Top planning for children with special needs financial advisors in Pleasanton, 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 lifelong financial security is crucial. Without focused expertise, advisors might overlook how to balance immediate care costs with long-term support needs.
- Government benefits navigation. Confirm how they help protect eligibility for programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income while managing your child's resources.
- Trust and guardianship planning. Ask about their experience setting up special needs trusts and coordinating legal guardianship to safeguard your child's future.
- Education and therapy funding. Inquire how they incorporate costs for specialized education and therapies into your overall financial plan.
- Coordination with healthcare providers. Effective planning often requires collaboration with medical and therapeutic professionals; check how they facilitate this integration.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Evan H
CFP®, CFA®, Series 63, Series 65
Los Altos, CA
Mok Capital Management
Evan Hirano's expertise in planning for children with special needs is supported by his CFP® and CFA® credentials and a decade of industry experience, making him capable of addressing complex financial needs in this area. Based in Los Altos, CA, he offers a value-based investment approach through Mok Capital Management, with a 1.25% AUM fee and hourly planning options, serving a diverse client base including trusts and charities.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $860,117
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Patrick C
Series 63, Series 65
Walnut Creek, CA
Merrill
Patrick Cronin offers extensive expertise in planning for children with special needs, backed by over 39 years at Merrill Lynch, a large firm known for comprehensive wealth management. His focus on personalized strategies includes tax minimization and retirement income planning, serving parents and executives. Located near Pleasanton in Walnut Creek, he combines seasoned experience with a client-centered approach, differentiating him from advisors with less firm support or narrower specialties.
Experience: 42 years
Avg account: $860,085
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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 brings a unique perspective from his prior experience in education, which may help in addressing specialized education and therapy funding. Operating within a large firm like Wells Fargo Clearing, he offers flat-fee structures and serves high-net-worth clients, distinguishing him from advisors with different fee models or client focuses in the Pleasanton area.
Experience: 1 year
Avg account: $475,575
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Richard S
Series 63, Series 65
Pleasanton, CA
Wells Fargo Advisors
Richard Schacht's 38 years of experience and focus on planning for children with special needs equip him to address complex financial security needs in Pleasanton, CA. Affiliated with Wells Fargo Advisors, a large firm serving high-net-worth clients, he offers comprehensive planning including trust and wealth-transfer strategies, distinguishing him from advisors with narrower scopes or smaller client bases.
Experience: 38 years
Avg account: $514,335
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Simon K
Series 66
Alamo, CA
Edward Jones
Simon Knight specializes in planning for children with special needs and brings valuable experience from his decade at Easter Seals Northern California/Catalight, enhancing his understanding of related care and support needs. Operating from Edward Jones, a large firm with over 23,700 advisors, he offers a comprehensive approach including business succession and estate planning, with fees up to 1.35% annually, distinguishing him from smaller local advisors.
Experience: 1 year
Avg account: $246,728
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