Flat-fee, college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors in Santa Clara, 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.
Saving for college often starts when you want to lock in education costs before tuition rises or when you receive a financial windfall to invest. Without focused guidance, you might overlook how different savings vehicles impact your overall financial plan or miss tax advantages.
- Plan type suitability. Confirm which accounts they recommend—529 plans, UTMA accounts, or others—and why one fits your goals better.
- Tax implications. Ask how they navigate California’s tax environment, including benefits and limits of each savings option.
- Fee transparency. Flat-fee advisors charge a set rate, so understand what services are included and how that aligns with your needs.
- Withdrawal strategy. Inquire about timing and tax treatment of distributions to cover education expenses efficiently.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
-
Cary A
Series 63, Series 65
San Jose, CA
Kera Capital Partners
Cary Allison's 33 years of experience and expertise in college savings plans, including 529s and UTMA accounts, position him well to guide clients in Santa Clara on education funding strategies. His firm, Kera Capital Partners, serves high-net-worth clients with a flat-fee consulting model ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, offering tailored portfolios using both fundamental and quantitative analysis, which may appeal to those seeking comprehensive investment approaches alongside college savings advice.
Experience: 34 years
Avg account: $3,764,036
-
Trevor L
Series 63, Series 65
Sunnyvale, CA
Empower Advisory Group
Trevor Lawson specializes in college savings plans including 529s and UTMA accounts, offering flat-fee options with one-time fees ranging from $199 to $499 and monthly subscriptions of $15 or $29. Based in nearby Sunnyvale, he brings four years of experience and works within Empower Advisory Group, a large firm focused on employer-sponsored retirement plans and long-term portfolio growth, which may provide broader financial planning context compared to smaller practices.
Experience: 4 years
Avg account: $565,063
-
Deborah K
Series 63, Series 65
Santa Clara, CA
LPL Financial
Deborah Krumwiede specializes in college savings plans like 529s and UTMA accounts, offering flat-fee financial planning in Santa Clara, CA. With 30 years of experience and credentials including Series 63 and 65, she operates within LPL Financial, a large firm providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management, which may offer broader resources compared to smaller practices.
Experience: 31 years
Avg account: $399,489
-
John C
Sunnyvale, CA
Conway Partners
John Conway specializes in college savings plans like 529s and UTMA accounts, offering flat-fee services suitable for high-net-worth clients in the Santa Clara area. His firm, Conway Partners, uses diversified portfolios with ETFs and independent managers, applying Modern Portfolio Theory, which may appeal to those seeking a structured, asset-allocation-focused investment approach alongside tax and retirement planning expertise.
Experience: 2 years
Avg account: $1,755,204
-
Ryan D
Series 65
Santa Clara, CA
Viridian Way LLC
Ryan Dearkland specializes in college savings plans like 529s and UTMA accounts, offering flat-fee financial planning up to $20,000, which suits clients seeking transparent pricing in Santa Clara. His firm, Viridian Way LLC, focuses on business owners with tailored strategies including profit distribution and exit planning, combining fundamental analysis with modern portfolio theory for long-term investment management.
Experience: 1 year
Want help finding the right advisor?
Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.
Advisors focused on
People also searched
Popular in Santa Clara, CA
Find advisors by type
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)