Large-firm, planning for children with special needs financial advisors in Illinois
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 have a child with special needs, planning for their lifelong care and financial security becomes a priority. Without focused guidance, it's easy to overlook how government benefits and special needs trusts interact, which can jeopardize eligibility or funding.
- Benefit coordination. Confirm how the advisor navigates programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income to protect your child's access.
- Trust structuring. Ask about their experience setting up special needs trusts that preserve benefits while providing for extra expenses.
- Long-term planning. Look for advisors who consider your child's future housing, healthcare, and support needs beyond immediate financial concerns.
- Large-firm resources. These advisors often have access to multidisciplinary teams, which can be helpful for complex cases requiring legal or tax expertise.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Matt E
Series 66
Oakbrook, IL
Wells Fargo Advisors
Matt Estkowski specializes in planning for children with special needs, leveraging 19 years of experience and his Series 66 designation to address complex financial and trust structuring needs. Operating from Oakbrook, IL, he is part of Wells Fargo Advisors, a large firm known for its extensive resources and proprietary planning tools, which can be advantageous for high-net-worth clients seeking comprehensive, multidisciplinary support.
Experience: 20 years
Avg account: $514,335
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Jeffrey O
CFP®, Series 63, Series 66
Frankfort, IL
LPL Financial
Jeffrey Otway specializes in planning for children with special needs, leveraging 13 years of industry experience and CFP® certification to navigate complex benefit coordination and trust structuring. As part of Edward Jones, a large full-service wealth management firm with over $1 trillion in assets, he offers access to extensive resources and a variety of advisory programs, distinguishing him from advisors at smaller firms or with less comprehensive support.
Experience: 14 years
Avg account: $399,489
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Lisa J
Series 66
Northbrook, IL
Merrill
Lisa James Pope specializes in planning for children with special needs, leveraging 25 years of experience at Merrill, a large firm known for its multidisciplinary resources. She offers a 1.10% AUM fee for managed strategies under $2 million and holds the Series 66 designation, emphasizing customized global financial strategies. Her focus on affluent families and expertise in alternative investments distinguish her from other advisors in Illinois.
Experience: 26 years
Avg account: $860,085
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