Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in West Des Moines, IA
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 efforts, 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 can evolve with your circumstances.
- Tax impact awareness. Confirm how they factor in recent changes to retirement income taxes in Iowa, which can affect your giving capacity.
- Giving vehicle options. Ask about different methods like donor-advised funds or charitable trusts and how they fit your goals.
- Legacy planning integration. See how they connect your philanthropy with estate plans to support causes beyond your lifetime.
- Coordination with financial goals. Ensure they balance your charitable intentions with your overall investment and cash flow needs.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
-
Ali S
Series 63, Series 65
West Des Moines, IA
Merrill
Ali Shemirani offers expertise in charitable giving and philanthropy within a large firm setting, bringing 29 years of experience and a focus on trust structures and retirement income strategy. His approach integrates values-based investing and socially responsible investing, supported by Merrill's extensive resources, making him a strong choice for clients seeking comprehensive wealth management alongside philanthropy in West Des Moines.
Experience: 30 years
Avg account: $860,085
-
Michael M
Series 63, Series 66
West Des Moines, IA
Cetera
Michael Musich's 37 years of experience and focus on charitable giving and philanthropy in West Des Moines make him well-equipped to integrate philanthropy with financial goals. His affiliation with Cetera, a large firm serving diverse clients with various portfolio management and planning services, and his flat-fee and hourly consulting options distinguish him from other advisors in the area.
Experience: 38 years
Avg account: $306,089
-
Michael W
CFA®
West Des Moines, IA
Foster Group, INC.
Michael Westphal specializes in charitable giving and philanthropy in West Des Moines, IA, with a CFA® designation and four years of experience. He works at Foster Group, Inc., which uses a long-term, asset-allocation-driven investment approach and offers tiered service programs. His flat-fee and hourly consulting options provide flexible pricing compared to other advisors who may rely solely on AUM fees.
Experience: 4 years
Avg account: $2,062,631
-
Lance G
CFP®, CFA®
West Des Moines, IA
Syverson Strege
Lance Gunkel specializes in charitable giving and philanthropy in West Des Moines, combining 12 years of experience with CFP® and CFA® credentials. He offers flat-fee financial planning options and serves high-net-worth clients, integrating estate and retirement planning with values-based investing, which distinguishes him from other advisors who may not provide such comprehensive, fee-transparent services.
Experience: 12 years
Avg account: $1,663,872
-
Jay S
Series 66
West Des Moines, IA
Edward Jones
Jay Sohn specializes in charitable giving and philanthropy in West Des Moines, leveraging 18 years of experience and a Series 66 license to integrate philanthropy with retirement income and wealth management strategies. Affiliated with Edward Jones, a large firm managing over $1 trillion in assets, he offers a comprehensive approach including ESG investing and a program fee up to 1.35% annually, distinguishing him from advisors at smaller firms.
Experience: 18 years
Avg account: $246,728
Want help finding the right advisor?
Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.
Advisors focused on
People also searched
Popular in West Des Moines, IA
Find advisors by type
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and referrals are provided by FinanceHQ LLC ("FHQ"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment adviser. We may be compensated by participating advisors. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to the Warmer Terms of Service and FHQ Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge Warmer's Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ's ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")