Independent, startup equity planning financial advisors
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 recently received stock options or shares from a startup, you need an advisor who understands how to plan around these complex assets. Without expert guidance, you might miss key tax deadlines or fail to optimize your equity's value.
- Equity type expertise. Confirm they know the difference between stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and other startup equity forms, as each has unique tax and exercise rules.
- Tax event timing. Ask how they help you plan for tax events triggered by exercising options or selling shares to avoid unexpected bills.
- Liquidity strategy. Startup shares can be hard to sell; check how they advise on managing your equity alongside your cash flow needs.
- Exit scenario planning. Ensure they consider potential company events like acquisitions or IPOs and how those affect your equity's value and taxes.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Kimberly H
VerifiedCFP®, CRPC®
Troy, MI
Innermost Wealth Management, LLC
Kimberly Houston specializes in startup equity planning and offers comprehensive financial planning combined with investment management, charging fees based on assets under management or project complexity. She serves professionals nationwide through her fully virtual firm, focusing on women navigating career growth and equity compensation. Her background in finance and psychology enables a personalized, compassionate approach that balances technical expertise with clients' values and life experiences, distinguishing her from other independent advisors in the US.
Experience: 11 years
Avg account: $0
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Juan P
Series 66
San Francisco, CA
Optimo Capital
Juan Polanco specializes in startup equity planning, making him well-equipped to help navigate the complexities of stock options and RSUs for startup employees and founders. Based in San Francisco, he offers flexible flat-fee project pricing and brings 11 years of experience, combining his engineering background with financial advisory at Optimo Capital, which serves emerging companies and provides strategic consulting without account minimums.
Experience: 11 years
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Phil F
CFP®
Fishers, IN
Servant Capital Advisors
Phil Funk specializes in startup equity planning with a focus on executive compensation design and liquidity event planning, making him well-equipped to handle complex startup equity scenarios. As the founder of Servant Capital Advisors, he offers flat-fee, independent advisory services tailored to high-net-worth clients, backed by 12 years of institutional investment experience and a CFP® certification, distinguishing him from other advisors in the US.
Experience: 7 years
Avg account: $2,273,527
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Danny K
Series 63, Series 65
Griffin, GA
Summit Financial, LLC
Danny Kamal's extensive 26 years in financial services and expertise in startup equity planning make him well-equipped to guide clients through the complexities of stock options and equity compensation. As an independent advisor offering flat-fee services, he also specializes in wealth management and retirement plans for business owners, catering to high earners and executives, which distinguishes him from others by combining startup equity insight with broader financial strategies.
Experience: 27 years
Avg account: $1,318,898
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Alon Z
Series 65
Washington, DC
Aption Advisors LLC
Alon Zieve specializes in startup equity planning and concentrated stock management, making him well-equipped to assist with complex startup equity assets. As CEO of Aption Advisors LLC in Washington, DC, he serves founders, executives, and employees of startups, focusing on reducing concentration risk through tailored share forward contracts and proprietary technology. His fee structure ranges from 1.5% to 2.0% annually, and his background includes leadership roles managing equity pooling services in non-US markets, distinguishing him from other independent advisors.
Experience: 1 year
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