Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Frederick, MD

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're managing your estate in Frederick, MD, it's crucial to consider both estate and inheritance taxes, which can significantly impact your heirs. Without careful planning, you might overlook these taxes and reduce the value passed on to your beneficiaries.

  • Tax-aware strategies. Look for advisors who understand Maryland's unique estate and inheritance tax rules and can integrate them into your plan.
  • Asset distribution clarity. Confirm how they help structure your will or trust to minimize tax burdens and avoid probate delays.
  • Coordination with legal counsel. Estate planning often involves complex legal documents; ask how they collaborate with your attorney to ensure consistency.
  • Regular plan reviews. Life changes affect estate plans; check how frequently they recommend updating your strategy to reflect new laws or personal circumstances.

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

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Leo S

Series 66

Frederick, MD

Edward Jones

Leo Sloss is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Frederick, MD, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Regal Paint Centers and has experience in education through roles at Andree English School and Andres Bello University. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Business ownership considerations Business exit / sale strategy Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Founder/Business Owner Intergenerational Families
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Henry W

CFP®, Series 66

Frederick, MD

PNC Wealth Management

Henry Wixon is a CFP® certificant and holds a Series 66 license with three years of industry experience. He is currently with PNC Wealth Management and previously worked at Merrill. Outside of finance, Wixon has worked as a freelance musician since 2012. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party managed portfolios focused on mutual funds and ETFs.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Wealth management Executive
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Brad Y

Series 63, Series 65

Frederick, MD

OSAIC

Brad Young is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2025, he worked for Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation for 23 years. Outside of his advisory role, Young serves as an instructor teaching finance, economics, and markets at Mt. St. Mary’s University, and he is an elected member of the Frederick County Council. He is also a board member of the nonprofit organization I Believe In Me. OSAIC serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated financial advisers. The firm offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, using various tools and third-party platforms to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client needs.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Melissa H

Series 63, Series 66

Frederick, MD

Kestra Advisory

Melissa Holt is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kestra in 2026, she worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for 17 years. She also serves as a trustee and successor in various trust and estate roles. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors, institutional, and individual clients. The firm offers a range of services including fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and access to multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

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

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Hagerstown, MD

Plan2Retire

Jeffrey Bowers is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Plan2Retire in Hagerstown, MD. He has worked at Bowers Advisory Group, LLC since 2008 and co-owns Donald C. Bowers Insurance, Inc., a non-investment-related business. Plan2Retire is an independent, fee-based advisory firm that serves individual households and employer retirement plans with discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and qualified plan consulting. The firm employs individualized investment policy statements and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and offers comprehensive financial consulting, participant education, and public seminars.

General retirement planning Income planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Retired
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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 65, Series 63

Warwick, RI

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 10 years of industry experience, including roles at MetLife Securities and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. In addition to her advisory work, she operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved tools to develop collaborative, goal-oriented financial plans.

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 Wealth management General estate planning guidance Oil & Gas
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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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