Seasoned, planning for children with special needs financial advisors in Florida
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.
When you have a child with special needs, planning for their lifelong care and financial security becomes a priority. Without focused expertise, advisors might overlook critical aspects like government benefits or long-term care costs, which can jeopardize your child's future.
- Government benefits navigation. Confirm how the advisor helps protect eligibility for programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income while planning your finances.
- Special needs trusts. Ask about their experience setting up trusts that provide for your child without disqualifying benefits.
- Long-term care planning. Ensure they consider ongoing care costs and how to fund them sustainably.
- Estate planning integration. Look for advisors who coordinate your special needs plan with your overall estate strategy to avoid conflicts or gaps.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
-
Randy S
Series 63, Series 65
Boca Raton, FL
Merrill
Randy Schild specializes in planning for children with special needs, offering expertise in wealth management, retirement income strategy, and estate planning, which are crucial for securing long-term care and government benefits in Florida. With 32 years of experience at Merrill, a large firm, and a background as a business owner and executive, he brings a broad perspective and a 1.10% AUM fee structure, distinguishing him from other seasoned advisors in the region.
Experience: 33 years
Avg account: $860,085
-
Dawn S
Series 63, Series 65
Fort Myers, FL
Wells Fargo Advisors
Dawn Salerno's 39 years of experience and focus on planning for children with special needs make her well-equipped to address the complex financial and care considerations involved. Operating from Wells Fargo Advisors in Fort Myers, she leverages large-firm resources and offers both investment and fee-based planning, catering to high-net-worth clients and business owners, which distinguishes her from other advisors in Florida.
Experience: 39 years
Avg account: $514,335
-
Michael M
Series 63, Series 65
Apollo Beach, FL
G. A. Repple & Company
Michael Mandarino brings 24 years of experience in financial planning for children with special needs, offering flat-fee and asset-based fee options that accommodate diverse client needs. Based in Apollo Beach, FL, he works through G. A. Repple & Company, which provides tailored investment strategies including ETF-focused and Biblically-Responsible Investing models, setting him apart with a broad range of planning and portfolio construction approaches.
Experience: 24 years
Avg account: $217,968
-
David N
Series 63, Series 65
St. Petersburg, FL
Novak & Powell Financial Services, Inc.
David Novak specializes in planning for children with special needs, bringing 27 years of experience and a focus on integrating financial and tax planning to address long-term care and government benefits. Based in St. Petersburg, FL, he offers discretionary investment management with an emphasis on diversified portfolios using ETFs and mutual funds, charging a 2.25% annual AUM fee, which may differ from other advisors in the region.
Experience: 28 years
Avg account: $843,814
-
Christopher C
Series 63, Series 65, Series 66
Trinity, FL
Edward Jones
Christopher Colon's 23 years of experience and specialty in planning for children with special needs equip him to address complex financial needs, including government benefits and long-term care considerations. Operating from Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, he offers a comprehensive range of investment strategies and tax-efficient services, with a fee structure up to 1.35% annually, distinguishing him from advisors at smaller firms or with narrower service scopes.
Experience: 24 years
Avg account: $246,728
Want help finding the right advisor?
Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.
Advisors focused on
People also searched
Popular in Florida
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”)