Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Portland, OR
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.
Saving for college often starts when you want to make the most of tax-advantaged accounts like 529 plans or UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) accounts. Without careful planning, you might miss out on how these accounts affect your financial aid eligibility or tax situation.
- Tax impact awareness. Ask how they navigate Oregon's relatively high income taxes with college savings strategies.
- Financial aid planning. Confirm they consider how your savings accounts influence your chances of receiving aid.
- Account selection guidance. Look for advice on choosing between 529s, UTMA, or other options based on your goals.
- Withdrawal timing. Understand how they plan distributions to minimize taxes and maximize benefits when paying for college.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Helga C
CFP®
Portland, OR
Cuthbert Financial Guidance
Helga Cuthbert offers expertise in college savings strategies including 529 and UTMA accounts, supported by 22 years of experience and CFP® certification in Portland, OR. Her firm provides flat-fee financial planning with a focus on long-term, passive investment approaches and broad diversification, distinguishing her from advisors who may use discretionary management or different fee structures.
Experience: 22 years
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Sara B
Series 66
Portland, OR
LPL Financial
Sara Blanchard specializes in college savings strategies, including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, with six years of experience in Portland, OR. She offers flat-fee financial planning through LPL Financial, a large firm known for diverse investment solutions and in-house research, which may provide broader resources compared to smaller practices.
Experience: 6 years
Avg account: $399,489
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Rob P
Series 66, Series 65
Portland, OR
Edward Jones
Rob Palmer specializes in college savings strategies including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, supported by seven years of experience and Series 65 and 66 licenses. Operating within Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, he offers a range of advisory programs with an annual fee up to 1.35%, distinguishing him through access to extensive resources and diverse investment solutions in Portland, OR.
Experience: 8 years
Avg account: $246,728
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Jonas M
CFP®, Series 65
Portland, OR
Pathlight Financial Planning LLC
Jonas Merrill specializes in college savings strategies including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, with a focus on tax impact and financial aid planning in Portland, OR. As the sole advisor at Pathlight Financial Planning LLC, he offers independent, CFP®-certified guidance with a 1.00% AUM fee, blending passive index funds and ESG-screened active strategies for individual and high-net-worth clients.
Experience: 5 years
Avg account: $818,765
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Danika W
CFP®, Series 65
Seattle, WA
Xena Financial Planning, LLC
Danika Waddell specializes in college savings strategies including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, with six years of experience and CFP® certification, making her well-equipped to navigate tax impacts and financial aid considerations in Portland, OR. She offers flat-fee financial planning through Xena Financial Planning, focusing on passive investment management and serving high-net-worth clients, which may appeal to those seeking comprehensive, fee-only advisory services.
Experience: 7 years
Avg account: $885,267
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