Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Troy, AL

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're planning to make significant charitable donations or set up philanthropy initiatives, you need an advisor who understands how to align your giving with your financial goals. A common mistake is treating charitable giving as a one-time event rather than an ongoing strategy that evolves with your circumstances.

  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm how they factor in local property taxes and other state-specific tax considerations to optimize your giving.
  • Giving vehicle options. Ask about different methods like donor-advised funds or charitable trusts and which might suit your situation best.
  • Long-term planning. Look for advisors who integrate philanthropy into your broader financial plan, not just isolated gifts.
  • Coordination with estate plans. Ensure they consider how your charitable goals fit with your will and legacy planning.

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

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Walter C

Series 63, Series 66

Troy, AL

Cetera

Walter Cotton Jr. is a financial advisor with Cetera in Troy, Alabama, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Avantax Investment Services, Inc., Avantax Insurance Agency, LLC, and Avantax Advisory Services for 11 years. Cotton also serves as treasurer for the nonprofit United Appeal and holds a board position on the Pike County Republican Executive Committee. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers across various program structures.

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

Kenneth G

Series 66

Troy, AL

Edward Jones

Kenneth Green is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 13 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he officiates youth soccer matches as a referee for the United States Soccer Federation. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs with both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement income strategy Business ownership considerations Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner
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Tyson P

Series 63, Series 66

Troy, AL

Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc.

Tyson Pugh is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and American Fidelity Assurance. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates a cattle farming business in Troy, Alabama. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and nonprofit organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs and employs a combination of firm-developed and third-party investment models with ongoing strategic oversight.

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

Series 63

Troy, AL

LPL Financial

Donald Bentley is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera and Troy Bank and Trust. Bentley is also involved with Financial Edge Solutions LLC, a business entity related to tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services supported by both discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and research from internal and third-party sources.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Jonathan C

Series 63, Series 65

Ariton, AL

Thrivent Investment Management

Jonathan Cook is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent since 2014 and Thrivent Financial since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Cook serves as a council member for the town of Ariton, AL, participates as a board member of the Ozark Heritage Association and the Dale County Pregnancy Center, and holds a leadership position at Glory to Him Church. He is also a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning without discretionary trading authority, allowing clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option known as “WealthPlan.”

Business ownership considerations
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Sally H

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Seasons of Advice Wealth Management

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor at Seasons of Advice Wealth Management with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Outside of finance, she is a singer who sells her own vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book titled "Congenital Alterable Transmissible Asymmetry: The Spiritual Meaning of Disease and Science." Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm follows a life-cycle investment approach called the “Seasons of Advice” process and offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and specialized fixed-income programs through sub-advisors.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals
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Richard M

Series 63

Fort Walton, FL

Cetera

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.

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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Thaddeus P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Grand Rapids, MI

Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC

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.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Charitable giving & philanthropy General estate planning guidance General tax planning Options & derivatives strategies

Edward B

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Forest Hills, NY

Merrill

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.

Wealth management General estate planning guidance Family Business Retirement income strategy Divorce financial planning
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Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Commonwealth Financial Network. In addition to his advisory role, Ferguson is licensed to sell fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan consulting for businesses and institutions. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and economic analysis in its investment approach and offers due diligence and monitoring of alternative and private investments for qualified investors.

Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner

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