Top social Security optimization financial advisors in North Charleston, SC

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 need a Social Security optimization advisor if you're approaching retirement and want to maximize your benefits without triggering penalties or reducing future payouts. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without considering spousal and survivor options, which can significantly lower your lifetime income.

  • Benefit timing strategies. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start claiming benefits based on your full earnings history and life expectancy.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to coordinate benefits between you and your spouse to increase total household income.
  • Impact on other income. Check if they consider how Social Security interacts with your other retirement income sources and tax situation.
  • State-specific deductions. Since South Carolina offers favorable retirement deductions, see how they incorporate state tax rules into your Social Security plan.

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

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Kairene H

Series 63, Series 66

Charleston, SC

Veritas Wealth Management LLC

Kairene Holgate is a financial advisor at Veritas Wealth Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including VOYA Financial Advisors and Minnesota Life Insurance Co. In addition to her advisory role, she is an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed and indexed products. Veritas Wealth Management is an independent firm serving individuals and families, including business owners, professionals, executives, and retirees. The firm employs a systematic, Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focusing on low-cost indexed funds and operates primarily on a non-discretionary basis with client approval for trades.

Wealth management Annuities Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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John P

Series 66

North Charleston, SC

Merrill

John Prickett is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. He has previously worked with Bank of America and has a military background as an officer in the South Carolina National Guard. 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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William S

Series 66

N. Charleston, SC

First Command Advisory Services

William Stewart is a Series 66-licensed advisor with First Command Advisory Services, bringing five years of industry experience. Prior to his financial services career, he served 25 years in the United States Army. He has been with First Command in various roles since 2019. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs featuring centrally managed portfolios constructed from mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Self-Employed Young Professionals
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Brian B

Series 63, Series 65

North Charleston, SC

LPL Financial

Brian Berry is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has held roles at LPL Financial since 2020 and founded Berry & Associates Financial Group, LLC in 2011. Prior to that, he worked with New York Life and its affiliated entities for over a decade. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services with access to model portfolios, research, and various management approaches.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Ryan S

Series 66

North Charleston, SC

Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC

Ryan Selmeci is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Regions Bank and Equitable Advisors LLC. Outside of finance, he has experience in the hospitality and marine services industries. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union as well as individual investors and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and an automated ETF-based Digital Investor product, utilizing model portfolios managed by third-party firms such as BlackRock, Vanguard, and Fidelity.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) General retirement planning Retired HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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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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