CFP®-certified, general retirement planning financial advisors in Elgin, IL

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 might seek a general retirement planning advisor if you're preparing to transition from work to retirement and want to ensure your income lasts. A common mistake is underestimating how long your savings need to support you, which can lead to running out of money too soon. CFP® certification means these advisors have completed rigorous training in financial planning, including retirement strategies.

  • Income sustainability focus. Ask how they plan for your retirement income to last through varying life spans and market conditions.
  • Property tax impact. Since property taxes can be high in your area, confirm how they factor these into your overall retirement budget.
  • Withdrawal sequencing. Understand their approach to deciding which accounts to draw from first to optimize your tax situation and cash flow.
  • Social Security timing. Discuss how they help determine the best age to start Social Security benefits based on your personal circumstances.

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

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Michael E

Series 63, Series 65

Elgin, IL

Ameriprise

Michael Ellsworth is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Elgin, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he has real estate ownership interests unrelated to investment activities. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, delivering non-discretionary, research-driven recommendations that integrate tax-efficient strategies and Social Security options. As a large institutional firm, Ameriprise offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated companies.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Kevin S

Series 65

Elgin, IL

AE Wealth Management, LLC

Kevin Sanders is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 11 years of industry experience. He is also the owner and sole proprietor of The Sanders Law Firm, where he provides legal services including real estate closing advice and estate planning. His work history includes roles at Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Sanders Financial Services Inc. AE Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered investment approach that combines model portfolios from multiple sources with discretionary management and financial planning services.

Tax-loss harvesting Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Self-Employed Founder/Business Owner
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Joseph H

Series 66

Elgin, IL

PNC Wealth Management

Joseph Holakovsky is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Wealth management Executive
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Raymond E

Series 66

Elgin, IL

Edward Jones

Raymond Ercoli is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Elgin, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

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

Series 66

Elgin, IL

J.P. Morgan Securities

Alexander Lenz is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities, delivering non-discretionary advisory programs supported by a centralized due-diligence framework.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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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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Amanda S

Series 66

Ft. Wayne, IN

Raymond James & Associates

Amanda Scheele is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 15 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Lucky Duck, a venture she has been part of since 2025. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and municipal advisory services.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive

Lori F

Series 66

East Lansing, MI

Edward Jones

Lori Fell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a business focused on property management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee options, tax-efficient services, and affiliated mutual funds.

General retirement planning Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Kenneth B

Series 63, Series 65

Portland, ME

Headinvest

Kenneth Blaschke is a financial advisor at HeadInvest in Portland, ME, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with HeadInvest since 2009. HeadInvest serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, trusts, endowments, and government entities, providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a holistic, asset-allocation driven approach, combining fixed-income selection with low-cost ETFs and emphasizing tax efficiency.

Wealth management General retirement planning Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Livingston, NJ

Raymond James Financial

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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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