Large-firm, startup equity planning financial advisors in Utah

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 recently joined a startup or received stock options, you need an advisor who understands the unique challenges of startup equity planning. Without this expertise, you might miss key tax deadlines or misunderstand your equity's true value.

Large-firm advisors often have access to broader resources and specialized teams, which can benefit complex equity situations.

  • Equity type knowledge. Confirm they can explain differences between stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and other equity forms, and how each impacts your taxes.
  • Vesting schedule strategy. Ask how they help you plan around your equity vesting timeline to optimize tax outcomes and liquidity.
  • Exit event planning. Ensure they discuss scenarios like IPOs or acquisitions and how these events affect your equity and financial goals.

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

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Jill P

Series 63, Series 66

Sandy, UT

Morgan Stanley

Jill Pettijohn is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including E*TRADE Capital Management and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory roles, she has experience with technology companies such as Lyft and Uber. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm emphasizes structured financial planning supported by proprietary tools and offers both direct individual plans and corporate financial planning solutions.

General estate planning guidance

Hidi S

Series 63, Series 66

Salt Lake City, UT

Fidelity

Hidi Schuyler is the Vice President and Branch Leader at Fidelity Investments, where she currently leads a team of financial associates focused on developing customized wealth strategies and fostering long-term client relationships. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 2005, she has held various roles including Regional Planning Consultant, Managed Solutions Consultant, Portfolio Specialist, Assigned Relationship Manager, Self Directed Brokerage Associate, and Fidelity Service Associate. Her career in financial services spans over a decade and a half, with prior experience as an Associate and Trainer at Discovercard from 1996 to 2005. Hidi holds a California Insurance License, supporting her work in financial planning and client service. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Hidi has interests in art, cooking and baking, fitness, social events with friends, hiking, and music.

Wealth management
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David W

Series 63, Series 65

Draper, UT

Ameriprise

David Wright is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services in Draper, Utah, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and seven years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Ameriprise Financial and The Vanguard Group, as well as employment with BlenderBottle and Brigham Young University. Outside of financial advising, he owns a tart cherry juice company called CherriON. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, known for its Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement income planning with a focus on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary investment research, third-party data, and algorithmic tools, with implementation conducted on a non-discretionary basis by clients or their advisors.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Nicholas S

CFP®, Series 65, Series 63

Lehi, UT

Telos Partners LLC

Nicholas Stecklein is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Telos Partners LLC and has previously worked at firms including DFPG Investments, Diversify Wealth Management, and North Capital Investment Technology. Outside of investment advising, he provides tax preparation services through Advantage Tax and Planning. Telos Partners LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $139 million in discretionary assets for about 65 clients. The firm employs multiple proprietary, long-term, growth-oriented strategies that integrate equities, fixed income, and selective funds, with options for ESG and impact screening, and offers family-office consulting as well as educational seminars.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Executive Values-based investing SRI/ESG (Socially Responsible Investing/Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance)
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Brandon N

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Salt Lake City, UT

OSAIC

Brandon Nelson is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at OSAIC since 2025 and previously spent 24 years at Lincoln Financial Advisors. Outside his advisory role, he serves as a finance assistant clerk for his local church, managing financial records and budgets. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, leveraging asset-allocation tools, risk assessments, and automated rebalancing to manage portfolios that include a range of investment products.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive

Kimberly H

CFP®, CRPC®

Troy, MI

Innermost Wealth Management, LLC

I founded Innermost™ Wealth Management to create a more personal, thoughtful approach to financial planning and wealth management. My background in both finance and psychology shaped my belief that money is not just about numbers. It is deeply personal and connected to your values, goals, and life experiences. I work with professionals who want to grow and simplify their wealth, with a special focus on women navigating career growth, equity compensation, and major life transitions such as divorce. Many of my clients are balancing busy lives and complex financial decisions, and they value having a long-term financial partner who truly understands their needs. My firm is centered on ongoing wealth management through investment advisory relationships. Clients work with me for comprehensive financial planning and investment management that evolves with them over time. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Candidate, I provide technical expertise and strategic guidance, while also recognizing the emotional side of financial decisions. My approach is compassionate, judgment-free, and designed to reduce stress while helping you feel more confident in your choices. I operate a fully virtual firm, working with clients across the country who appreciate flexibility and convenience. My goal is to simplify your financial life, provide clear advice, and help you align your wealth with what matters most to you. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, cooking, and spending quality time with my Beagle, Gracie.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management Startup equity planning Divorce financial planning Women Professionals Life coaching / goal alignment Established Professionals Approaching retirement Dual Income Family

George S

Series 66

Hartford, CT

Merrill

George Silvester is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a member of the Boston Executive Services Team since 2017. He works primarily with founders, executives, and key associates at both privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on the intricacies of equity ownership and equity compensation. George's approach begins with understanding what is most important to his clients and assessing their current position relative to their goals, ultimately developing customized financial strategies that align with their evolving life needs, resources, and aspirations. George began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Summer Analyst in 2016, where he developed an understanding of the client-advisor relationship and the collaborative pursuit of clients’ life goals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Additionally, George has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, George’s personal interests include biking, bowling, chess, cooking, golfing, hiking, and reading.

Exec comp design Startup equity planning Liquidity event planning Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing Founder/Business Owner Executive

James V

Series 66

Stuart, FL

Fidelity

James Van Nice is a Benefits & Planning Consultant specializing in Executive Services. In this role, he partners with executives to help them understand their employer benefits and develop plans to work towards their financial goals. James has professional experience as an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2025 and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch as an Investment Solutions Representative I from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Outside of his professional work, James engages in fishing, fitness, golf, running, and volunteering.

Exec comp design Liquidity event planning Startup equity planning Executive

Adam N

CFP®, Series 66

Mankato, MN

Edward Jones

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014 and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a wide range of investment strategies and affiliated services through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Retirement income strategy Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Startup equity planning General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Juan P

Series 66

San Francisco, CA

Optimo Capital

Juan Polanco is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Optimo Capital in San Francisco, CA, and has 11 years of industry experience. Before founding Optimo Capital, he worked at Carr & Ferrell LLP for two years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Polanco works full-time as an engineer at PacBio and mentors startups and founders at the Founder's Institute and LoyalVC. Optimo Capital advises founders of venture-backed companies, recently funded startups, and private investors on portfolio supervision and capital-raising. The firm uses a combined top‑down and bottom‑up analytical approach with a supervisory and consultative model, focusing on tailored services such as Investment Policy Statements, due diligence management, and pitch material preparation.

Business ownership considerations Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Jeffrey P

Series 66

Dacula, GA

Merrill

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Wesley P

Series 63, Series 66

Fort Worth, TX

Wells Fargo Clearing

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Willie M

Series 63, Series 66

Cary, NC

Equitable Advisors

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016 and previously at AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for the nonprofit Alpha Light Fund Inc., focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, leveraging LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

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