Top startup equity planning financial advisors in New York, NY

Dwayne Winter is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Outside of his advisory role, Winter is a partial owner of Savvy Bistro and Bar Inc., a restaurant and bar in Brooklyn, NY. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, using a quantitative asset-allocation approach combined with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework.

Kenzie Hechtel is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Sixty Vines, and Clemson University. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a systematic investment process that combines fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Helen Beichel is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, based in Brooklyn, NY. She has 31 years of industry experience, including over two decades with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and its affiliated entities. Outside of advising, she serves as president of the Park Place Improvement Block Association and is active in several local nonprofit and civic organizations in Brooklyn. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals and provides a variety of portfolio solutions tailored to client objectives.

Audrey Sanders is a financial advisor at Wealthcare Capital Management LLC with 31 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Citigroup, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wealthcare Capital Management LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered advisor managing approximately $3.03 billion for individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, foundations, and other entities. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and advisory services, using model portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by alternative investments and specialty platforms.

Jose Martinez is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of experience in the industry and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior work includes positions at Bank of America and Best Buy Co., Inc. He also spent a year at Strayer University. Merrill provides managed account services through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates internal and third-party portfolio management and supports various account administration and trading functions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.