Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Destin, 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 retirement income.

  • Claiming age strategy. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start benefits, balancing immediate needs against long-term gains.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to maximize benefits based on your and your spouse's work histories.
  • Tax implications. Since Florida has no state income tax, check how they factor in federal taxes and other local taxes when planning your Social Security income.
  • Integration with retirement income. Ensure they consider how Social Security fits with your other income sources to avoid unintended tax consequences or benefit reductions.

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

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Joseph K

Series 63, Series 66

Destin, FL

Cornerstone Wealth Management, LLC

Joseph Keifer is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cornerstone since 2012, with prior experience at LPL Financial and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, Keifer serves as an advisory board member for PLM Companies, a for-profit organization. Cornerstone Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, retirement plans, and other advisors with asset management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and third-party manager referrals. The firm manages $4.93 billion in discretionary assets and employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to tailor client portfolios, while leveraging multiple advisory platforms and LPL services.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Hunter E

Series 66

Destin, FL

Merrill

Hunter Eager is a financial advisor at Merrill with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he is a general partner and managing member of Eager Operative LLC, a business involving freelance writing, administrative assistance, and consulting primarily for his wife. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering 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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Mark D

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Destin, FL

RFG Advisory, LLC

Mark Dutram is a financial advisor at RFG Advisory, LLC with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial for 16 years. Dutram is a trustee on the Destin Fire District Board of Pensions and serves as treasurer and board member of the Emerald Coast Estate Planning Council. He also contributes to financial education through the FMT Financial Educators Network at Northwest Florida College. RFG Advisory provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and select institutional clients, utilizing a primarily discretionary investment approach with model strategies, third-party platforms, and curated access to alternative investments.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Women Professionals Mid-Career Professionals
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James K

Series 63, Series 65

Destin, FL

Eagle Strategies (NY Life)

James Kersanac is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience and has been affiliated with NYLIFE Securities Inc and New York Life Insurance Company since the early 2000s. In addition to his advisory role, he acts as an outside brokering agent for various insurance companies, focusing on non-registered life, health, annuity, disability, accident, and cancer policies. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, as well as charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Amy P

Series 63, Series 65

Destin, FL

LPL Financial

Amy Parrish is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Destin, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 16 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, First Florida Bank, Renasant Bank, and The First, A National Banking Association. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in a family rental real estate business generating income to cover property expenses. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting over 22,800 advisors and more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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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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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