Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Ithaca, NY

Linda Parks is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. She has worked at Forum Financial Management, LP since 2022 and previously operated her own advisory firm, Linda Parks, Financial Advisor, LLC, for nine years. Parks is also a licensed CPA with over 26 years in that profession. Forum Financial Management, LP provides investment advisory and related services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs model asset-allocation portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing institutional mutual funds, ETFs, and individual fixed income strategies, while also supporting independent advisors and RIAs through its turnkey asset management and back-office services.

Keith Baier is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Moors & Cabot, Inc. and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, Baier coaches women’s basketball and works as a basketball referee in Sidney, NY. Moors & Cabot serves a diverse client base including retail and high-net-worth individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers investment management, fee-based financial planning, and consulting services, with portfolios tailored to client objectives using strategies such as asset allocation and quantitative techniques.

Geoffrey Wright is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding a Series 63 designation and over 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. since 1983 and previously worked with New York Life Insurance Company beginning in 1977. Outside of his advisory work, he is a minority owner in a small horse racing partnership. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise firm serving a broad range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a historical focus on educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that develops strategic model portfolios and employs third-party managers as needed.

Walter Hails Jr. is a financial advisor with SPC based in Ithaca, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Parkland Securities, Sigma Financial Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, and Invictus Wealth Management. He serves as a board member for The RHO Foundation and as vice president of the Sigma Pi Phi/Zeta Zeta Boule chapter in Syracuse, NY. SPC serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering both discretionary and nondiscretionary strategies supported by a network of over 460 advisers and approximately $5.66 billion in assets under management.

Guillermo Rossi is a financial advisor with Bolton Securities Corporation, holding a Series 63 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at UBS Financial Services Inc. for 12 years before joining Bolton Global Asset Management and Bolton Global Capital in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner and managing director of NY Capital Markets LLC and also manages Martik LLC, both entities related to securities and investment advisory services. Bolton Global Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, corporations, retirement plans, and banks. The firm employs an IAR-driven approach that customizes portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, with a generally long-term orientation and tactical flexibility.

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.

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Warwick, RI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously at MetLife Securities. In addition to her advisory role, Santos is an independent insurance agent, offering life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance products. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, wrap and money-manager programs, and educational seminars, structuring engagements as annual collaborative relationships focused on goal analysis and written recommendations.

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.

William Soltow is a financial advisor at Smith & Wyatt with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at CoreCap Advisors, LLC. Outside of advising, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and serves as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million across 724 clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, estate-planning consulting, and specialized educational programs, utilizing mutual funds and ETFs as primary investment vehicles.

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.