Top retirement withdrawal strategies financial advisors in Santa Barbara, CA

Lauren Vanveelen is a financial advisor at Axxcess Wealth Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Daniel Investment Associates, LLC from 2016 to 2020 before joining Axxcess Wealth Management in 2020. Axxcess Wealth Management provides wealth management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, businesses, and governmental entities. The firm utilizes a customized, multi-asset investment approach with portfolios constructed from internal management, third-party managers, ETFs, mutual funds, structured products, and alternative investments.

Hunter Sears is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 63 and Series 66 designations and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, he worked at NYlife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company from 2021 to 2023. His background also includes roles at Abercrombie and Fitch, Nike, Sinclair Broadcasting Corporation, and the University of Washington. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, alongside affiliated mutual funds and tax-efficient services.

John Bell is a financial advisor at Thryve Wealth Management with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Quasar Distributors, LLC, and Strive Asset Management, LLC. Thryve Wealth Management provides wealth management, financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan advisory to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, foundations, corporations, and other entities. The firm uses a Core-and-Satellite investment approach focused primarily on U.S. markets, combining passive direct indexing with systematic tax-loss harvesting and alternative investments.

Gregory Smith is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 23 years of experience in financial advisory. He has been with Mission Wealth Management, LP since 2003, including its predecessor entity, and is based in Santa Barbara, CA. In addition to his advisory role, he holds licenses as a health insurance agent for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Mission Wealth Management serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients by providing integrated wealth management, financial planning, and investment consulting services. The firm employs a comprehensive approach that combines investment management with tax, trust, legacy, philanthropy, and risk planning, managing portfolios through a mix of internal and third-party strategies.

Gregory Van Wyk is a financial advisor at Daniel Investment Associates, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Daniel Investment Associates since 2011 and was previously with Kobo Wealth Conservancy from 2015 to 2020. He holds a Series 65 designation and maintains an inactive CPA certification. Daniel Investment Associates provides investment management and advisory services primarily to high net worth individuals, foundations, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using index and actively managed mutual funds, ETFs, and long/short techniques, managing accounts mainly on a non-discretionary basis with quarterly reviews.

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.

Ronald Dragotta is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he specializes in retirement benefit consulting and personalized wealth management strategies. With over 27 years of industry experience, he adopts a goals-based approach to help clients pursue their long-term financial objectives by utilizing professional asset managers and investment platforms. Ronald focuses on Merrill's 401(k) Retirement Plan platform and provides services to local communities and organizations. He works closely with a team within his office and leverages the resources of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to deliver active and dedicated service. His areas of expertise include corporate benefits, divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, employee financial health, personal retirement planning, and individual and corporate investment strategy. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Hofstra University and professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Outside of work, Ronald spends time with his wife Linda, an elementary school teacher, and their two daughters, Catherine and Caroline. They enjoy outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and kayaking on the Long Island Sound. Ronald is also involved in volunteering with community organizations.

Charleen Maune is a financial advisor at Foguth Wealth Management, LLC with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Strategic Investment Advisors, LLC and White Glove, among others. Foguth Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing over $1 billion with a multi-advisor team. The firm focuses on discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing tailored investment plans that emphasize exchange-traded products and a mix of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and Modern Portfolio Theory-based analysis.

Nicholas Stecklein is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Telos Partners LLC in Lehi, Utah. His prior experience includes roles at DFPG Investments, Diversify Wealth Management, Advantage Tax and Planning, and North Capital Investment Technology. Outside of investment advisory, he is involved in tax preparation through Advantage Tax and Planning. Telos Partners serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, and businesses with investment management, financial planning, family office consulting, and related services. The firm employs a long-term, growth-oriented investment approach combining passive and active strategies, often incorporating client values and ESG preferences into portfolio construction.

Robert Szeles is a CFA® charterholder with three years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Beese Fulmer Private Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2022. Prior to joining Beese Fulmer, he gained experience at Federated Hermes and PNC Capital Advisors. Beese Fulmer Private Wealth Management offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm combines fundamental company analysis with macroeconomic cycle review and a proprietary model-portfolio framework tailored to client risk tolerance and goals, with a focus on dividend-paying equities and shorter-duration fixed income for income-dependent clients.