CFP®-certified, general retirement planning financial advisors in Blacksburg, VA

James Barnes is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously held roles at Bb&T Securities, LLC and Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. Barnes also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Virginia Search and Rescue program. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through a combination of discretionary manager relationships and consulting services.

Zachary Smith is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving at The Kelly Group. His prior roles include positions at OLIO Financial Planning and Partners in Financial Planning. Before entering the financial advisory field, he worked with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department and at Virginia Tech. The Kelly Group advises individuals, families, trusts, nonprofits, corporations, and qualified retirement plans, managing over $1 billion in regulatory assets. The firm employs a team-based approach, using diversified model portfolios primarily made up of institutional mutual funds, and emphasizes ongoing monitoring and behavioral coaching.

Jamie Lynn Byram is a CFP® professional with one year of experience in financial advising. She is the principal of Peace Within Financial, a firm she has led since 2024, following prior roles at EVOadvisers and Locker Financial Services. Byram also provides personal financial consulting and education through Peace Within Financial Counseling, LLC, where she writes and speaks about personal finance topics. Peace Within Financial is a fee-only advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and families with comprehensive financial planning and non-discretionary investment management. The firm emphasizes functional asset allocation, long-term buy-and-hold strategies, and educational seminars delivered in a classroom setting.

Christine Smith is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 27 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2005. Smith serves on the Board of Directors for Rotary and has held leadership roles with Rotary International and the American Business Women's Association. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored recommendation reports. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its extensive network of advisors and affiliated companies.

Meghan Kuczmarski is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2018. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she was involved with Peacework Development Fund Inc and worked as a self-employed consultant. She holds volunteer leadership roles with the Newcomers Club and Virginia Tech Alumni Association NRV Chapter, and previously served as past president of the Kiwanis Club in Blacksburg, VA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

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 with Raymond James & Associates in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2024, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2024 and is involved with Lucky Duck since 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary consulting services, drawing on various portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Lori Fell is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, where she has worked since 2009, accumulating 17 years of industry experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of LAF Properties LLC, a business she maintains in East Lansing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions, including managed account strategies and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

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.

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.

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Jace Hart is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience and currently serves as a financial advisor at Rockwall Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Leo Wealth, LPL Financial, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Rockwall Wealth Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost ETF model portfolios with a focus on tax efficiency, liquidity, and systematic macro tilts, offering both traditional and advanced investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.