Top startup equity planning financial advisors in Houston, 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 have startup equity—like stock options or shares in a young company—you need an advisor who understands how to protect and grow that value as your business evolves. A common mistake is treating startup equity like regular investments, which can miss key tax and timing opportunities.

  • Equity type expertise. Confirm they know the difference between options, restricted stock, and other startup equity forms, as each has unique tax and exercise rules.
  • Exit strategy planning. Ask how they help you prepare for liquidity events like IPOs or acquisitions, ensuring your equity decisions align with your financial goals.
  • Tax impact awareness. Since Texas has no state income tax but significant property taxes, check how they model federal taxes alongside local tax considerations affecting your overall plan.
  • Vesting schedule management. Understand how they advise on exercising options and managing vesting timelines to optimize your financial outcomes.

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

Want help finding the right advisor?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

user avatar

Markos P

Series 66

Schertz, TX

Ameriprise

Markos Pappas is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Edward Jones and Investment Professionals, Inc. before joining Ameriprise in 2018. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing detailed recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver customized, non-discretionary advice through a centralized consulting team.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
user avatar

Jared T

CFP®, Series 65

Houston, TX

Olive Wealth Management

Jared Tobin is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Olive Wealth Management in Houston, TX. He has been with Olive Wealth Management since 2021 and previously attended Texas Tech University. Olive Wealth Management is a small, supported registered investment adviser managing approximately $83.9 million across 54 clients. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning with a focus on tax efficiency, cost minimization, and diversified global asset-class portfolios.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting

Trevor W

CFP®, CRPC®

Houston, TX

New Heights Planning

New Heights Planning is a fee-only financial advising firm specializing in oil and gas professionals. Our clients work at Shell, Hess, Chevron, EOG, Oxy, and More. Our Financial Independence Framework combines modern financial planning and investment management to help you reduce your taxes, invest smarter, and be prepared for retirement. I spent 14 years at Shell as an engineer and a leader. I know what it's like to be a professional at a large energy company: fascinating work, great people, and excellent pay, accompanied by frequent lay-offs, corporate bureaucracy, and never-ending meetings. My favorite part was helping people realize the career they desired. Now, I help people optimize their finances to realize the life they desire. I chose to leave Shell and transition into financial advising to go from work I liked to work I love. Before starting New Heights Planning, I built financial plans for high-net-worth individuals and families at Asset Management Advisors. I later founded New Heights Planning to do this for those I like working with the most, Shell and other oil and gas professionals. I am committed to learning and continuing my education to serve you best. I have: -Completed the financial planning program at Rice University and am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. -Passed the Series 65 exam -Received the CRPC® designation from the College for Financial Planning -Joined the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), and the XY Planning Network New Heights Planning is not endorsed by nor affiliated with Shell or any other oil and gas company. Read Trevor's blog here: https://newheightsplanning.com/videos/

Income planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Engineering Professional Scientific Professional Oil & Gas
user avatar

Christopher H

Series 63, Series 65

Houston, TX

LPL Financial

Christopher Hopper is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 28 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Hopper Farms, which sells hay. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management with resources such as model portfolios and research from internal and third-party sources.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
user avatar

Jonathan G

Series 66

Houston, TX

Cetera

Jonathan Ginsburgh is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a Series 66 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cetera Investment Services LLC, Cetera Investment Advisors LLC, Regions Bank, Infinex Investments, Inc., and Iberia Financial Services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various 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

Kimberly H

CFP®, CRPC®

Troy, MI

Innermost Wealth Management, LLC

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.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management Startup equity planning Divorce financial planning Women Professionals Life coaching / goal alignment Established Professionals Approaching retirement Dual Income Family

George S

Series 66

Hartford, CT

Merrill

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.

Exec comp design Startup equity planning Liquidity event planning Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing Founder/Business Owner Executive

James V

Series 66

Stuart, FL

Fidelity

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.

Exec comp design Liquidity event planning Startup equity planning Executive

Adam N

CFP®, Series 66

Mankato, MN

Edward Jones

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.

Retirement income strategy Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Startup equity planning General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Juan P

Series 66

San Francisco, CA

Optimo Capital

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.

Business ownership considerations Wealth management Founder/Business Owner

Advisors focused on

People also searched

Find advisors by type

Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and referrals are provided by FinanceHQ LLC ("FHQ"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment adviser. We may be compensated by participating advisors. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to the Warmer Terms of Service and FHQ Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge Warmer's Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ's ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")