Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Burlington, VT

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.

You might need a Social Security optimization advisor if you're approaching retirement and want to maximize your benefits without risking penalties or reduced payments. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without considering spousal and survivor options, which can significantly lower your lifetime income.

  • Benefit timing strategies. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start claiming benefits based on your full earnings history and life expectancy.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to coordinate benefits between you and your spouse to increase total household income.
  • Healthcare access planning. Given Burlington's rural setting and aging population, check how they integrate Social Security decisions with healthcare coverage and costs.
  • Coordination with retirement income. Ensure they consider how Social Security fits with your other income sources to avoid tax pitfalls and optimize cash flow.

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

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Anastasia S

Series 66

Burlington, VT

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Anastasia Surmava is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Burlington, VT, holding a Series 66 credential and five years of industry experience. She has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Co since 2021. Outside of her advisory work, she is co-founder and U.S. principal of Advanz Pay, a financial technology company focused on earned wage access solutions for HR companies in government and healthcare sectors. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, emphasizing collaborative, annual client relationships and event-driven planning services.

Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Attorney Executive Married/Couples/Partners Divorced
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Max R

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Burlington, VT

LPL Financial

Max Rooney is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and Wilmington Trust, where he serves as a Senior Wealth Advisor. His prior experience includes roles at People's United Advisors, Fidelity Investments, and TIAA-CREF. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by extensive research and model portfolios.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Amos R

Series 65, Series 66, Series 63

Burlington, VT

Charles Schwab

Amos Robinson is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65, Series 66, and Series 63 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at ThomasPartners, Inc., Windhaven Investment Management, and various Charles Schwab affiliates. He serves as a member of the investment committee at Saint Michael's College, overseeing the school's endowment. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by a centralized operational structure.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Multi-state taxation College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Christopher M

Series 65

Burlington, VT

One Day In July LLC

Christopher Mc Keown is a financial advisor at One Day In July LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Omnicom Media Group and Universal McCann. One Day In July LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and limited financial planning to a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs an asset-allocation approach with an emphasis on low-cost, passively managed ETFs and offers a specialized environmental investing option focused on carbon intensity and fossil fuel metrics.

ESG / Sustainable investing Passive / index investing Real estate investing

Timothy C

Series 66

Burlington, VT

Merrill

Timothy Candon is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management's Burlington, Vermont office. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from St. Lawrence University and has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Prior to joining Merrill in 2021, Tim spent the first 15 years of his career at Fiduciary Trust Company in Boston, where he served as head trader and later as portfolio engineer. He is certified as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and also holds the CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) designations. Since returning to Vermont in 2015, Tim has worked as a financial advisor committed to providing fiduciary services and tailored wealth management solutions to his clients. His expertise includes education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, retirement income, and socially responsible investing. Tim aims to understand and meet his clients' long-term goals while maintaining integrity in his relationships. Outside of his professional role, Tim enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, golfing, hiking, skiing, and soccer.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy ESG / Sustainable investing Parents Mid-Career Professionals
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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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