Large-firm, business succession planning financial advisors in Galveston, TX

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.

If you're preparing to transfer your business ownership or retire soon, you need an advisor who understands the complexities of business succession planning. A common mistake is overlooking how tax implications and family dynamics can affect the transition, leading to costly delays or disputes. Large-firm advisors often bring extensive resources and specialized teams to handle these multifaceted issues.

  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm how they model federal income, property, and sales taxes to minimize surprises during the transition.
  • Family and stakeholder coordination. Ask how they manage communication and expectations among heirs, partners, and employees.
  • Valuation and timing strategy. Inquire about their approach to valuing your business and scheduling the succession to align with your financial goals.
  • Integration with legal counsel. Ensure they collaborate closely with your attorneys to align financial and legal aspects of the succession plan.

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

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Nestor D

Series 66

Galveston, TX

Merrill

Nestor De La Fuente is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on family wealth management strategies, portfolio management services, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Nestor brings more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry to his role, emphasizing a comprehensive approach that begins with listening to clients to understand their individual financial goals. He holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and maintains Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations. Nestor completed his high school education at Patrick Henry and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys activities such as bowling, cooking, gardening, golfing, interior decorating, swimming, table tennis, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy General tax planning Women Professionals
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Gabriel G

Series 63, Series 65

Galveston, TX

PNC Wealth Management

Gabriel Gulotta is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Galveston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BBVA Wealth Solutions, BBVA Securities, Compass Bank, and BBVA Compass Insurance Agency. He also worked with the International Longshoremen's Association for ten years. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a discretionary, invitation-only digital portfolio solution that uses algorithmic risk assessment and primarily invests in mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Wealth management Executive

Kelley D

CFP®, Series 66

Galveston, TX

Edward Jones

Kelley Delesandri is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with three years of industry experience. She currently works at Edward Jones and previously held roles at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and American Express. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, supported by a national network of over 23,000 advisors and 15,000 branch offices.

Retirement income strategy Wealth management General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive LGBTQIA Women Professionals
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Brian D

Series 63, Series 65

Tiki Island, TX

LPL Financial

Brian Dluzniewski is an investment advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of experience in the financial industry. He worked at Merrill from 1999 to 2009 before joining LPL Financial, where he has been since 2009. He is also involved in offering individual health insurance through Golden Rule Insurance. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

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

Series 63, Series 66

Hitchcock, TX

OSAIC

Samuel Collins III is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and Investacorp Advisory Services. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an associate minister at Greater St. Matthews Baptist Church and is involved in community events and historical speaking through his sole proprietorship, Wild Lion Productions. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of brokerage, advisory, and financial planning services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm utilizes asset allocation tools and third-party platforms to construct portfolios with various investment types, catering to both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

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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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran financial advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Livingston, NJ

Raymond James Financial

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement
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Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent involved in the sales of fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers pension consulting, estate planning support, business exit planning, and due diligence on alternative investments, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and economic analysis within a fiduciary framework.

Business exit / sale strategy Multi-generational wealth transfer Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner
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Jerald L

Series 63

San Antonio, TX

Frost Investment Services

Jerald Liesman is a financial advisor at Frost Investment Services with 33 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Frost Brokerage Services, Inc. and Frost Bank since 1993 and 1987, respectively. Frost Investment Services is a retail-focused, SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and managed account programs that integrate model portfolios from its affiliate with third-party managers, utilizing a research-driven investment process and providing optional tax and ESG overlay services.

Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jeffrey P

Series 66

Dacula, GA

Merrill

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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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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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Wesley P

Series 63, Series 66

Fort Worth, TX

Wells Fargo Clearing

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Willie M

Series 63, Series 66

Cary, NC

Equitable Advisors

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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