Top advisors focused on charitable giving tax strategies in Kentucky

Julie Smith is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Prestonsburg, KY, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked at Community Trust Bank and held various roles in healthcare and therapy organizations. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Linda Oeth is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Weinzapfel Wealth Advisors, Economy Securities, and CWM, LLC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth and non-HNW clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and municipal entities. The firm provides financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting through various programs and emphasizes advisory and implementation-support services rather than discretionary management.

George Rassi is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Centerville, OH, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2011 and has worked with Fifth Third Bank since 2010. Outside his advisory role, he is involved in managing several rental properties through personal ownership and business entities. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines a municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank and provides clients access to multiple discretionary managed-account options, including advisor-directed models and tax-overlay services.

Jordan Pruden is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Bowling Green, KY, and has eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2019, including time at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., and previously spent two years at Merrill and one year at Service One Credit Union. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial and estate planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools and models to support its advisory services.

Myron Barker is a CFP® professional with 37 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2021. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services for nine years. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment menu.

Keith Eliou is the principal of Keith L. Eliou, CFP, an investment management firm based in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds the CFP® designation and has one year of experience as a financial advisor. In addition to his advisory role, he practices law focusing on elder law and real estate and is involved in insurance, mortgage lending, and real estate brokerage businesses. The firm primarily serves pooled vehicles and institutional accounts, offering portfolio management, retirement plan services, and financial planning. It utilizes an open-architecture investment approach with third-party money managers and employs multiple analytical methods and strategies, conducting annual account reviews.

Mark Kebodeaux is a financial advisor at Meridian Wealth Management, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He previously worked for First Financial for 10 years before joining Meridian in 2023. Kebodeaux holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Meridian Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing equities, ETFs, mutual funds, fixed income, and alternative investments with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing.

Tyler Brough is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with Edward Jones, where he has worked for 10 years. He is based in Sandy, UT. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Mark Petro is the sole advisor at Lakeland Investor Services, Inc. in Conneaut Lake, PA, holding a Series 66 credential with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Lakeland Investor Services since 2002 and also serves as president of Lakeland Insurance Services, LLC, which manages insurance sales and related business operations. Lakeland Investor Services, Inc. provides fee-based wealth advisory and investment management services along with financial planning and one-time consultations. The firm serves individuals, small non-profits, small businesses, and retirement plan sponsors, constructing portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerances and time horizons while employing tools such as Monte Carlo simulation and offering fiduciary advice for qualified plans.

Kaylin Olster is a financial advisor at Schneider Downs Wealth Management Advisors, LP, holding a Series 65 designation. She has been with Schneider Downs since 2024 and has prior experience at Corient and Odyssey Capital Advisors. Schneider Downs Wealth Management Advisors serves individuals, trustees, pension plans, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a process-driven investment approach that includes manager research, risk-tolerance review, and individualized portfolio construction, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management with diversified portfolios and tax-aware services.