CFP®-certified, 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 custodial accounts. Without a clear plan, you might miss out on how these accounts affect your financial aid eligibility or tax situation.
CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, including education savings strategies.
- Account type guidance. Confirm which college savings vehicles they recommend and why, considering your family's financial picture.
- Financial aid impact. Ask how they factor in savings plans when estimating your child's eligibility for need-based aid.
- Tax implications. Understand how they navigate Oregon's income tax with your chosen savings strategy to optimize benefits.
- Withdrawal strategies. Inquire about their approach to timing distributions to minimize taxes and maximize aid eligibility.
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's 22 years of experience and CFP® certification equip her to guide Portland families through college savings strategies, including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, with attention to tax and financial aid implications. Her flat-fee, independent practice emphasizes long-term, passive investing and broad diversification, distinguishing her from advisors who may use discretionary management or different fee structures.
Experience: 22 years
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Cole M
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Portland, OR
LPL Financial
Cole Mills is well-equipped to assist with college savings strategies in Portland, OR, leveraging his CFP® certification and 24 years of experience, including expertise in 529 plans and tax-loss harvesting. Operating within LPL Financial, a large firm offering flat-fee financial planning, he serves a diverse clientele and brings additional insight from his involvement in local educational and community organizations, distinguishing him from other advisors.
Experience: 25 years
Avg account: $399,489
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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, supported by his CFP® certification and five years of experience in Portland, OR. As the principal of an independent firm, he offers a 1.00% AUM fee and combines passive index investing with selective active strategies, providing tailored investment management alongside comprehensive financial planning.
Experience: 5 years
Avg account: $818,765
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Sean B
CFP®, Series 65
Portland, OR
Burgess Financial Planning
Sean Burgess specializes in college savings strategies including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, supported by his 12 years of experience and CFP® certification in Portland, OR. His independent, fee-only firm serves high-net-worth clients with a focus on diversified, passive ETF portfolios and offers flexible hourly planning or discretionary investment management, distinguishing him from advisors with less tailored fee structures or investment approaches.
Experience: 13 years
Avg account: $515,875
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Danika W
CFP®, Series 65
Seattle, WA
Xena Financial Planning, LLC
Danika Waddell, a CFP® in Portland, OR, specializes in college savings strategies including 529 plans and UTMA accounts, supported by six years of industry experience. She works at Xena Financial Planning, which serves high-net-worth clients with a flat-fee structure and emphasizes passive investment management and Modern Portfolio Theory, distinguishing her approach from others who may use different fee models or investment strategies.
Experience: 7 years
Avg account: $885,267
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