Large-firm, social Security optimization financial advisors in Bay City, MI

Lynn Gehoski is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 38 years of industry experience. She has worked at Raymond James since 2018, with prior experience at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and public entities, and offers financial planning and consulting services with a nondiscretionary approach supported by firm research and a variety of portfolio management strategies.

Gregory Johnson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise in 2025, he worked at Hantz Financial for over two decades. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Highland Woods Association in Bay City, MI. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for clients approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, written recommendation reports. The firm also provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated entities.

Mark Recker is the principal of Recker Financial LLC and holds a Series 66 designation with 15 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2018, he worked at Hantz Financial Services from 2010 to 2018. He is also a minority owner of Maurer Meat Processors in Ubly, Michigan, where he assists with financial management. Recker Financial serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, offering discretionary portfolio management and a range of financial planning services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on passive, asset-allocation portfolios using index funds and ETFs, and provides ongoing comprehensive and hourly planning options.

Taylor Hemphill is a financial advisor at Vertis Wealth, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Vertis Wealth and its predecessor firm since 2019. Outside of advisory work, he is an insurance agent, offering health and life insurance products. Vertis Wealth, LLC provides asset management and financial consulting services to individuals, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm uses a long-term, value-oriented investment approach combined with strategic asset allocation, option strategies, and individualized portfolio management.

Nathan Brown is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 12 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Brown Comprehensive Financial LLC and currently works at Brown Financial Planning LLC. Brown has worked in the financial services industry since 2003 and has been involved with multiple firms, including Alphanso, Inc. and Origin Financial. Brown Financial Planning is a fee-only advisory firm that primarily serves individual clients, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW households, along with some small business and nonprofit accounts. The firm provides portfolio management on a non-discretionary basis and comprehensive financial planning, utilizing both fundamental and technical investment analysis.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.