-based, open-architecture investment platform supported by an investment committee and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with retirement plan education and advice.

ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement income strategy
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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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