Top general retirement planning financial advisors in Athens, OH

Dawn Wilson is a financial advisor with Athens Impact Socially Responsible Investments in Athens, OH. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 12 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research and Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation. Athens Impact provides individualized investment management, financial planning, and coaching for individuals, corporate clients, charitable organizations, and institutional retirement plans. The firm primarily uses passive investment strategies with ESG and impact screening integrated into portfolio construction, and it offers services including employee benefit plan advisory, investor education, and institutional education programs.

Phillip Smeltzer is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Athens, OH, holding a Series 66 designation and having 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing a tree farm and rental real estate holdings through several LLCs. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing detailed Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis with a centralized consulting team to deliver tailored advice primarily for clients holding assets in Ameriprise managed accounts.

Jacob Haywood is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. since 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he is also employed as a wealth advisor and investment manager at Cornerstone Retirement Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs a non-discretionary, client-tailored approach supported by analytical tools and also offers specialized services in municipal and public-finance advisory.

Michael Carpenter is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at LexAurum Advisors. He has worked at Brokers International Financial Services since 2018 and was previously with Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp. Carpenter is an adjunct instructor at Ohio University’s College of Business, teaching a senior-level financial planning course. He is also involved with local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity and The Athens Foundation. LexAurum Advisors manages investment management, financial planning, and retirement services for individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm operates a multi-advisor team and employs a diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services.

Mark Snider is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with over 50 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, he worked at Kestra Advisory and Kestra Investment Services, LLC, and has been involved with Southeast Planning Agencies Inc DBA Snider Fuller & Associates since 1980. Outside of advisory services, he is a commissioned notary in Ohio. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

Amanda Scheele is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 15 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Lucky Duck, a venture she has been part of since 2025. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and municipal advisory services.

Lori Fell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a business focused on property management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee options, tax-efficient services, and affiliated mutual funds.

Kenneth Blaschke is a financial advisor at HeadInvest in Portland, ME, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with HeadInvest since 2009. HeadInvest serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, trusts, endowments, and government entities, providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a holistic, asset-allocation driven approach, combining fixed-income selection with low-cost ETFs and emphasizing tax efficiency.

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.