Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Salt Lake City, UT

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 risking penalties or reduced payments. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or in the wrong sequence, which can permanently lower your lifetime income.

  • Benefit timing strategies. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full work and earnings history.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to coordinate benefits between you and your spouse to increase total household income.
  • Impact of work income. Check if they consider how continuing to work while claiming benefits affects your payments and tax situation.
  • Coordination with retirement plans. See if they integrate Social Security decisions with your other retirement income sources for a comprehensive plan.

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

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Devin H

Series 66

Colorado Springs, CO

Fidelity

Devin Harmon is a financial advisor with Fidelity, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at KeyBank and D.L. Evans Bank. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm employs a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction, and serves multiple registered investment companies with a focus on systematic methodologies and oversight.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Active portfolio management
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Darcel S

Series 66

Salt Lake City, UT

Trek Financial

Darcel Stucki is a financial advisor at Trek Financial with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Trek Financial since 2017, previously at World Equity Group from 2015 to 2017. Outside of advisory work, he owns Stucki and Associates Insurance Services, offering group insurance including health and dental. Trek Financial serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as institutional retirement plans, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary and non-fiduciary services. The firm utilizes a mix of strategic and tactical portfolio approaches, incorporating evidence-based models, fundamental and technical analysis, and AI tools under human review.

Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Concentrated stock management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Executive Founder/Business Owner Mid-Career Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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Tyler B

Series 63, Series 66

Salt Lake City, UT

Merrill

Tyler Bishop is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Salt Lake City, UT, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with five years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and a role outside finance at Jensen's Guaranteed Pest Control. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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John D

Series 63, Series 65

Salt Lake City, UT

The Prudent Planner, LLC

John Diehl is the principal of The Prudent Planner, LLC, an independent financial advisory firm based in Salt Lake City, UT. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he works as a regulatory examiner for the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. The Prudent Planner primarily serves individual clients and small businesses, offering financial planning, investment consultation, and portfolio management services. The firm employs a long-term, tax-aware investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and the Efficient Market Hypothesis, with a focus on non-discretionary account management and regular educational workshops.

Cash flow / budgeting Divorce financial planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Retirement withdrawal strategies
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Michael M

CFP®, Series 66

Salt Lake City, UT

LifePoint Financial Design

Michael Metzger is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at LifePoint Financial Design in Salt Lake City, UT. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial and Unionbanc Investment Services. Outside of advisory work, he is part owner of a salon and spa business and involved with Catalyst CFO Solutions, a fractional CFO and consulting firm. LifePoint Financial Design provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary asset management, written financial plans, and facilitates estate planning through a third-party partnership, while employing a long-term, tailored investment approach that integrates fundamental and technical analysis.

General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting Business ownership considerations
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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, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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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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