CFP®-certified, social Security optimization financial advisors in St. Louis Park, MN

Donovan Carson is the principal advisor at Carson Capital in St. Louis Park, MN, holding a Series 65 designation with five years of industry experience. He previously worked at UnitedHealthGroup as a Senior Product Owner and is also the owner of True Edge LLC. Carson Capital provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm follows a growth-oriented, data-driven investment process that incorporates risk-based asset allocation and uses a variety of analytical tools, including AI-assisted methods, to coordinate portfolio strategy with clients' financial plans and cash-flow needs.

At Heartworth Financial, I’m not just a financial planner—I’m here to help First-Generation Wealth Builders and underserved communities break through the barriers that have kept them from the financial resources they deserve. I’m the daughter of Hmong refugees from Laos. My parents came to the U.S. with nothing but hope for a better life. They worked tirelessly to provide for our family, but lacked the financial knowledge and tools others take for granted. That’s why I founded Heartworth Financial: to help people facing the same challenges my family did—turning first-gen success into generational wealth. I know how intimidating financial advice can feel, especially when you’re not sure where to start or if you’ll be judged. That’s why I meet clients where they are—no judgment, just understanding. I listen, I learn, and I create a plan that’s built around their culture, goals, and values. With over a decade of experience as a financial advisor, I’ve worked with clients across industries, but my focus now is clear: offering personalized financial planning and investment management to those who need it most. My mission is simple: make financial planning accessible to everyone. Empower people to make informed decisions, build wealth, and create lasting change for the generations that follow.

Paul Draeger is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with nine years at UBS Financial Services and a total of seven years in the industry. Prior to joining UBS, he worked at Nike and studied at the University of St. Thomas. He is based in St. Louis Park, MN. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, leveraging proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor investment plans.

Vincent Troy is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 43 years of industry experience. He is currently with United Planners' Financial Services of America, having joined in 2024, and previously worked at Grove Point Investments, H. Beck, Inc., and DSSTT. He has owned and operated Troy Associates, a marketing entity, since 2009. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and various institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through a network of 477 independent advisors using an open-architecture platform with multiple custodians and third-party money managers.

Kathryn Donovan is a Certified Financial Planner® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in St Louis Park, MN. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 1999. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services designed for individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, offering tailored Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis in its approach and delivers these services through a centralized consulting team in partnership with its 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.