Top multi-generational wealth transfer financial advisors in Traverse City, MI

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 and grandchildren while minimizing tax burdens and family conflicts. Without careful planning, wealth transfer can trigger unexpected taxes or disputes that diminish the legacy you want to leave.

  • Pension and retirement integration. Ask how advisors handle pension-related assets common in this region, ensuring they fit into your overall transfer plan.
  • Family communication strategies. Confirm how they help facilitate conversations among heirs to prevent misunderstandings and preserve relationships.
  • Tax impact awareness. Look for advisors who explain estate and gift tax implications clearly, helping you avoid costly surprises.
  • Long-term asset protection. Inquire about approaches to safeguard wealth across multiple generations, balancing growth with preservation.

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

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Trevor F

Series 63, Series 66

Traverse City, MI

Chief Advisors Corp

Trevor Fetters is a financial advisor at CF Advisors LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with several firms, including First Asset Financial Inc. and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. CF Advisors LLC provides fee-based investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, retirement accounts, corporations, estates, and nonprofit organizations. The firm manages approximately $62 million for about 98 clients, using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory.

General retirement planning
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Mark F

ChFC®, Series 63

Traverse City, MI

ARK Advisors, LLC

Mark Folgmann is a financial advisor at ARK Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license and has been with ARK Advisors since 2005. ARK Advisors, LLC is a fee-only, holistic financial planning firm serving individuals, families, and pension plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes a passive, long-term investment approach using low-cost, tax-efficient index funds and ETFs, and offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services on both non-discretionary and discretionary bases.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Justin N

Series 63, Series 65

Traverse City, MI

Hantz financial Services, Inc.

Justin Neilson is a financial advisor with Hantz Financial Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. He has worked at Hantz Financial Services since 2020 and previously held positions at Limitless Investment and Capital, Northwood University, North and Kidd, Southwestern Michigan College Soccer, and Delta College. Hantz Financial Services, Inc. is an enterprise investment adviser and registered broker-dealer managing approximately $10 billion in client assets. The firm serves individual investors, corporate clients, and retirement plan sponsors through a multi-advisor platform, offering financial planning, wealth management, and a range of investment strategies focused on diversified, ETF-centered model portfolios.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Passive / index investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive

Joel L

Series 66

Traverse City, MI

Edward Jones

Joel Leipprandt is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones, he worked in church ministry for seven years. He also coaches the junior varsity boys basketball team for Traverse City Area Public Schools. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products. The firm is notable for its extensive retail advisor and branch network, as well as additional services including trust capabilities and securities-based lending.

Retirement income strategy Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Michelle B

Series 66, Series 63

Traverse City, MI

J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc.

Michelle Berry is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc., holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and having seven years of industry experience. She joined J.W. Cole Advisors in 2021 after working at Raymond James and Associates and has additional experience in aviation and energy sectors. Outside of advising, she is involved with Michigan College Planning, focusing on college and career planning services. J.W. Cole Advisors operates through a large network of independent advisers and offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to multiple investment platforms for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts. The firm employs a mix of fundamental and technical analysis, model-based strategies, and digital advice providers in managing discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retired Founder/Business Owner
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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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