Top general retirement planning financial advisors in Fort Walton Beach, 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.

Planning for retirement in Fort Walton Beach often starts when you want to balance your savings with expected expenses, especially considering Florida's unique tax environment. A common mistake is underestimating how property and sales taxes impact your retirement budget, since Florida has no state income tax but relies heavily on these other taxes.

  • Federal tax focus. Confirm how the advisor plans around federal income tax, since state income tax isn't a factor here.
  • Property tax impact. Ask how they incorporate Florida's property taxes into your long-term cash flow.
  • Homestead protections. Check if they understand Florida's strong homestead laws that can protect your primary residence.
  • Withdrawal sequencing. Discuss how they recommend drawing from different accounts to manage tax and income needs effectively.

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

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Richard M

Series 63

Fort Walton, FL

Cetera

Richard Martin is a financial advisor at Cetera with 29 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has a background that includes nearly three decades at Avantax Advisory Services and eight years at Avantax Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and sole proprietor of Martin & Pellegrin, CPAs, a tax preparation and accounting firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Draylen M

Series 66

Ft Walton Beach, FL

Merrill

Draylen Mc Grew is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to Merrill, he held positions at Bank of America and Regions Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he streams video games on Twitch as a hobby that generates additional income. 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of client types including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Dallis S

Series 65

Fort Walton Beach, FL

D3 Advisors LLC

Dallis Shipe is a financial advisor at D3 Advisors LLC in Fort Walton Beach, FL, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked in real estate with Keller Williams Realty for over a decade and had roles in fitness and contracting industries. D3 Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, wealth management, consulting, and client education to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, small businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm uses an asset-allocation-driven investment approach, typically implemented through the Betterment Advisor Solutions platform, combining automated portfolio management with personalized client services.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Active portfolio management Real estate investing Founder/Business Owner
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Nancy K

Series 63, Series 65

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Wells Fargo Advisors

Nancy Kline is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Fort Walton Beach, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Outside of advising, she owns and manages several entities related to real estate investment. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services using a broad planning menu and proprietary research tools. The firm offers tailored recommendations and integrates advisory services with other financial product sales and referral channels.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner
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Jeffrey J

CFP®, Series 63

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Private Advisor Group, LLC

Jeffrey Johnson is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with one year of industry experience, currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial. Prior to his advisory career, he has worked at Delta Air Lines for ten years. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, utilizing proprietary and third-party investment strategies and technology platforms.

Annuities 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 with Raymond James & Associates in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2024, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2024 and is involved with Lucky Duck since 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary consulting services, drawing on various portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

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 Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, where she has worked since 2009, accumulating 17 years of industry experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of LAF Properties LLC, a business she maintains in East Lansing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions, including managed account strategies and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Multi-generational wealth transfer General retirement planning Wealth management 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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