Top startup equity planning financial advisors in Stamford, CT

Michael Robinson is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Ridgeview Asset Management Partners, LLC, where he has worked since 2016. He has a total of 16 years of industry experience, including a decade at General American Investors, Inc. Robinson also serves as a director of a small private company. Ridgeview Asset Management Partners advises high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and endowments through customized, discretionary separately managed accounts, and sponsors private pooled vehicles for institutional investors. The firm employs rules-based, risk-controlled investment programs tailored to client risk profiles, using diversified and tax-sensitive portfolios guided by technology and quantitative benchmarks.

Marc Defeo is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 27 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with prior TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides planning services that conclude at delivery as well as ongoing discretionary management through various managed account programs and serves as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

James Cook is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at TJT Capital Group, LLC. He previously worked at JC Capital Advisors Group LLC and has been with TJT Capital Group for 17 years. Cook is also the editor of the newsletter The Investors Strategist. TJT Capital Group provides discretionary portfolio management for individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, and institutional clients, focusing on asset allocation and mutual fund and ETF selection. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to manage accounts aligned with four objective profiles and oversees approximately $294 million in assets under management.

Michelle Ross is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Asset Management Group, Inc. in Stamford, CT. She has seven years of industry experience and has been with the firm since 2019. Asset Management Group, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and manager selection using a combination of fundamental, technical, quantitative, and qualitative analysis.

Elizabeth Cleary is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Stamford, CT, holding the CFP® designation and industry licenses including Series 63 and Series 65. She has 17 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a background at Metlife Securities Inc and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Lefebvre Financial Services, LLC, and serves as a trustee on an irrevocable life insurance trust. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, providing collaborative, goal-based planning using firm-approved analytical tools.

I founded Innermost™ Wealth Management to create a more personal, thoughtful approach to financial planning and wealth management. My background in both finance and psychology shaped my belief that money is not just about numbers. It is deeply personal and connected to your values, goals, and life experiences. I work with professionals who want to grow and simplify their wealth, with a special focus on women navigating career growth, equity compensation, and major life transitions such as divorce. Many of my clients are balancing busy lives and complex financial decisions, and they value having a long-term financial partner who truly understands their needs. My firm is centered on ongoing wealth management through investment advisory relationships. Clients work with me for comprehensive financial planning and investment management that evolves with them over time. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Candidate, I provide technical expertise and strategic guidance, while also recognizing the emotional side of financial decisions. My approach is compassionate, judgment-free, and designed to reduce stress while helping you feel more confident in your choices. I operate a fully virtual firm, working with clients across the country who appreciate flexibility and convenience. My goal is to simplify your financial life, provide clear advice, and help you align your wealth with what matters most to you. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, cooking, and spending quality time with my Beagle, Gracie.

George Silvester is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a member of the Boston Executive Services Team since 2017. He works primarily with founders, executives, and key associates at both privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on the intricacies of equity ownership and equity compensation. George's approach begins with understanding what is most important to his clients and assessing their current position relative to their goals, ultimately developing customized financial strategies that align with their evolving life needs, resources, and aspirations. George began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Summer Analyst in 2016, where he developed an understanding of the client-advisor relationship and the collaborative pursuit of clients’ life goals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Additionally, George has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, George’s personal interests include biking, bowling, chess, cooking, golfing, hiking, and reading.

James Van Nice is a Benefits & Planning Consultant specializing in Executive Services. In this role, he partners with executives to help them understand their employer benefits and develop plans to work towards their financial goals. James has professional experience as an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2025 and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch as an Investment Solutions Representative I from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Outside of his professional work, James engages in fishing, fitness, golf, running, and volunteering.

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014 and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a wide range of investment strategies and affiliated services through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Juan Polanco is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Optimo Capital in San Francisco, CA, and has 11 years of industry experience. Before founding Optimo Capital, he worked at Carr & Ferrell LLP for two years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Polanco works full-time as an engineer at PacBio and mentors startups and founders at the Founder's Institute and LoyalVC. Optimo Capital advises founders of venture-backed companies, recently funded startups, and private investors on portfolio supervision and capital-raising. The firm uses a combined top‑down and bottom‑up analytical approach with a supervisory and consultative model, focusing on tailored services such as Investment Policy Statements, due diligence management, and pitch material preparation.