CFP®-certified, social Security optimization financial advisors in Charleston, SC

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 retirement and want to maximize your Social Security benefits, timing and claiming strategies are crucial. Without expert guidance, you might claim too early or miss out on benefits tied to your work history and spousal options. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, including Social Security rules.

  • Claiming age strategies. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full earnings record and retirement goals.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they consider all available Social Security options beyond your own benefits.
  • Coordination with retirement income. See how they integrate Social Security with pensions, savings, and other income sources to optimize your cash flow.
  • State-specific planning. Given South Carolina's favorable retirement deductions and climate, ask how they tailor strategies to local tax and cost-of-living factors.

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

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Erik H

Series 66

Charleston, SC

Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC

Erik Hofstrom is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has worked with LPL Financial since 2005. Hofstrom operates his advisory business through Independent Advisor Alliance, focusing on investment advisory services. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management methods alongside technology-enabled estate-planning tools.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Charles C

Series 65

Charleston, SC

Wealth Management

Charles Castle is a financial advisor with Wealth Management Nebraska LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at Mainstreet Financial Solutions since 2007, where he is involved in accounting, tax, and payroll services. Wealth Management Nebraska LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional clients such as retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory approach, utilizing passively managed mutual funds and ETFs, and offers integrated advisory and administrative services through its affiliations.

Passive / index investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) General retirement planning General tax planning Founder/Business Owner Executive

Daniel P

Series 66

Charleston, SC

Edward Jones

Daniel Perlmutter is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charleston, SC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2019 and previously held roles at Berlins Restaurant Supply, Rising Tide Marketing, and Hamilton Management Services Company. Outside of advising, he is involved in managing several rental properties and assists with real estate transitions through 2M Properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment options supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 advisors. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, tax-efficient services, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Wealth management General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive Hispanic/Latino/Latinx
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Craig M

Series 66

Charleston, SC

LPL Financial

Craig McDonald Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charleston, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. Before joining LPL in 2019, he worked at AXA Advisors and operated Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. from 2003 to 2019. He is involved as a referring agent for a non-variable insurance business. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research, model portfolios, and technology-driven strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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James C

Series 65

Charleston, SC

Kinwell LLC

James Carlson is a Series 65-registered advisor with Kinwell LLC in Charleston, SC, bringing 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Questis Advisor Partners, LLC from 2013 to 2017. Outside of Kinwell, Carlson is an independent trustee for Modern Capital Funds Trust and holds shares in Questis, Inc., a financial wellness software platform. Kinwell LLC provides investment advice and portfolio management to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as consulting services for pension and employee benefit plans. The firm employs modern portfolio theory and a long-term trading approach, focusing on individualized investment policies and a diverse investable universe that includes alternative assets and third-party managers.

Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Private / alternative investments Real estate investing
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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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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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Elanna G

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Annuities Self-Employed
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran FInancial Advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management. Outside of financial advising, he has experience in the lawn care business with Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate-planning services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Jace H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Rockwall, TX

Rockwall Wealth Management

Jace Hart is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience and currently serves as a financial advisor at Rockwall Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Leo Wealth, LPL Financial, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Rockwall Wealth Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost ETF model portfolios with a focus on tax efficiency, liquidity, and systematic macro tilts, offering both traditional and advanced investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
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Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Investment Management & Planning LLC since 2010 and is also affiliated with LPL Financial LLC. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides fee-based investment advisory and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases. The firm emphasizes ongoing account supervision and individualized asset allocation, often utilizing LPL-sponsored platforms and model portfolios.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Retired Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals
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