Large-firm, general retirement planning financial advisors in Charleston, IL

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.

Planning for retirement often starts when you want to ensure your income lasts through your later years without running out. A common mistake is underestimating how long you'll live or how expenses might change, which can leave you short-handed in retirement.

  • Income sustainability focus. Look for advisors who model your spending needs over decades, not just the next few years.
  • Tax-aware planning. Even though Illinois doesn't tax retirement income, property taxes can be high; ask how they factor this into your budget.
  • Large-firm resources. Advisors here can tap into broad research and tools, but confirm how they personalize plans for your unique situation.
  • Holistic approach. Retirement planning includes healthcare, housing, and lifestyle choices; check how they integrate these elements into your strategy.

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

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Ryan M

Series 66

Charleston, IL

Raymond James Financial

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.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Andrew G

CFP®, Series 66

Edwardsville, IL

Wells Fargo Advisors

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.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner
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Kelsey S

Series 65

Charleston, IL

Cetera Planning Partners

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.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization General retirement planning General tax planning Approaching retirement Retired

Dustin S

CFP®, Series 66

Charleston, IL

Edward Jones

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.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Retirement income strategy Passive / index investing Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jeffrey O

Series 63, Series 66

Charleston, IL

OSAIC

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.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

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.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Amanda S

Series 66

Ft. Wayne, IN

Raymond James & Associates

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.

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

Lori F

Series 66

East Lansing, MI

Edward Jones

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.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Multi-generational wealth transfer General retirement planning Wealth management Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Kenneth B

Series 63, Series 65

Portland, ME

Headinvest

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.

Wealth management General retirement planning Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Livingston, NJ

Raymond James Financial

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.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jeffrey P

Series 66

Dacula, GA

Merrill

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Wesley P

Series 63, Series 66

Fort Worth, TX

Wells Fargo Clearing

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
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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, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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