Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Fort Lauderdale, FL

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 how your estate will be managed after your passing. A common mistake is overlooking how Florida's unique tax environment and homestead protections affect your estate plan.

  • State-specific tax insight. Confirm how the advisor accounts for Florida's lack of state income tax but focuses on federal taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes in your plan.
  • Homestead protection knowledge. Ask how they incorporate Florida's strong homestead laws to safeguard your primary residence.
  • Asset distribution strategies. Look for advisors who consider your family dynamics and potential probate issues unique to Florida law.
  • Coordination with legal counsel. Estate planning often involves wills and trusts; check how the advisor collaborates with your attorney to align financial and legal plans.

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

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David A. L

Series 63, Series 65

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

David Lurch LLC

David A. Lurch is a financial advisor with David Lurch LLC in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 17 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his own firm in 2024, he worked at UBS Financial Services Inc. for 11 years. He serves on the board of directors for the Miami Yacht Club, a nonprofit organization. David Lurch LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm uses a blend of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and charting analyses within a modern portfolio theory framework, employing both long-term and active trading strategies across a variety of investment products.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Annuities Wealth management
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Michael M

Series 63, Series 65

Wilton Manors, FL

Snowden Capital Advisors LLC

Michael Mahoney is a financial advisor at Snowden Capital Advisors LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley and Snowden Lane Partners. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed real estate agent involved in referring clients. Snowden Capital Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, pension plans, endowments, and institutional clients. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and financial planning, utilizing customized model portfolios and third-party managers while offering programs for externally custodied and retirement plan assets.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Alexander F

Series 63, Series 65

Fort Lauderdale, FL

LPL Financial

Alexander Forster is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Santander Securities, CUNA Mutual Group, and Allstate Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory duties, he is involved with Ananda Properties LLC, a business entity utilized for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

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

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc.

William Seago Jr. is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services, Comerica Securities, Atlantic Capital Advisors, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with MAESTRO money market, a cash management platform serving corporate and institutional clients. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account Platform, providing clients access to various portfolio management strategies and services.

Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing General retirement planning
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James D

Series 65

Ft Lauderdale, FL

Candor Strategic Partners LLC

James Deweese Jr. is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Candor Strategic Partners LLC with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Candor, he has held ownership roles in various non-investment businesses, including passive ownership in several state-licensed marijuana companies and a marketing firm. Candor Strategic Partners LLC is a state-registered investment adviser serving family offices, corporations, and institutional clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management. The firm uses diversified portfolios constructed with mutual funds, ETFs, and outside managers, applying a blend of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and charting analyses, and provides ongoing financial planning and periodic client reporting.

Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Debt management Cash flow / budgeting Retirement income strategy
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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 has worked previously at CoreCap Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and works as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million for around 724 clients through a team of eight advisors. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and estate-planning consulting, tailoring investment advice to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

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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