Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) 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.

Saving for college often starts when you want to make the most of tax-advantaged accounts like 529 plans or UTMA custodial accounts. Without focused guidance, you might miss how investment choices and timing affect your child's future financial aid eligibility.

  • Account type selection. Ask why they recommend a 529 plan versus a UTMA account based on your goals and control preferences.
  • Investment strategy alignment. Confirm how they adjust investments as your child approaches college age to balance growth and risk.
  • Financial aid impact. Discuss how savings accounts might affect your child's eligibility for need-based aid and what strategies can help.
  • Tax considerations. Explore how state tax benefits or penalties apply to your college savings options in Alabama.

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 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Benjamin F. Edwards in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and American Fidelity Assurance. Outside of his advisory role, he operates a cattle business in Troy, Alabama. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, combining proprietary strategies with third-party models, supported by in-house equity and fixed income portfolios and an internal trading desk.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting 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 in Troy, Alabama, holding a Series 63 designation and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera and Troy Bank and Trust. Bentley is involved in Financial Edge Solutions LLC, a business entity associated with his LPL practice. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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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Hassan A

Series 63, Series 65

Rockville, MD

LPL Financial

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is also involved with NIHFCU Wealth Advisors, a related business entity. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Richard B

Series 63, Series 66

Austin, TX

Charles Schwab

Richard Brandi is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank ssb since 2003 and 2005, respectively. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, leveraging multi-asset model portfolios and research from its Schwab Center for Financial Research.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Multi-state taxation College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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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
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Paul K

CFP®, Series 65

Zimmerman, MN

Longview Financial, Inc.

Paul Kinneberg is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He has been the principal and sole advisor at Longview Financial, Inc. since 2000 and also holds a long-term corporate role at CenturyLink. Longview Financial, Inc. provides personalized, fee-only financial planning and investment management primarily for individual clients. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation approach with a core-and-satellite framework, combining passive index and ETF core holdings with active funds when appropriate, and manages client assets on a non-discretionary basis with an emphasis on individualized advice.

General tax planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Cash flow / budgeting

Justin S

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Prairie Village, KS

Edward Jones

Justin Scicluna is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Prairie Village, KS, holding the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, including a range of household types, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers various advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and affiliated investment products through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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