Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Berkeley, CA

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 approaching retirement and want to maximize your Social Security benefits, timing and claiming strategies are crucial. Without expert guidance, you might claim too early or miss out on benefits that could significantly boost your income.

  • Claiming age strategies. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full retirement age and life expectancy.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to optimize benefits for couples, including survivor options.
  • Tax impact awareness. Social Security benefits can be taxable; check how they plan to minimize taxes on your benefits.
  • Coordination with other income. Ensure they consider how your pensions, investments, and other income affect your Social Security benefits.

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

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Shawn H

Series 66

Berkeley, CA

J.P. Morgan Securities

Shawn Huynh is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2018, and previously held roles at Citigroup and UnionBanc Investment Services. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Yahweh K

Series 65, Series 63

Berkeley, CA

Merrill

Yahweh Khao Sok is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2025, he worked at New York Life Insurance Company and NYLife Securities LLC. He serves as Treasurer and a board member for the nonprofit Futures Explored, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy and fundraising. Merrill, alongside its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients via the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Tammy P

Series 63, Series 65

Berkeley, CA

Eagle Strategies (NY Life)

Tammy Plotkin Oren is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Berkeley, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 21 years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with New York Life and its related entities since 2005 and has operated TPO Financial and Insurance Services since 2009. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as Treasurer and Board Member for UC Berkeley Hillel and is a board member for the Delaware Street HOA. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, defined contribution and benefit plans, and corporate and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Juliana M

CFP®

Berkeley, CA

Elmwood Wealth Management

Juliana Moravy is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Elmwood Wealth Management in Piedmont, CA. She has been with Elmwood Wealth Management since 2014, including its current team structure since 2023. Elmwood Wealth Management is a fee-based, SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and various account types. The firm employs a total-return, long-term investment philosophy with both actively managed and ETF-based strategies, integrating ongoing financial planning with portfolio construction and offering specialized tax coordination and retirement plan advisory services.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Wealth management Private / alternative investments Cash flow / budgeting
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Richard G

Series 65

Berkeley, CA

Affinity Capital Advisors LLC

Richard Greywitt is a financial advisor at Affinity Capital Advisors LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Cutler Group LP and Greywitt Capital Management prior to joining Affinity in 2023. Outside of finance, he occasionally assists with operations at Metta Yoga Studio, a business owned by his spouse. Affinity Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, managing approximately $851 million in assets across 531 client relationships. The firm provides comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis in building portfolios, incorporating a range of investment vehicles including stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, and alternative investments.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies Real estate investing
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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 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.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)
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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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