Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Cambridge, MD

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 Social Security eligibility, deciding when and how to claim benefits can significantly impact your lifetime income. A common mistake is claiming too early or without considering spousal and survivor benefits, which can reduce your overall financial security.

  • Claiming age strategy. Ask how they evaluate the best age to start benefits based on your full retirement age and life expectancy.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to maximize benefits for couples, including options for divorced spouses.
  • Tax implications. Social Security benefits can be taxable; check how they integrate this into your broader tax planning.
  • Coordination with estate planning. Maryland has both estate and inheritance taxes, so ask how they align Social Security decisions with your estate strategy.

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

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James F

Series 63, Series 65

Cambridge, MD

Ameriprise

James Furnary is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Cambridge, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis in a centralized consulting approach and emphasizes the use of Ameriprise managed accounts in its planning process.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Garrett T

CFP®, Series 66

Easton, MD

Raymond James & Associates

Garrett Thrift is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience, currently with Raymond James & Associates since 2026. He previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch from 2010 to 2026. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Baldy Bliss, LLC, a rental real estate business. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, institutions, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, drawing on a range of portfolio management styles supported by affiliated research and sub-advisers.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Blake W

Series 63, Series 65

Cambridge, MD

LPL Financial

Blake Whitten is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Cambridge, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Nationwide Financial and Nationwide Securities LLC from 2015 to 2019. Whitten is also involved with the Whitten Insurance Agency, a business he has operated since 2015. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services with discretionary and non-discretionary management options supported by model portfolios and research.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Raymond M

Series 63, Series 66

Cambridge, MD

Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated

Raymond Mc Keating is a financial advisor with Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 21 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones, Transamerica Capital Inc, and Salient Partners. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated provides non-discretionary, fee-based investment advisory services to a single ultra-high-net-worth family across three accounts. The firm customizes management strategies that include equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs while coordinating with the client's other advisors.

Wealth management
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Chet M

ChFC®, Series 63

Cambridge, MD

Cetera

Chet Mcwilliams is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds the ChFC® designation and has 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for 17 years and is currently involved with Heights Financial Group and Cetera Wealth Services. Mcwilliams serves on the board of the Cambridge Lighthouse Foundation, which supports the preservation of the Choptank River Lighthouse. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers various portfolio management and consulting services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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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