Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Altoona, PA

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.

You might seek a Social Security optimization advisor if you're approaching retirement and want to maximize your monthly benefits without risking penalties or reduced payments. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without considering spousal and survivor options, which can significantly lower your lifetime income.

  • Benefit timing strategies. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start claiming benefits, balancing immediate needs against long-term gains.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they evaluate all available Social Security options for couples, not just individual benefits.
  • Tax impact awareness. Since retirement income is generally exempt from state income tax here, check how they factor this into your overall income plan.
  • Coordination with other income. Ensure they consider how your Social Security benefits interact with pensions, investments, and part-time work to avoid unexpected tax or benefit reductions.

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

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John F

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Altoona, PA

Cetera

John Fleming is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 40 years of industry experience. He previously worked at First Allied Securities, Inc. and First Allied Advisory Services, Inc., and has been involved with VIP Ventures, LLC for more than two decades. Outside of his advisory work, he operates a law office providing attorney and paralegal services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party managers.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Altoona, PA

Raymond James Financial

Michael Irwin is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. since 1998. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner of Irwin Financial, Inc., a support company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm uses tailored, non-discretionary planning and employs analytical tools such as risk profiling and modeling to support client goals.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Stephen S

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Altoona, PA

OneSeven

Stephen Shaffer is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at OneSeven. He previously worked at Latitude Advisors, LLC for 11 years and spent 24 years with United Airlines. Shaffer holds licenses including Series 63 and Series 65 and also engages in life and health insurance sales on a part-time basis. OneSeven provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on long-term investment strategies, utilizing diversified portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and access to alternatives and private placements.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies Real estate investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k)
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Brian K

Series 63, Series 65

Altoona, PA

Primerica Advisors

Brian Kelly is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Altoona, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 2015 and has prior experience with Pennsylvania Grain Processing, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in sales of loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management primarily through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and separately managed account options. The firm curates third-party asset managers and implements models via BNY Mellon Advisors, offering a tiered wrap fee structure and maintaining oversight of its investment offerings.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Income planning
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John Z

Series 63, Series 65

Altoona, PA

OSAIC

John Zerbee is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Everbank, Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Cashman Financial Group Inc. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in activities related to health product distribution through Shaklee Nutritional Products. OSAIC serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of integrated brokerage, advisory, and financial planning services. The firm employs sophisticated portfolio construction tools and supports multiple advisory platforms and third-party managed account solutions.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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Stavroula K

Series 63, Series 65

Linwood, NJ

Ameriprise

Stavroula Koutsfetsoulis is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2011. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in fiduciary activities as an attorney-in-fact (power of attorney). Ameriprise is a large institutional firm that provides retirement-income planning services primarily to individuals with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver written recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team, focusing on tailored retirement income strategies.

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

Series 63, Series 65

Plano, TX

Financial & Tax Architects, LLC

Cassandra Sanchez is a financial advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, TIAA, US Health Advisors, and various other firms. Sanchez also had involvement with Drunken Donkey, reflecting experience outside the financial sector. Financial & Tax Architects provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm offers proprietary “Private Wealth Strategies” that use ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with accounts reviewed monthly and customizable strategies to meet client needs.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Annuities Income planning General tax planning Retired
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Keith E

CFP®

Pittsburgh, PA

Keith L. Eliou, CFP

Keith Eliou is the principal of Keith L. Eliou, CFP, an investment management firm based in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds the CFP® designation and has one year of experience as a financial advisor. In addition to his advisory role, he practices law focusing on elder law and real estate and is involved in insurance, mortgage lending, and real estate brokerage businesses. The firm primarily serves pooled vehicles and institutional accounts, offering portfolio management, retirement plan services, and financial planning. It utilizes an open-architecture investment approach with third-party money managers and employs multiple analytical methods and strategies, conducting annual account reviews.

Social Security optimization Retirement income strategy Cash flow / budgeting Charitable giving tax strategies Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner
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Charles P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

San Rafael, CA

WealthSpire Advisors

Charles Pyfer III is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealthspire Advisors since 2024. Prior to this, he spent 15 years at Private Ocean. Wealthspire Advisors provides wealth management, investment advisory, financial planning, and family office support to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a relationship-driven, customized investment approach that emphasizes diversified, institutional-style asset allocation and utilizes a range of investment vehicles and third-party platforms for comprehensive portfolio management.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Roth conversion strategy Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner Retired Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals
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