Top trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) financial advisors in Virginia

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 managing significant assets and want to transfer wealth efficiently, you might consider trust structures like GRATs (grantor retained annuity trusts), IDGTs (intentionally defective grantor trusts), or revocable trusts. A common mistake is using these trusts without fully understanding their tax implications or how they fit into your overall estate plan.

  • Tax impact clarity. Confirm how the advisor explains the gift and estate tax benefits of each trust type and their potential pitfalls.
  • Trust customization. Ask how they tailor trust terms to your family’s unique financial and personal goals, not just standard templates.
  • Coordination with estate documents. Ensure they integrate trusts smoothly with wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations.
  • Experience with high-net-worth clients. Look for advisors familiar with complex wealth scenarios similar to yours, as trust planning often involves nuanced strategies.

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

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Amanda Q

Series 66

Richmond, VA

Wells Fargo Advisors

Amanda Quicke is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has worked within Wells Fargo entities since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she has ownership interests in an investment-related business, Granite Wealth Management, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing a broad range of investment and financial planning services. The firm utilizes proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations, offering both brokerage and advisory programs.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner
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James C

Series 63, Series 65

Roanoke, VA

Valley Investors Corporation

James Comer is the sole advisor at Valley Investors Corporation in Roanoke, VA, where he has worked since 1995. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 30 years of industry experience. Valley Investors Corporation provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to individual clients, managing approximately $2.6 million in assets for 11 clients. The firm operates under a solo practitioner model, emphasizing direct advisor involvement in account management and review.

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John J

Series 63, Series 65

Richmond, VA

Merrill

John Jones II is a financial advisor at Merrill with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Merrill and Bank of America, N.A. since 2015. 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 investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Thomas H

Series 65

Duck, NC

The Burney Company

Thomas Hunt is a financial advisor at The Burney Company with 38 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with The Burney Company since 1985. The Burney Company serves mostly individual investors, including high net worth clients, as well as small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $3.59 billion in discretionary assets across a multi-team advisory platform, offering discretionary equity portfolio management and financial planning alongside tax preparation services through an affiliated CPA firm.

Active portfolio management Concentrated stock management Options & derivatives strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Ashley M

CFP®, Series 63

Moseley, VA

Edelman Financial Engines

Ashley Morris is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. She currently advises at Edelman Financial Engines and previously worked at Facet Wealth, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Keatley Wealth Management, LLC. Morris serves as an honorary board member of the JC Morris Family Foundation, a charitable organization providing educational assistance for underserved minors. Edelman Financial Engines offers technology-driven investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm employs a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, providing diversified portfolios, rebalancing, and both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Neil H

CFA®, Series 63

Cincinnati, OH

MAI Capital Management, LLC

Neil Hantak Jr. is a CFA® charterholder with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at MAI Capital Management, LLC since 2019. He previously worked at John Dovich and Associates and The Randolph Co. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management across multiple strategies and incorporates financial planning and tax services into its client relationships.

Private / alternative investments Business exit / sale strategy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner
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Justin K

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Savannah, GA

The Fiduciary Group

Justin Kohler is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at The Fiduciary Group. His prior roles include positions at Sharp Wealth Advisory, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Sharp Financial Services, and AXA Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he assists with the operations of a marketing and media company owned by his wife. The Fiduciary Group serves high-net-worth individuals and families, providing discretionary investment management for trusts, estates, nonprofits, and retirement plans. The firm employs a structured investment approach with multiple strategy profiles and integrates with the Focus Financial Partners platform to offer clients access to a broad range of financial solutions.

Private / alternative investments Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Business exit / sale strategy Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Retired

Matthew B

Series 66

Newport Beach, CA

Merrill

Matthew Benefiel is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with families, individuals, and businesses to develop customized wealth management strategies. His expertise includes portfolio design, manager selection, investment due diligence, and performance evaluation. He utilizes a disciplined process to build custom portfolios aligned with clients' objectives and regularly assesses investments to adapt to changing needs and market conditions. Additionally, Matthew employs Merrill Personal Wealth Analysis® to develop personalized financial plans that establish clear goals and track progress. Matthew joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2017 as a Financial Advisor for the Benefiel Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Biola University and maintains the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Furthermore, he has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Residing in Phoenix, Arizona, Matthew lives with his wife, Heather, and their daughter, Ruby. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys playing golf and supporting the Phoenix Suns basketball team.

Wealth management
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Clark G

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Overland Park, KS

Visionary Wealth Advisors, LLC

Clark Gay is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Visionary Wealth Advisors, LLC and has worked there since 2020. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Financial Engines Advisor Center, LLC, continuing with Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. since 2016. Visionary Wealth Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, business entities, and retirement plans. The firm employs model-based strategies and separately managed accounts, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis within an asset-allocation framework grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory.

General retirement planning Wealth management Charitable giving & philanthropy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable)

Todd B

Series 63, Series 66

Annapolis, MD

Fidelity

Todd Batty is the Vice President Private Wealth Management Advisor. In this role, he assists multiple generations of families in developing personalized wealth strategies focused on growth, preservation, and transfer of their assets. He collaborates with a team that includes an Investment Manager, a Senior Wealth Planner, and a Trust Officer to provide comprehensive wealth planning services. Todd has been with Fidelity Investments since 2008, initially serving as Vice President, Financial Consultant until 2015, and then advancing to his current position. Prior to that, he worked as an Account Coordinator at T. Rowe Price from 2002 to 2007.

Wealth management General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Charitable giving & philanthropy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable)
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