Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors
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 need general estate planning guidance when you're organizing your assets to protect your family and ensure your wishes are followed after you pass away. A common mistake is overlooking how different documents work together, which can cause confusion or unintended outcomes.
- Document coordination. Confirm how the advisor ensures your will, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives align without conflicts.
- Asset titling insight. Ask how they handle ownership and beneficiary designations to avoid probate delays or tax issues.
- State law familiarity. Estate rules vary by state; check that the advisor understands the laws where you live and own property.
- Plan updates. Life changes affect your estate plan; find out how often they recommend reviewing and revising your documents.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Scott M
Series 63, Series 65
New York, NY
Morgan Stanley
Scott Mahoney specializes in general estate planning guidance, leveraging 34 years of experience and credentials including Series 63 and Series 65 to help coordinate estate documents and navigate state laws effectively. Based in New York with Morgan Stanley, a large firm offering extensive advisory programs and planning tools, he provides seasoned expertise that may suit clients seeking comprehensive support within a well-resourced institution.
Experience: 34 years
Avg account: $670,481
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Kayla S
Series 65, Series 63
Warwick, RI
Mass Mutual Investors Services
Kayla Santos specializes in general estate planning guidance, offering expertise in coordinating wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to ensure alignment and avoid conflicts. With nine years of experience at Mass Mutual Investors Services, a large firm serving diverse clients including trusts and estates, she combines her background as an attorney and founder with a comprehensive approach that includes ongoing financial planning and asset management, distinguishing her from advisors focused solely on estate documents.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $249,379
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Gordon B
Series 66
Luling, LA
Edward Jones
Gordon Brown III specializes in general estate planning guidance, retirement income strategy, and multi-generational wealth transfer, making him well-equipped to help organize assets and coordinate estate documents effectively. Based in Luling, LA, he brings 18 years of experience at Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, offering a comprehensive program fee up to 1.35% annually, which may suit clients seeking robust firm resources and expertise.
Experience: 18 years
Avg account: $246,728
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William S
Series 63, Series 65
College Station, TX
Smith & Wyatt
William Soltow offers expertise in general estate planning guidance, retirement income strategy, and wealth management, supported by 13 years of industry experience and Series 63 and 65 licenses. Operating independently with a flat-fee structure, he provides flexible estate planning consulting fees up to $600, distinguishing him from advisors with purely asset-based fees. His firm, Smith & Wyatt, serves high-net-worth individuals and corporations with discretionary portfolio management using mutual funds and ETFs, emphasizing tailored strategies.
Experience: 13 years
Avg account: $286,584
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Thaddeus P
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Grand Rapids, MI
Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC
Thaddeus Phelps specializes in general estate planning guidance, offering expertise in coordinating wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to ensure alignment and avoid conflicts. With 28 years of experience and CFP® certification, he provides flat-fee financial planning services and serves clients with at least $500,000 in assets, distinguishing himself through his independent status and additional roles as trustee and executor in Grand Rapids, MI.
Experience: 29 years
Avg account: $463,417
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