Top multi-generational wealth transfer financial advisors in Syracuse, NY

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.

You might be considering how to pass wealth smoothly to your children or grandchildren without triggering unexpected estate taxes or family disputes. A common mistake is underestimating the impact of estate tax cliffs, which can cause large tax bills if your estate slightly exceeds exemption limits.

  • Estate tax cliff awareness. Confirm the advisor understands how small changes in your estate value can lead to big tax jumps and plans accordingly.
  • Family dynamics insight. Look for advisors who consider your family relationships and potential conflicts when structuring transfers.
  • Long-term transfer strategy. Ask how they balance immediate tax savings with preserving wealth across multiple generations.
  • Coordination with legal experts. Ensure they work closely with estate attorneys to align financial and legal plans effectively.

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

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Leslie S

Series 63

Syracuse, NY

Cetera

Leslie Smith is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 63 designation and 34 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera in 2025, Leslie worked at Avalon, Avantax Advisory Services, and Cadaret, Grant & Co. Outside of advising, Leslie is involved with Avalon Position, a company providing printing, cybersecurity, and document management services to the legal and medical fields. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management and financial planning services, supported by a nationwide network of over 10,000 advisors.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Geoffrey I

Series 66

Syracuse, NY

Equitable Advisors

Geoffrey Irving is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Equitable Advisors and its predecessor firms since 2015. Outside of finance, he is a partner and President of Operations at American Made Games Inc., a company that fabricates wooden lawn games. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm uses a hybrid referral and implementation model, offering both advisory and brokerage channels to implement client recommendations.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)
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Mac C

Series 63

Dewitt, NY

LPL Financial

Mac Cadaret Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and 28 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL in 2025, he worked for Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. for 28 years. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, leveraging model portfolios, third-party research, and technology to support diversified investment strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Donald K

Series 63

Syracuse, NY

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Donald Karlik is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds a Series 63 designation. He has 16 years of industry experience, including prior roles at MetLife Securities Inc. and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of advising, he is an insurance agent with Family First Life. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers with financial planning and asset management services.

Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Attorney Executive Married/Couples/Partners Divorced
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Gary S

Series 63, Series 65

Syracuse, NY

Eagle Strategies (NY Life)

Gary Sunada is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Syracuse, NY. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 19 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies in 2025, he has been associated with NYLIFE Securities since 2007 and New York Life since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance brokering with outside carriers for non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types emphasizing tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Kayla S

Series 65, Series 63

Warwick, RI

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 10 years of industry experience, including roles at MetLife Securities and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. In addition to her advisory work, she operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. 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 provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved tools to develop collaborative, goal-oriented financial plans.

Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Attorney Executive Married/Couples/Partners Divorced
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Deborah E

Series 63, Series 66

Cape Girardeau, MO

Edward Jones

Deborah Etherton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Cape Girardeau, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2005. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive

George B

Series 66

Austin, TX

Merrill

George Bonikos is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on helping clients build, manage, and optimize their wealth through clear and disciplined strategies tailored to their goals. His areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. George's approach is rooted in curiosity, discipline, and a drive for continuous improvement. He aims to be a trusted partner for clients navigating complex financial decisions and planning for their financial futures. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Hunter College and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, he enjoys adventure sports, camping, chess, cooking, fishing, hiking, music, reading, rock climbing, and spending time with his family.

Wealth management General retirement planning Retirement income strategy
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Carson L

CFP®, Series 66

Greenville, RI

Kintra Wealth, LLC

Carson Leydecker is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Kintra Wealth, LLC. He has held positions at Kintra Wealth and Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2026 and previously worked at Loring Advisory Group and Commonwealth Financial Network. Kintra Wealth serves individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, foundations, pension plans, and corporations, providing wealth management, financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and portfolio management. The firm combines client interviews and document review with model-driven asset allocation and fundamental security analysis to implement tax-efficient investment strategies on a household basis.

Business exit / sale strategy Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Taylor S

CFP®, Series 65

Chamblee, GA

Verisail Partners, LLC

Taylor Stanfill is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Veritas Planning Group since 2014 and is currently part of the Verisail Partners, LLC team in Chamblee, GA. Verisail Partners serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and other institutions with comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs a top-down, asset-allocation first approach, emphasizing a factor-based framework informed by the Fama-French three-factor model, and manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Multi-generational wealth transfer College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Factor investing / smart beta Founder/Business Owner Retired
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