CFP®-certified advisors focused on university employee in the US

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 work at a university, your benefits and retirement options often differ from typical corporate plans, making your financial decisions more complex. Without an advisor familiar with university employee benefits, you might miss out on optimizing your retirement savings or managing unique pension options.

  • Understanding university benefits. Confirm the advisor knows how to navigate your specific retirement plans, like 403(b) or 457(b) accounts, which differ from standard 401(k)s.
  • Pension and retirement timing. Ask how they help plan around your university pension, including when to start benefits to maximize income.
  • Tax implications for education staff. University employees may have unique tax considerations; check how the advisor addresses these in your overall strategy.
  • CFP® certification. Each advisor here has completed rigorous training in financial planning, which helps them integrate your university benefits into a comprehensive plan.

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

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Cary C

CFP®, Series 66

Gainesville, TX

Cates FP, Cates Tax Advisory

Cary Cates is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal of Cates FP and Cates Tax Advisory, where he has worked since 2016 and 2017 respectively. Cary also served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas from 2013 to 2021. Cates FP serves individual and high-net-worth clients by combining investment management with ongoing financial and tax planning, as well as tax compliance services. The firm emphasizes client-specific asset allocation using primarily passive portfolios and integrates professional tax services, including tax return preparation and IRS representation, into its advisory approach.

General retirement planning Income planning General tax planning Business ownership considerations Self-Employed Founder/Business Owner University Employee
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James B

CFP®, CFA®, Series 66

Portland, ME

Penobscot Financial Advisors

James Bradley is a CFP® and CFA® with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Penobscot Financial Advisors since 2011 and previously held roles at Mid Atlantic Financial Management, Inc. and Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation. Outside of finance, he is a flight instructor and pilot at Maine Coastal Flight Center and serves as Treasurer and volunteer board member for Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County. Penobscot Financial Advisors is a team-based firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment approach with a long-term orientation and offers both comprehensive wealth management and standalone financial-planning services.

General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting University Employee
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William L

Series 66

Apex, NC

Hunter Street Investment Advisors LLC

William Laundon is a financial advisor at Hunter Street Investment Advisors LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2013 before joining Hunter Street in 2024. Hunter Street serves individual and high-net-worth households as well as retirement plans, trusts, charities, and business entities, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and strategies, combining institutional and alternative-markets experience to manage approximately $133.6 million in client assets.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Executive University Employee Self-Employed Approaching retirement Established Professionals Mid-Career Professionals
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Jon Michael C

Series 65

De Land, FL

Hanson Financial Group

Jon Michael Carrick is a Series 65-registered financial advisor at Hanson Financial Group with two years of industry experience. He has worked at Hanson Financial Group since 2023 and holds a full-time academic appointment at Stetson University since 2011. Outside of advisory work, Mr. Carrick serves as Director of Alta Peaks, Inc., an investment holding company. Hanson Financial Group primarily serves pooled investment vehicles and institutional or business clients, providing discretionary portfolio management through a tactical allocation approach that includes equities, fixed income, derivatives, and real assets. The firm is a single-adviser practice that uses a fixed fee structure rather than asset-based fees.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Real estate investing University Employee
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Timothy L

CFP®

Savoy, IL

Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC

Timothy Lee is a CFP® professional at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Bluestem, he worked at Costco Wholesale and Chipotle. Bluestem Financial Advisors serves individuals and families across various life stages, offering comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and tax preparation. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation with low-cost, passively managed index funds and ETFs and provides integrated tax and advisory services through a fee-only retainer model.

General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting ESG / Sustainable investing University Employee Founder/Business Owner Young Professionals Approaching retirement
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. She is currently with Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously worked at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Santander Securities LLC provides investment advisory and related services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers wrap-fee advisory programs and financial planning services, delivering investment advice through the FMAX managed-account platform with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing suitability reviews.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Elanna G

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Her prior work includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center. She also maintains an independent insurance agency representing various insurance companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse clientele including individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to third-party sub-advisers through multiple account platforms.

Retirement income strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran FInancial Advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2023. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and has experience outside finance with Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual investors, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, manager selection, and uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis supported by a proprietary equity market valuation model.

Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Private / alternative investments Wealth management Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Thomas M

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Irving, TX

Raymond James Financial

Thomas Mcintire is a CFP® with 33 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently affiliated with Raymond James Financial in Irving, TX. His prior roles include positions at Cadent Capital, LLC, Insurance Planners & Advisors Group, and The Guardian Life Insurance Company. He serves as a board member and finance committee member for the Dallas Rotary Club Foundation, overseeing investments and supporting the foundation’s philanthropic efforts. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and municipalities. The firm provides financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, emphasizing tailored strategies developed through client collaboration and supported by extensive research and asset-allocation analysis.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Jace H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Hurst, TX

Leo Wealth, LLC

Jace Hart is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Leo Wealth, LLC since 2023. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Leo Wealth provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of diversified ETF model portfolios and systematic single-stock models, utilizing sub-advisors and third-party managers to implement specialized strategies.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Real estate investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Established Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
View complete list of CFP®-certified advisors specializing in university employee
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