Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in Clearwater, FL

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 work in education or academia, your income and benefits might have unique timing and tax considerations, especially in a state like Florida with no state income tax but other tax factors. A common mistake is overlooking how your retirement plans and income streams interact with federal taxes and property tax protections.

  • Federal tax focus. Since Florida has no state income tax, ask how advisors optimize your federal tax situation, including retirement withdrawals and Social Security.
  • Retirement benefit timing. Confirm how they handle the timing of pension or retirement plan distributions to minimize tax impact.
  • Property tax strategies. Florida's strong homestead protections can affect your overall tax picture; see how advisors incorporate this into your plan.
  • Academic income nuances. Inquire about experience managing summer income, sabbaticals, or grants that may affect your cash flow and tax planning.

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

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Steven Z

Series 63, Series 65

Clearwater, FL

Atlantis Wealth Advisors LLC

Steven Zerbarini is a financial advisor with Atlantis Wealth Advisors LLC in Dunedin, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has worked with Atlantis Wealth Advisors since 2018 and has longstanding roles at Sower Realty, Inc. and Sower Wealth, LLC, where he is involved in tax preparation and insurance sales alongside his advisory work. Atlantis Wealth Advisors provides financial planning, asset management, and consulting services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of proprietary strategies and third-party managers, using both top-down and bottom-up investment approaches across multiple teams and offices.

Medicare planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Wealth management Debt management
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Craig K

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Clearwater, FL

Independent Financial partners

Craig Koller is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is affiliated with Independent Financial Partners and has held previous roles at LPL Financial and IFP Securities, LLC. His background includes operating Koller Wealth Management, Inc., a business associated with his LPL activities. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm's decentralized model allows advisors to set individualized investment strategies while offering centralized asset management options and specialized retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Nicole C

Series 66

Clearwater, FL

Chronos Wealth Management, L.L.C.

Nicole Chamberlain is a financial advisor at Chronos Wealth Management, L.L.C. in Clearwater, FL, with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley for 23 years. Chamberlain is also a licensed independent insurance agent. Chronos Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and business entities. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and focuses on long-term trading strategies across multiple asset classes, including U.S. large-cap equities, mutual funds, fixed income, and alternative investments.

Annuities
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Megan M

Series 66

Clearwater, FL

Merrill

Megan Martinez is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill and Bank of America N.A. since 2019. Prior to that, she worked at Cascle Inc. and Applied Technology Resources, among other roles. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Benjamin C

CFP®, Series 63

Clearwater, FL

Simplicity wealth

Benjamin Clark is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently associated with Simplicity Wealth. He also founded Clark Wealth LLC, where he has been involved since 2022, focusing on wholesale insurance sales. Prior to his current roles, Clark worked at Universal Financial Consultants and Southeast Personnel Leasing. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and financial firms. The firm employs a fund-of-funds strategy using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, and combines advisory services with technology and operational support for other advisers through a turnkey asset management program.

Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Passive / index investing Wealth management Retired Founder/Business Owner Values-based investing
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Arjun S

Series 66

Frisco, TX

TIAA-CREF

Arjun Swarup is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Frisco, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and has an academic background from NYU College of Arts and Sciences. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing managed account services within a fiduciary framework, including acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

General estate planning guidance Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Educators, Teachers, and Academics Founder/Business Owner Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
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Kevin H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Birmingham, AL

RFG Advisory, LLC

Kevin Harper is a CFP® with 29 years of experience in the financial industry, currently serving at RFG Advisory, LLC since 2015. He has prior experience with Private Client Services and LPL Financial. Outside of advisory work, he is a co-owner of LHP Capital LLC, which manages commercial real estate. RFG Advisory is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 178 advisors managing about $8 billion for over 17,000 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm employs a mix of actively managed and passive strategies, direct indexing, and tax-aware approaches, and is notable for its sub-advisory role with the Bluemonte family of ETFs.

Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Founder/Business Owner Educators, Teachers, and Academics Doctor or Medical Professional Executive Women Professionals

Jacob H

Series 63, Series 66

Charlotte, NC

Edward Jones

Jacob Heinz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His previous positions include roles at Fidelity Investments and E*TRADE Capital Management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of thousands of financial advisors and branch offices.

Divorce financial planning Retirement income strategy Wealth management Real estate investing Educators, Teachers, and Academics
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Robert O

CFP®, Series 66

Lutz, FL

Lincoln Investment

Robert Ouimet is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently advising at Lincoln Investment. His prior experience includes roles at Capital Analysts, Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., and Russell Investments. He also assists clients with evaluating insurance-based products as part of his advisory services. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a particular focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers a range of financial planning and retirement plan advice, utilizing both strategic and dynamic investment approaches and managing approximately $22.9 billion in advisory assets.

ESG / Sustainable investing Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Educators, Teachers, and Academics Self-Employed Executive Retired Mid-Career Professionals
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Marne D

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Fort Washington, PA

Lincoln Investment

Marne De Santis is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Fort Washington, PA, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment in 2019, she worked at Rice Financial Products Company, CV Brokerage, Valdes & Moreno, Bluestone Capital Management, and Dautrich Seiler Financial Services. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and a range of managed portfolio programs, employing both strategic and tactical investment approaches overseen by an investment management and research team.

ESG / Sustainable investing Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Educators, Teachers, and Academics Self-Employed Executive Retired Mid-Career Professionals

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