Top general retirement planning financial advisors in Gainesville, TX

Cary Cates is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with over 11 years of industry experience. He leads Cates FP and Cates Tax Advisory in Gainesville, TX, where he focuses on both financial planning and tax advisory services. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas. Cates FP provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $48 million in discretionary assets. The firm emphasizes a passive investment approach with diversified portfolios and integrates credentialed tax services, including tax return preparation and IRS representation, within its advisory offerings.

Thomas Schalk is a financial advisor at SPC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has been with Sigma Planning Corporation since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Vice President and board member for both the Fairview Cemetery Association and the GISD Education Foundation in Gainesville, TX, assisting with leadership and meeting coordination. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement services through a large network of advisers, offering both discretionary and nondiscretionary management options.

Michael Chrustawka is a financial advisor with Gradient Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ruggiero Wealth Management, LLC and operating as a sole proprietor. Outside of financial advising, he is involved in horse breeding, training, and sales through a personal business in Gainesville, TX. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm operates primarily through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and third-party money managers, using a largely non-discretionary model that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Ken Walbridge is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously operated Ken Walbridge Financial Planning, LLC. In addition to his advisory work, he has over two decades of experience as a life insurance agent. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers a range of investment strategies through a turnkey asset management platform.

Earl Russell IV is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Gainesville, TX, with 26 years of industry experience. He has held his position at Edward Jones since 1999 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, investment strategies, and affiliated financial services through a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.