Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Shelby, NC

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 your spouse's income. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or in the wrong order, 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 history and future plans.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to coordinate benefits between you and your spouse to boost household income.
  • Tax impact awareness. Social Security benefits can affect your tax bill; check how they factor this into your overall retirement plan.
  • Coordination with other income. See if they consider how your pensions, investments, or part-time work influence your Social Security claiming decisions.

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

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Richard W

Series 63, Series 65

Shelby, NC

LPL Financial

Richard Winn is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Shelby, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007. Winn serves as an advisory board member for South Mountain Children and Family Services. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)

Adam L

Series 66

Shelby, NC

Edward Jones

Adam Larsen is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2018. Prior to that, he operated Larsen’s Greenhouse Inc. for 13 years. 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 and offers a range of advisory services including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) General estate planning guidance Business ownership considerations Self-Employed
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Bobby W

Series 65

Shelby, NC

Commonwealth Financial Network

Bobby Watson is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial for 14 years before joining Commonwealth in 2023. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and personalized investment solutions, while providing operations, technology, compliance, and practice-management support to affiliated advisors.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Brandon T

Series 66

Shelby, NC

FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc.

Brandon Thomas is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edward Jones and Ameriprise. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank to offer a platform featuring multiple discretionary managed-account options, direct indexing, and tax-overlay services.

Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing General retirement planning
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Patrick M

Series 63, Series 65

Shelby, NC

Mauney-Pitt Financial Management, Inc.

Patrick Mauney is a financial advisor at Mauney-Pitt Financial Management, Inc. with 34 years of industry experience. He held roles at Raymond James Financial Services from 2002 until 2026 before joining Mauney-Pitt Financial Management, where he is a partner. Mauney holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. He also owns a commercial property with multiple tenants. Mauney-Pitt Financial Management provides discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach using low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities, acting as a fiduciary for ERISA accounts and offering ongoing oversight and participant education.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k)
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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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