Top general retirement planning financial advisors in Charleston, IL

Ryan Mefford is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Charleston, Illinois. Prior to his current role, he worked at Pilson Auto Center for five years. Mefford is also associated with First Mid Bank and Trust and First Mid Wealth Management, where he is involved in developing comprehensive financial plans for clients. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes risk profiling and analytical tools to tailor its non-discretionary planning and investment consulting to client goals and supports a broad advisor network and affiliated advisory firms.

Andrew Grahn is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with nine years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. His prior experience includes roles at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc and Wells Fargo Clearing. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services and develops tailored recommendations using proprietary research and tools.

Kelsey Swing is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera Planning Partners, Kelsey worked at Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. and is also a partner and accountant at Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan, LLP, a CPA firm where she has worked since 2002. She serves as a board member and treasurer for two nonprofit organizations, Eastern Dominican Christian Mission and Sexual Assault Counseling & Information Service. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees with services including investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and Social Security optimization. The firm’s investment process centers on diversified portfolios of mutual funds and ETFs tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance, supplemented by additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate planning through a third-party provider.

Dustin Sloat is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charleston, IL, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2017 and previously spent two years at R&M Pipeline. Outside of advising, he serves on the board of Cornerstone Daycare in Charleston, participating monthly in decisions regarding facility operations. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jeffrey Oetting is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at FSC Securities Corporation and Eastern Illinois University, where he serves as an instructor in the School of Business. Oetting is also the owner of a recovery collections agency and involved in managing rental businesses. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors and employs advanced tools such as asset-allocation models and automated rebalancing to manage portfolios across multiple asset classes.

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.