Top planning for children with special needs financial advisors in Oakland, CA
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 financial future involves more than just saving money—it requires understanding complex benefits and long-term care options. Without focused expertise, advisors might overlook how government programs and trusts interact, risking your child's eligibility for essential support.
- Government benefits navigation. Confirm how the advisor helps maintain your child's access to programs like SSI or Medicaid while building financial security.
- Special needs trusts. Ask about their experience setting up trusts that protect assets without disqualifying benefits.
- Long-term care planning. Ensure they consider future care costs and coordinate with your overall family financial plan.
- Education and advocacy. Look for advisors who support you in understanding legal and educational resources alongside financial strategies.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Lyre R
Series 63, Series 66
San Francisco, CA
Merrill
Lyre Rozelle offers expertise in planning for children with special needs, backed by over 16 years in financial services and a focus on family wealth management and legacy planning. Based in San Francisco with Merrill, a large firm, he serves mid-career professionals and HENRY clients, charging a 1.10% AUM fee for managed strategies under $2 million, and brings multilingual skills and a personalized approach to complex financial needs.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $860,085
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Laura C
CFP®
Sausalito, CA
Balanced Financial Advisors
Laura Chernov specializes in planning for children with special needs and brings 20 years of experience as a CFP® professional based in Sausalito, CA. She leads Balanced Financial Advisors, which serves high-net-worth clients with a focus on portfolio management using Modern Portfolio Theory and offers flexible fee structures including AUM and hourly rates, distinguishing her from other advisors in the Oakland area.
Experience: 20 years
Avg account: $1,872,011
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Nirmal R
CFP®, Series 66
Alameda, CA
Edward Jones
Nirmal Rout specializes in planning for children with special needs and brings 19 years of experience, including roles at Wells Fargo and Edward Jones, a large full-service wealth management firm. His CFP® certification and expertise in passive investing and retirement planning complement his focus, while his local presence in Alameda and a fee structure up to 1.35% annually offer a comprehensive approach compared to other advisors.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $246,728
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Paul M
Series 66
Walnut Creek, CA
Wells Fargo Clearing
Paul Meyer specializes in planning for children with special needs and serves high-net-worth clients, leveraging his background in education to understand family needs deeply. Operating from Walnut Creek, CA, he offers flat-fee services through Wells Fargo Clearing, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, which provides access to diverse advisory programs and institutional resources.
Experience: 1 year
Avg account: $475,575
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Dean A
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Orinda, CA
Wells Fargo Advisors
Dean Akazawa's 40 years of experience and CFP® certification equip him to address the complex financial planning needs for children with special needs, including navigating government benefits and trusts. Based in nearby Orinda, CA, he works with high-net-worth clients at Wells Fargo Advisors, a large firm offering comprehensive investment and fee-based planning services, which may provide broader resources compared to smaller practices.
Experience: 40 years
Avg account: $514,335
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