Top startup equity planning financial advisors in Franklin, TN

Laura Stevens is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., where she has worked since 2013. She has 15 years of industry experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in music through her ownership and operation of Laura Kaczor Music Ministries, where she writes, records, performs, and sells original music. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program, offering multiple managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Philip Watson is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in financial advising. He has operated Philip M. Watson Financial Advisors in Franklin, TN since 2001. The firm serves middle-income individuals and families by providing holistic financial planning and investment advisory services focused on tax, estate, retirement, risk management, and small business needs. Philip M. Watson Financial Advisors operates as a fee-only independent firm that does not sell insurance or accept commissions on product recommendations.

Jesse Holman is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Franklin, TN, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. He has 23 years of industry experience, having worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2003 and at MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in various real estate and business ventures, including ownership positions in multiple LLCs related to real estate investment and financial consulting. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including investment programs and educational seminars, with financial planning engagements structured as annual, collaborative relationships that utilize firm-approved analytical tools.

Matthew Sell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Franklin, TN, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations and having seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2019, he worked at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for one year, and at Advantage One Insurance Agency for four years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, and affiliated investment products, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branches.

Joshua Levine is a financial advisor with Money Concepts Capital Corp in Franklin, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Palms Casino Resort since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Levine serves on the board of directors for a travel baseball organization and acts as a pitching coordinator for a related charity. Money Concepts Advisory Service provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm manages assets through a combination of model portfolios, advisor-designed strategies, and third-party sub-advisers, employing fundamental and technical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory.

I founded Innermost™ Wealth Management to create a more personal, thoughtful approach to financial planning and wealth management. My background in both finance and psychology shaped my belief that money is not just about numbers. It is deeply personal and connected to your values, goals, and life experiences. I work with professionals who want to grow and simplify their wealth, with a special focus on women navigating career growth, equity compensation, and major life transitions such as divorce. Many of my clients are balancing busy lives and complex financial decisions, and they value having a long-term financial partner who truly understands their needs. My firm is centered on ongoing wealth management through investment advisory relationships. Clients work with me for comprehensive financial planning and investment management that evolves with them over time. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Candidate, I provide technical expertise and strategic guidance, while also recognizing the emotional side of financial decisions. My approach is compassionate, judgment-free, and designed to reduce stress while helping you feel more confident in your choices. I operate a fully virtual firm, working with clients across the country who appreciate flexibility and convenience. My goal is to simplify your financial life, provide clear advice, and help you align your wealth with what matters most to you. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, cooking, and spending quality time with my Beagle, Gracie.

George Silvester is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a member of the Boston Executive Services Team since 2017. He works primarily with founders, executives, and key associates at both privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on the intricacies of equity ownership and equity compensation. George's approach begins with understanding what is most important to his clients and assessing their current position relative to their goals, ultimately developing customized financial strategies that align with their evolving life needs, resources, and aspirations. George began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Summer Analyst in 2016, where he developed an understanding of the client-advisor relationship and the collaborative pursuit of clients’ life goals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Additionally, George has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, George’s personal interests include biking, bowling, chess, cooking, golfing, hiking, and reading.

James Van Nice is a Benefits & Planning Consultant specializing in Executive Services. In this role, he partners with executives to help them understand their employer benefits and develop plans to work towards their financial goals. James has professional experience as an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2025 and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch as an Investment Solutions Representative I from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Outside of his professional work, James engages in fishing, fitness, golf, running, and volunteering.

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014 and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a wide range of investment strategies and affiliated services through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Juan Polanco is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Optimo Capital in San Francisco, CA, and has 11 years of industry experience. Before founding Optimo Capital, he worked at Carr & Ferrell LLP for two years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Polanco works full-time as an engineer at PacBio and mentors startups and founders at the Founder's Institute and LoyalVC. Optimo Capital advises founders of venture-backed companies, recently funded startups, and private investors on portfolio supervision and capital-raising. The firm uses a combined top‑down and bottom‑up analytical approach with a supervisory and consultative model, focusing on tailored services such as Investment Policy Statements, due diligence management, and pitch material preparation.