Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Fort Walton Beach, 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.

Saving for college often starts when you want to lock in education costs before tuition rises or when a child approaches college age. Without a clear plan, you might miss out on tax advantages or choose accounts that don't fit your family's financial situation.

  • Account type guidance. Confirm which savings vehicles they recommend, like 529 plans or UTMA accounts, and why one suits your goals better.
  • Tax impact awareness. Since Florida has no state income tax, ask how they optimize federal tax benefits and consider property or sales taxes in your planning.
  • Investment strategy fit. Look for advisors who align investment choices with your timeline and risk tolerance for education expenses.
  • Coordination with financial goals. Ensure they integrate college savings with your broader financial picture, including retirement and cash flow needs.

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

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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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Draylen M

Series 66

Ft Walton Beach, FL

Merrill

Draylen Mc Grew is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to Merrill, he held positions at Bank of America and Regions Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he streams video games on Twitch as a hobby that generates additional income. 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 model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of client types including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Dallis S

Series 65

Fort Walton Beach, FL

D3 Advisors LLC

Dallis Shipe is a financial advisor at D3 Advisors LLC in Fort Walton Beach, FL, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked in real estate with Keller Williams Realty for over a decade and had roles in fitness and contracting industries. D3 Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, wealth management, consulting, and client education to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, small businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm uses an asset-allocation-driven investment approach, typically implemented through the Betterment Advisor Solutions platform, combining automated portfolio management with personalized client services.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Active portfolio management Real estate investing Founder/Business Owner
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Nancy K

Series 63, Series 65

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Wells Fargo Advisors

Nancy Kline is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Fort Walton Beach, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Outside of advising, she owns and manages several entities related to real estate investment. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services using a broad planning menu and proprietary research tools. The firm offers tailored recommendations and integrates advisory services with other financial product sales and referral channels.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner
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Jeffrey J

CFP®, Series 63

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Private Advisor Group, LLC

Jeffrey Johnson is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with one year of industry experience, currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial. Prior to his advisory career, he has worked at Delta Air Lines for ten years. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, utilizing proprietary and third-party investment strategies and technology platforms.

Annuities Founder/Business Owner
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Hassan A

Series 63, Series 65

Rockville, MD

LPL Financial

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is also involved with NIHFCU Wealth Advisors, a related business entity. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers 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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Richard B

Series 63, Series 66

Austin, TX

Charles Schwab

Richard Brandi is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank ssb since 2003 and 2005, respectively. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, leveraging multi-asset model portfolios and research from its Schwab Center for Financial Research.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Multi-state taxation College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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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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Paul K

CFP®, Series 65

Zimmerman, MN

Longview Financial, Inc.

Paul Kinneberg is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He has been the principal and sole advisor at Longview Financial, Inc. since 2000 and also holds a long-term corporate role at CenturyLink. Longview Financial, Inc. provides personalized, fee-only financial planning and investment management primarily for individual clients. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation approach with a core-and-satellite framework, combining passive index and ETF core holdings with active funds when appropriate, and manages client assets on a non-discretionary basis with an emphasis on individualized advice.

General tax planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Cash flow / budgeting

Justin S

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Prairie Village, KS

Edward Jones

Justin Scicluna is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Prairie Village, KS, holding the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, including a range of household types, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers various advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and affiliated investment products through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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