Top general retirement planning financial advisors in Carlsbad, CA

Edward Creed is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 37 years of industry experience. He has held roles within Ameriprise and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. He holds a Series 63 designation. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement income planning through written recommendations and ongoing advice. The firm integrates proprietary research and algorithmic tools with a selective investment approach influenced by its affiliated product ecosystem.

Andrew Sontag is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Carlsbad Wealth Advisory Group, Inc. since 2008. He holds a Series 66 designation and works out of Carlsbad, CA. Carlsbad Wealth Advisory Group offers discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, foundations, and charitable organizations. The firm’s investment approach centers on asset allocation using primarily exchange-traded funds (ETFs), focusing on low expense ratios, internal diversification, and liquidity, while managing all client assets in-house.

John Steccato is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at AXA and experience at San Diego State University. Outside of his advisor duties, he has operated a small business in the food service sector. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management programs primarily through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party managers.

Michael Sorenson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Carlsbad, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 37 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at The Wealth Advisors, VOYA Financial Advisors, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Outside of financial services, he sponsors an educational website about the art of his late brother and serves as an independent insurance agent for fixed insurance products. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a wide range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting advisers with advanced operational and research tools.

Todd Blackburn is a financial advisor with Integrated Advisors Network LLC in Carlsbad, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Madison Avenue Securities, Vintage West Capital Management, and Mutual Securities. Blackburn also manages The Burns-Blackburn Group, an insurance agency providing various life insurance and annuity products. Integrated Advisors Network is an SEC-registered multi-team investment adviser offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a range of investment approaches and frequently uses third-party sub-advisers while providing ongoing portfolio oversight and rebalancing.

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.