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 at Gradient Advisors, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ruggiero Wealth Management and operated his own sole proprietorship. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in horse breeding, training, and sales through his business, Michael Chrustawka Inc. Gradient Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, institutions, and various business entities. The firm supports a large network of advisors and employs a mix of analytical approaches and client profiling tools to tailor strategies, typically delivering services on a non-discretionary basis.

Ken Walbridge is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 9 years of industry experience. He has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2017 and operates Ken Walbridge Financial Planning, LLC, which he founded in 2016. In addition to his advisory roles, Walbridge has been a sole proprietor insurance agent selling life insurance fixed products since 2002. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm offers investment management primarily through discretionary model portfolios and managed accounts and supports a large advisor network with turnkey asset management platform services.

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 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.

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.

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.