CFP®-certified, 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.

If you're approaching Social Security age and want to maximize your benefits, you need an advisor who understands the complex rules and timing options that affect your monthly payments. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without coordinating spousal and survivor benefits, which can reduce your lifetime income.

  • Benefit timing strategies. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start benefits, considering your health, work plans, and other income sources.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they can explain how to optimize these options to increase your household's total Social Security income.
  • Tax impact awareness. Since Florida has no state income tax, check how they plan for federal taxes and property taxes that affect your overall retirement budget.
  • Coordination with retirement income. See if they integrate Social Security decisions 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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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, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement
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