Top startup equity planning financial advisors in Pennsylvania

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.

If you recently received stock options or shares from a startup, you need an advisor who understands how to plan around these assets to maximize your financial benefit. A common mistake is treating startup equity like regular investments, which can lead to missed tax advantages or liquidity issues.

  • Equity type knowledge. Confirm they distinguish between stock options, restricted stock units, and other startup equity forms, as each has different tax and exercise rules.
  • Tax timing insight. Ask how they help you decide when to exercise options or sell shares to minimize taxes and avoid unexpected bills.
  • Liquidity planning. Startup shares can be hard to sell; check how they incorporate your cash flow needs and potential lock-up periods into your plan.
  • Exit strategy alignment. Ensure they consider your startup’s growth stage and potential exit events when advising on equity decisions.

Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.

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Matthew S

Series 66

Doylestown, PA

LPL Financial

Matthew Silverhardt is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Doylestown, PA, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 11 years before joining LPL Financial in 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder and owner of Claire Reid Cabinet, a wellness products and education business. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary management, incorporating model portfolios, third-party research, and technology-driven strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Barbara B

Series 66

Conshohocken, PA

RBC Capital Markets

Barbara Brewer is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 20 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with RBC Capital Markets Corporation since 2008. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual investors, institutional clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services, tailoring strategies to clients’ Advisory Risk Profiles through a mix of in-house and third-party providers.

Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner Retired Financial Professional Approaching retirement HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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Keith E

CFP®

Pittsburgh, PA

Keith L. Eliou, CFP

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.

Social Security optimization Retirement income strategy Cash flow / budgeting Charitable giving tax strategies Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner
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Jacob S

Series 65

King of Prussia, PA

Ethos Financial Group, LLC

Jacob Stull is a financial advisor at Ethos Financial Group, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience at Almanack Investment Partners. Outside of advising, he works as a law special agent with D.H.S., focusing on investigations and physical protection. Ethos Financial Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, municipal entities, and charitable organizations, providing investment management and financial planning services. The firm employs a diversified, risk-conscious approach using model portfolios and multiple investment vehicles, supplemented by third-party research and optional tax-overlay management.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting Retirement withdrawal strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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Edward K

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Doylestown, PA

Kohlhepp Investment Advisors, Ltd.

Edward Kohlhepp is the founder and CEO of Kohlhepp Investment Advisors, Ltd. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and Series 65 licenses, with 56 years of industry experience. He has been with Kohlhepp Investment Advisors since 1998 and has also worked at Cambridge Investment Research since 2004. Kohlhepp serves on the board of the Parvee Foundation. Kohlhepp Investment Advisors, Ltd. serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as ERISA plans, providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm constructs individualized portfolios using fundamental and technical analysis and offers both in-house management and access to third-party money managers, with investment supervision guided by clients’ objectives, time horizons, and risk tolerances.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy

Kimberly H

CFP®, CRPC®

Troy, MI

Innermost Wealth Management, LLC

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.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management Startup equity planning Divorce financial planning Women Professionals Life coaching / goal alignment Established Professionals Approaching retirement Dual Income Family

George S

Series 66

Hartford, CT

Merrill

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.

Exec comp design Startup equity planning Liquidity event planning Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing Founder/Business Owner Executive

James V

Series 66

Stuart, FL

Fidelity

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.

Exec comp design Liquidity event planning Startup equity planning Executive

Adam N

CFP®, Series 66

Mankato, MN

Edward Jones

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.

Retirement income strategy Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Startup equity planning General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Juan P

Series 66

San Francisco, CA

Optimo Capital

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.

Business ownership considerations Wealth management Founder/Business Owner

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