Large-firm, social Security optimization financial advisors in Beaufort, SC

Jonathon Wagoner is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He partners with individuals and families to develop clear, disciplined wealth strategies aimed at organizing their financial lives, investing with intention, and maintaining progress through changing markets and significant life events. His approach involves understanding clients' priorities, translating them into concrete plans, and managing investments and risk exposure accordingly. This includes expertise in portfolio construction, retirement planning, tax-aware strategies, and guidance on major financial decisions. Jonathon leverages Merrill Lynch's research, planning tools, and investment platform to provide institutional-quality resources alongside a personal, relationship-driven service. Jonathon holds a Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State University and a Master's Degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He also holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA).

Daniel Deverna is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has founded and operated multiple financial and insurance-related businesses, including DeVerna & Co. Financial Corp and DeVerna & Co. Financial LLC. Outside of advising, he is involved in speaking engagements for training and motivation and is authoring a book aimed at helping union workers plan for retirement. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm offers fee-based asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services, employing a mix of model portfolios, third-party sub-advisers, and custom strategies.

Edward Taylor is a financial advisor at Verity Investment Partners with 13 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Dividend Assets Capital, LLC and Blackwell Boyd Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is a 10% owner of PAW Properties, LLC, a real estate investment entity. Verity Investment Partners is a 12-advisor team managing approximately $1.4 billion in assets, serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides discretionary investment management, ongoing financial planning, and family office consulting, focusing on portfolios built around dividend-paying equities and fundamental and technical analysis.

Denise Moody is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. She has been with First Command Advisory Services since 2015 and has worked with affiliated First Command entities since 2011. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs featuring model portfolios managed by a centralized Investment Management Team.

Joseph Costigan is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Apricus Wealth LLC since 2020 and previously spent six years with Verity & Verity, LLC dba Verity Investment Partners. Apricus Wealth is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses a tailored, discretionary investment process combining fundamental and technical analysis to construct portfolios aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance, and it emphasizes performance reporting supported by its technology infrastructure.

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.