Large-firm, planning for children with special needs financial advisors in Redmond, WA
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're planning for a child with special needs, you face unique financial challenges that go beyond typical family planning. Without careful attention, you might overlook critical benefits or protections that can affect your child's long-term security. Large-firm advisors often bring broad resources and specialized teams to navigate these complexities.
- Government benefits navigation. Confirm how they help coordinate your child's eligibility for programs like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income alongside your financial plan.
- Special needs trusts. Ask about their experience setting up trusts that protect your child's assets without jeopardizing benefits.
- Education and care funding. Explore how they plan for ongoing expenses, including therapies and specialized schooling, ensuring funds are available when needed.
- Estate planning integration. Check how they incorporate your child's needs into your overall estate plan to provide lasting support.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Cathleen A
Series 63, Series 65
Bellevue, WA
Merrill
Cathleen Ackley specializes in planning for children with special needs and operates within a large firm, Merrill, offering extensive resources and expertise in estate planning, charitable giving, and liquidity event planning. With 18 years of experience and professional designations like ChFC and ChSNC, she also focuses on women professionals and executives, charging a 1.10% AUM fee for managed strategies under $2 million, distinguishing her through a comprehensive, personalized approach.
Experience: 18 years
Avg account: $860,085
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Robert C
Series 65, Series 66
Bellevue, WA
Wells Fargo Advisors
Robert Cittadini's 14 years of experience and Series 65 and 66 designations equip him to address the financial complexities of planning for children with special needs. Affiliated with Wells Fargo Advisors, a large firm known for IPS-driven strategies and retirement plan consulting, he offers access to diverse investment options and insurance vehicles, distinguishing him from advisors with smaller firm resources or narrower service scopes.
Experience: 14 years
Avg account: $514,335
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April C
Series 66
Bellevue, WA
Edward Jones
April Connell specializes in planning for children with special needs and offers expertise in charitable giving, estate planning, and ESG investing, supported by 10 years of industry experience. Based in Bellevue, WA, she works with Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, providing a broad range of investment strategies and tax-efficient services with a program fee up to 1.35% annually.
Experience: 11 years
Avg account: $246,728
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