CFP®-certified, 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 seek Social Security optimization advice if you're nearing retirement and want to maximize your benefits without risking penalties or reduced payments. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without considering spousal and survivor options, which can significantly lower your lifetime income. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in comprehensive financial planning, including Social Security strategies.

  • Claiming age strategies. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start benefits, balancing immediate needs against long-term gains.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they evaluate all available Social Security options for couples, not just individual claims.
  • Integration with retirement income. See if they coordinate Social Security timing with your other income sources to optimize tax efficiency and cash flow.

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

Salt Lake City, UT

Fidelity

Devin Harmon is a financial advisor with Fidelity Investments based in Salt Lake City, UT. He holds the Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at D.L. Evans Bank, KeyBank, and positions at educational institutions such as Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, with a focus on model portfolios constructed through a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction.

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 66, Series 63

Salt Lake City, UT

Merrill

Tyler Bishop is a financial advisor at Merrill in Salt Lake City, UT, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2025, he worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC for five years and spent five years with Jensen's Guaranteed Pest Control. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

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 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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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

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.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Elanna G

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Annuities Self-Employed
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran FInancial Advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management. Outside of financial advising, he has experience in the lawn care business with Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate-planning services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Jace H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Rockwall, TX

Rockwall Wealth Management

Jace Hart is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience and currently serves as a financial advisor at Rockwall Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Leo Wealth, LPL Financial, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Rockwall Wealth Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost ETF model portfolios with a focus on tax efficiency, liquidity, and systematic macro tilts, offering both traditional and advanced investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
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Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Investment Management & Planning LLC since 2010 and is also affiliated with LPL Financial LLC. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides fee-based investment advisory and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases. The firm emphasizes ongoing account supervision and individualized asset allocation, often utilizing LPL-sponsored platforms and model portfolios.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Retired Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals
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