Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Dubuque, IA

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.

You need a Social Security optimization advisor if you're approaching retirement and want to maximize your monthly benefits without costly mistakes. A common error is claiming benefits too early or too late, which can significantly reduce your lifetime income.

  • Claiming strategy clarity. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full work history and expected longevity.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they consider all available options for you and your spouse to boost household income.
  • Tax impact awareness. Social Security benefits can affect your taxes; check how they integrate this into your overall retirement plan.
  • Coordination with other income. Ensure they plan Social Security alongside pensions, savings, and part-time work to optimize your cash flow.

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

Want help finding the right advisor?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

user avatar

Brendan H

Series 66

Dubuque, IA

Wells Fargo Clearing

Brendan Houlihan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Dubuque, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo affiliates since 2009, including Wells Fargo Advisors LLC prior to his current role. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions, using research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute alongside third-party data and diversification principles.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Garret L

Series 66

Dubuque, IA

LPL Financial

Garret Locke is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Dubuque, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at CUNA Brokerage Services, CUNA Mutual Group, and Thrivent Financial. Outside of finance, Locke has served as a soccer referee since 1986. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by extensive research and technology tools.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
user avatar

Stefan J

Series 65, Series 63

Dubuque, IA

OSAIC

Stefan Johnson is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 designations and bringing eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Prudential Insurance Company of America, LPL Enterprise, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an itinerant preacher and teacher, conducting ministry activities at various churches in the Midwest. OSAIC serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers and offers integrated brokerage, advisory services, and access to multiple investment platforms. The firm utilizes asset-allocation tools and third-party managers to construct diversified portfolios managed on discretionary or non-discretionary bases.

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

Douglas K

Series 63, Series 65

Dubuque, IA

Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC

Douglas Koopmann is a financial advisor at Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Heacock & Jones Financial Services, Inc. for 14 years. Koopmann is also engaged in insurance sales, offering life, long-term care, disability, health insurance, and annuities. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC manages approximately $6.0 billion in client assets through a team of over 150 advisors. The firm serves individuals, trusts and estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, providing wealth management, financial planning, and access to alternative investment opportunities through a goals-based, evidence-driven advisory process.

Private / alternative investments Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Weston V

Series 66

Dubuque, IA

Edward Jones

Weston Vorwald is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones, based in Dubuque, IA, and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large network of financial advisors and branch offices, offering a range of advisory strategies and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

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)
user avatar

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
user avatar

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
user avatar

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
user avatar

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
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and referrals are provided by FinanceHQ LLC ("FHQ"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment adviser. We may be compensated by participating advisors. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to the Warmer Terms of Service and FHQ Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge Warmer's Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ's ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")