Top business succession planning financial advisors in South Bend, IN

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.

If you're preparing to transfer your business ownership or retire, you need a business succession planning advisor who understands how to protect your legacy and keep operations smooth. A common mistake is underestimating the tax and legal complexities that can disrupt your plans or reduce your business's value.

  • Exit strategy clarity. Confirm how they help define your goals and timeline to align the succession plan with your personal and business needs.
  • Tax impact insight. Ask how they navigate tax consequences, including state income tax considerations, to preserve more of your wealth.
  • Stakeholder coordination. Effective plans involve owners, heirs, and key employees; check how they manage these relationships.
  • Valuation expertise. Understanding your business's worth is crucial; inquire about their approach to accurate and realistic valuations.

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

Want help finding the right advisor?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

user avatar

Joseph C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

South Bend, IN

Harbour Investments, Inc.

Joseph Catanzarite is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Harbour Investments, Inc. since 2012 and previously worked at Lincoln Investment and Capital Analysts Inc. He also operates an independent insurance agency focused on equity indexed annuities. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutions. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, utilizing varied investment approaches tailored by individual advisers and approved third-party managers.

Annuities Options & derivatives strategies
user avatar

Richard M

Series 63

South Bend, IN

Pennfield Capital Corp

Richard Mock is a financial advisor at Pennfield Capital Corp with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Pennfield Capital Corp since 1990. Pennfield Capital Corp is a small firm with two advisors, providing supported firm services.

user avatar

Marlin S

CFP®, Series 63

South Bend, IN

Creative Financial Planning Advisors, Inc.

Marlin Schmidt is a CFP® professional with 50 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Creative Financial Planning Advisors, Inc., where he has worked since 2018. Prior to that, he spent over 17 years at Questar Capital Corporation and 13 years at Questar Asset Management. Outside of his advisory role, Schmidt teaches jogging and fitness classes at Indiana University South Bend, donating his salary to the university foundation. Creative Financial Planning Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to medium- to high-net-worth individuals and family groups, as well as trusts, IRAs, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm uses fundamental analysis and third-party research to build individualized portfolios and offers a range of financial planning services including retirement, tax, and estate planning.

General retirement planning General tax planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Widow/Widower
user avatar

Eric K

Series 63, Series 65

South Bend, IN

Kestrel Wealth Management, LLC

Eric Koselak is a financial advisor with Kestrel Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Kestrel Wealth Management since 2010. Kestrel Wealth Management serves individual clients, trusts, estates, small businesses, and charities, providing discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm combines fundamental and cyclical analysis in an active management approach, including strategies such as rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and the use of derivatives, while maintaining policies to mitigate conflicts of interest.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Shirley M

Series 63

South Bend, IN

Ameriprise

Shirley Myers is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 37 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Ameriprise since 2005. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific eligibility criteria, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored retirement planning through a centralized consulting team.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
user avatar

Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran financial advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Livingston, NJ

Raymond James Financial

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement
user avatar

Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent involved in the sales of fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers pension consulting, estate planning support, business exit planning, and due diligence on alternative investments, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and economic analysis within a fiduciary framework.

Business exit / sale strategy Multi-generational wealth transfer Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Jerald L

Series 63

San Antonio, TX

Frost Investment Services

Jerald Liesman is a financial advisor at Frost Investment Services with 33 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Frost Brokerage Services, Inc. and Frost Bank since 1993 and 1987, respectively. Frost Investment Services is a retail-focused, SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and managed account programs that integrate model portfolios from its affiliate with third-party managers, utilizing a research-driven investment process and providing optional tax and ESG overlay services.

Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
Warmer team member

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.

Find your advisor

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”)