Seasoned, 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 have startup equity—like stock options or shares from a new company—you need careful planning to avoid costly tax mistakes and missed opportunities. The biggest risk is treating your equity as a simple investment instead of a complex asset with unique tax and timing challenges. Seasoned advisors bring decades of experience navigating these complexities, often within large firms that have deep resources.
- Equity type expertise. Confirm they understand different startup equity forms, such as incentive stock options (ISOs) versus restricted stock units (RSUs), and their distinct tax impacts.
- Exit strategy alignment. Ask how they integrate your equity plan with potential liquidity events like IPOs or acquisitions to optimize timing and tax outcomes.
- Tax planning nuance. Look for advisors who consider alternative minimum tax (AMT) triggers and long-term capital gains timing, not just ordinary income tax.
- Vesting and exercise guidance. Ensure they help you decide when to exercise options or sell shares based on your personal financial goals and market conditions.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Alan L
Series 63, Series 65
Bellevue, WA
Merrill
Alan Lubner's extensive 35 years of experience at Merrill equips him to adeptly handle startup equity planning, including complex tax and timing challenges associated with stock options and shares. His expertise extends to wealth management, business ownership considerations, and socially responsible investing, serving senior executives and entrepreneurs with a personalized approach that integrates tax minimization and legacy planning, distinguishing him from other seasoned advisors in the US.
Experience: 36 years
Avg account: $860,085
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Russell M
Series 63, Series 65
Brielle, NJ
Fidelity
Russ McNamara's 35 years of experience and focus on startup equity planning make him well-equipped to handle complex equity assets like ISOs and RSUs, including tax and timing challenges. As a Vice President at Fidelity, a large firm, he offers expertise in liquidity event planning and stock option exercise strategy, providing a comprehensive approach that integrates executive compensation design and personalized financial plans, distinguishing him from advisors with narrower focuses.
Experience: 35 years
Avg account: $234,793
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Danny K
Series 63, Series 65
Griffin, GA
Summit Financial, LLC
Danny Kamal's 26 years of experience and expertise in startup equity planning, wealth management, and retirement plans for business owners make him well-equipped to handle complex startup equity needs. Based in Griffin, GA, he offers flat-fee, independent advice and focuses on high earners and business owners, integrating corporate benefits like equity compensation into long-term strategies, which distinguishes him from other advisors in the US.
Experience: 27 years
Avg account: $1,318,898
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Scott P
Series 63, Series 66
Katy, TX
Edward Jones
Scott Powers brings 23 years of experience specializing in startup equity planning, liquidity event planning, and business ownership considerations, making him well-equipped to handle complex startup equity needs. Based in Katy, TX, he operates within Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets with more than 23,700 advisors, offering a comprehensive range of investment strategies and a fee structure up to 1.35% annually, which may differ from smaller firms or independent advisors.
Experience: 23 years
Avg account: $246,728
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