Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Rochester, NY

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 managing an estate in Rochester, NY, it's crucial to plan ahead to avoid unexpected tax bills that can arise just above exemption limits. Without careful guidance, you might overlook how small changes in your estate's value could trigger significant taxes.

  • Tax cliff awareness. Confirm the advisor understands New York's estate tax thresholds and how to keep your estate below costly exemption cliffs.
  • Asset titling strategies. Ask how they recommend holding assets to minimize probate and tax exposure.
  • Will and trust integration. Ensure they coordinate your will and trusts to work together smoothly, avoiding conflicts or gaps.
  • Beneficiary updates. Check how often they review beneficiary designations to reflect your current wishes and legal changes.

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

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Lawrence K

Series 63, Series 66

Rochester, NY

LPL Financial

Lawrence Kasinowski is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Securities, Wells Fargo, and Mutual of America. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services with access to model portfolios, third-party asset managers, and institutional platforms.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Mark H

Series 63, Series 65

Rochester, NY

Stonex Advisors Inc.

Mark Heberger is a financial advisor with StoneX Advisors Inc. in Rochester, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has been with StoneX Advisors Inc. since 2015 and concurrently with StoneX Securities Inc. since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as an insurance agent specializing in life and accident/health insurance on a limited basis. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA consulting, and related services through a combination of independent advisors and an in-house Private Client Group. The firm utilizes a variety of platforms and investment solutions, including proprietary models and third-party managers, and supports diverse account structures with regular oversight and due diligence.

ESG / Sustainable investing
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Dominick S

Series 66

Rochester, NY

Equitable Advisors

Dominick Scro is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several companies including Amazon, Walmart, and Assured Partners. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients by providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a variety of asset-management programs. The firm utilizes both proprietary and third-party advisory models and offers ERISA fiduciary services through credentialed representatives.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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Michael K

Series 66

Rochester, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Michael Kustigian is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. for six years. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Brian K

CFP®, Series 63

Rochester, NY

Vicus Capital, Inc.

Brian Kelly is a CFP® professional with 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Vicus Capital, Inc. and serves as the owner and financial professional at Kelly Wealth Services. His prior experience includes roles at Nationwide Securities, LLC and Corey Insurance Agency. Vicus Capital serves a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, trusts, charitable organizations, and retirement plan sponsors, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and provides specialized fiduciary consulting and plan-sponsor services alongside standard advisory offerings.

ESG / Sustainable investing Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Religious/faith focused
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

General estate planning guidance
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Kayla S

Series 63, Series 65

Warwick, RI

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Warwick, RI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously at MetLife Securities. In addition to her advisory role, Santos is an independent insurance agent, offering life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance products. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, wrap and money-manager programs, and educational seminars, structuring engagements as annual collaborative relationships focused on goal analysis and written recommendations.

Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Attorney Executive Married/Couples/Partners Divorced

Gordon B

Series 66

Luling, LA

Edward Jones

Gordon Brown III is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment options, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Wealth management Oil & Gas Engineering Professional
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William S

Series 63, Series 65

College Station, TX

Smith & Wyatt

William Soltow is a financial advisor at Smith & Wyatt with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at CoreCap Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and works as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million for around 724 clients through a team of eight advisors. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and estate-planning consulting, tailoring investment advice to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

Government Employee
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Thaddeus P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Grand Rapids, MI

Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Charitable giving & philanthropy General estate planning guidance General tax planning Options & derivatives strategies
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