CFP®-certified, social Security optimization financial advisors 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're approaching Social Security age or planning your retirement income, optimizing your Social Security benefits can significantly impact your financial security. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without considering how it affects your overall tax situation and long-term income.

  • Claiming strategy clarity. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full financial picture, not just your current needs.
  • Tax impact awareness. Since Florida has no state income tax, confirm how they factor in federal taxes and other local taxes when optimizing your benefits.
  • Coordination with retirement income. Social Security interacts with pensions and withdrawals; ensure they plan these elements together to avoid unintended tax consequences.
  • Benefit maximization techniques. Inquire about strategies like spousal benefits or delayed claiming that can increase your lifetime Social Security income.

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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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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