Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in State College, PA

Donald Calcagni is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2015. He is a member of the Advisory Council for CAIS Capital LLC, providing guidance on product design and development, and chairs the Finance Committee for the Lock Haven University Foundation, advising on its finances and investment portfolio. Mercer Global Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, business owners, and nonprofit organizations, employing a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and planning services, supported by various implementation options and a public content program including podcasts and market commentary.

Matthew Gaul is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in State College, PA, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations with 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at MML Investors Services Inc and MassMutual from 2008 to 2016 before joining Edward Jones in 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Gaul is involved in local fitness businesses, co-owning Crossfit Lionheart and owning Blue/White Strength, both gyms in State College. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Alexander Fratti is a CFA charterholder and principal of Fratti Investment Management in State College, PA, with four years of industry experience. He has held roles at firms including RKL, Boyer & Ritter, Alvarez & Marsal, VRC, and Wells Fargo Clearing. In addition to his advisory work, he provides management consulting services to private businesses through a separate consulting activity. Fratti Investment Management offers discretionary investment supervisory services to private accounts such as individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, banks, and small businesses. The firm employs a bottom-up, fundamentals-driven investment approach focused on U.S. exchange-listed equities, emphasizing a contrarian, concentrated core strategy with an emphasis on small- and micro-cap securities.

Douglas Garban is a financial advisor with SPC in State College, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill, and he has been with Sigma Planning Corporation and related entities since 2018. Garban is also a licensed insurance agent. SPC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm supports a large advisory network and delivers tailored, discretionary advice through various account programs.

Lisa Weaver is the sole advisor at World Capital Advisors, LLC, an independent firm based in State College, PA. She holds 14 years of industry experience and has been affiliated with Fleck & Associates since 2001. In addition to her advisory role, she is co-owner of Lifestyle Retirement Company, which provides third-party administration services to qualified employer retirement benefit plans. World Capital Advisors offers investment advice, asset management, and fee-based financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement accounts, qualified pension and profit plans, and business entities. The firm utilizes third-party managers and advisory programs, conducting annual reviews and employing a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analyses.

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor with Seasons of Advice Wealth Management in New York, NY. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 43 years of industry experience, including roles at Ameriprise Financial Services and RBC Capital Markets. Outside of her advisory work, she records and sells vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book on the spiritual meaning of disease and science. Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm uses a proprietary planning process that integrates goal tracking, asset allocation, and tax planning, tailoring investment recommendations to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

Richard Martin is a financial advisor at Cetera with 29 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has a background that includes nearly three decades at Avantax Advisory Services and eight years at Avantax Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and sole proprietor of Martin & Pellegrin, CPAs, a tax preparation and accounting firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.

Edward Blatz serves as a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He specializes in working with high net-worth individuals and families, focusing on estate and wealth management needs. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1985, he has provided personalized financial solutions tailored to his clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Edward's expertise encompasses a range of areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He collaborates closely with clients' tax advisors and estate planning attorneys to ensure comprehensive management of clients' financial and personal affairs. Edward is recognized as a member of The Blatz-Rooney Group, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Edward holds a Bachelor's Degree from Adelphi University and has earned several professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Outside of his professional work, he has interests in golfing, reading, and tennis.

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.