Top social Security optimization financial advisors in St. Petersburg, FL

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 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 history and future income needs.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they understand how to coordinate benefits between you and your spouse to enhance household income.
  • Tax impact awareness. Since Florida has no state income tax, check how they plan around federal taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes to optimize your net Social Security income.
  • Coordination with retirement income. Inquire how they integrate Social Security claiming with your broader retirement cash flow and investment plans.

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

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William P

CFP®, PFS™, Series 63, Series 65

St Petersburg, FL

Edelman Financial Engines

William Puckett is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Align Wealth Management for 19 years before joining Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. in 2023. Puckett is involved in managing the winding up of Align Wealth Management following its asset sale to Edelman Financial Engines. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a committee-driven, proprietary modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management with an emphasis on diversified portfolios and long-term investment orientation.

Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Eric A

Series 63, Series 65

St. Petersburg, FL

STIFEL

Eric Allen is a financial advisor with Stifel in St. Petersburg, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Davidson Investment Advisors, Inc., among other firms. Stifel serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide asset allocation and planning analyses.

General retirement planning Income planning
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Mark D

Series 63, Series 65

St. Petersburg, FL

Amuni Financial, Inc.

Mark Donohue is a financial advisor at Amuni Financial, Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 48 years of industry experience. He has been with American Municipal Securities, Inc. since 1980. Donohue is also a licensed insurance agent in Florida, authorized to sell non-securities insurance products. Amuni Financial, Inc. manages portfolios for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations using a fundamental, long-term investment approach. The firm combines broker-dealer services, insurance sales, and advisory programs, often managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Annuities Active portfolio management
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Kayla P

Series 66

St. Petersburg, FL

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Kayla Pelletier is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, based in St. Petersburg, FL. She has six years of industry experience and has been with Cambridge Investment Research and its affiliated firms since 2016. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory through a network of independent financial professionals, utilizing various portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements tailored to client objectives.

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

CFA®, Series 63

St Petersburg, FL

Raymond James Financial

Barry Haas is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. with 29 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 63 license. In addition to his advisory role since 2002, he has been affiliated with Kaplan Schweser and Hofstra University, where he has worked since 2008. Outside of finance, he serves as CEO of Reet Precision Technologies, LLC, a business where he focuses on strategic direction. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes tailored, non-discretionary planning supported by analytical modeling and offers specialized services such as municipal advisory and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory programs.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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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