Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Maryland

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 be considering Social Security optimization if you're approaching retirement and want to maximize your monthly benefits. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without coordinating spousal and survivor options, which can reduce your lifetime income.

  • Claiming strategy nuances. Ask how they tailor your claiming age and benefit type to your health, work plans, and spouse's benefits.
  • Tax and estate impact. Confirm they consider Maryland's estate and inheritance taxes when planning your Social Security timing.
  • Coordination with other income. See if they integrate Social Security with pensions, IRAs, and other income sources to avoid unexpected tax hits.
  • Benefit maximization over time. Inquire how they plan for potential changes in your benefits due to work earnings or legislative updates.

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

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Hassan A

Series 65, Series 63

Rockville, MD

LPL Financial

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is registered with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement consulting, and brokerage services through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Commonwealth Financial Network. In addition to his advisory role, Ferguson is licensed to sell fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan consulting for businesses and institutions. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and economic analysis in its investment approach and offers due diligence and monitoring of alternative and private investments for qualified investors.

Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner
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Christina C

Series 65

Bethesda, MD

Spire Wealth Management, LLC

Christina Cunningham is a financial advisor with Spire Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 license. She has six years of industry experience, having worked at Cardinal Wealth Management and First Financial Group. Prior to her advisory career, she spent four years at the University of Dayton. Spire Wealth Management serves individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $4.5 billion in assets. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led portfolios, model asset allocation strategies, and sub-advised solutions employing tactical, active, and passive investment approaches.

Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Passive / index investing Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments
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David C

Series 63, Series 65

Annapolis, MD

Westbourne Investment Advisors Inc.

David Cunningham is a financial advisor with Westbourne Investment Advisors Inc. in Annapolis, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 28 years of industry experience, including roles at Westbourne Investment Advisors since 2007 and Cunningham Capital Management, LLC since 2012. Westbourne Investment Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, IRAs, trusts, corporate accounts, pension plans, and nonprofit organizations. The firm manages approximately $449 million and emphasizes fundamental analysis with multi-year holding periods, maintaining equity exposures between 60–90% and typically low portfolio turnover.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management

Charles P

Series 63, Series 65

Easton, MD

Merrill

Charles Pritchett is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on developing personalized financial plans that address clients' unique ambitions, including education funding, retirement lifestyle planning, and long-term family goals. His approach emphasizes simplicity and transparency in investment management to help clients navigate the complexities of wealth planning. Mr. Pritchett holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from Salisbury University. He holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, he enjoys baseball, gardening, and spending time with his family.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Medicare planning Wealth management
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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