Independent financial advisors in State College, PA

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.

When you're planning your retirement income in State College, PA, you want an advisor who understands how to maximize your tax advantages, especially since retirement income is generally exempt from state income tax after eligible retirement age. A common mistake is working with someone who overlooks local tax rules, which can reduce your income more than necessary. Independent advisors here operate without firm constraints, potentially offering advice more aligned with your unique financial picture.

  • Local tax knowledge. Confirm they understand Pennsylvania's retirement income tax exemptions and how to apply them to your plan.
  • Income sequencing. Ask how they recommend drawing down your accounts to minimize taxes and sustain your income.
  • Investment alignment. Check how they adjust your portfolio to balance growth with income needs during retirement.
  • Fee transparency. Since these advisors are independent, inquire about their fee structures to ensure clarity and fit with your budget.

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

Want help finding the right advisor?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

user avatar

Donald C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

State College, PA

Mercer Global Advisors Inc.

Donald Calcagni is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2015. He is a member of the Advisory Council for CAIS Capital LLC, providing guidance on product design and development, and chairs the Finance Committee for the Lock Haven University Foundation, advising on its finances and investment portfolio. Mercer Global Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, business owners, and nonprofit organizations, employing a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and planning services, supported by various implementation options and a public content program including podcasts and market commentary.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies ESG / Sustainable investing Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Women Professionals Established Professionals
user avatar

Matthew G

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 66

State College, PA

Edward Jones

Matthew Gaul is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in State College, PA, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations with 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at MML Investors Services Inc and MassMutual from 2008 to 2016 before joining Edward Jones in 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Gaul is involved in local fitness businesses, co-owning Crossfit Lionheart and owning Blue/White Strength, both gyms in State College. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Alexander F

CFA®, Series 63, Series 65

State College, PA

Fratti Investment Management

Alexander Fratti is a CFA charterholder and principal of Fratti Investment Management in State College, PA, with four years of industry experience. He has held roles at firms including RKL, Boyer & Ritter, Alvarez & Marsal, VRC, and Wells Fargo Clearing. In addition to his advisory work, he provides management consulting services to private businesses through a separate consulting activity. Fratti Investment Management offers discretionary investment supervisory services to private accounts such as individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, banks, and small businesses. The firm employs a bottom-up, fundamentals-driven investment approach focused on U.S. exchange-listed equities, emphasizing a contrarian, concentrated core strategy with an emphasis on small- and micro-cap securities.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Douglas G

Series 63, Series 65

State College, PA

SPC

Douglas Garban is a financial advisor with SPC in State College, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill, and he has been with Sigma Planning Corporation and related entities since 2018. Garban is also a licensed insurance agent. SPC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm supports a large advisory network and delivers tailored, discretionary advice through various account programs.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Income planning General estate planning guidance Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive
user avatar

Lisa W

State College, PA

World Capital Advisors, LLC

Lisa Weaver is the sole advisor at World Capital Advisors, LLC, an independent firm based in State College, PA. She holds 14 years of industry experience and has been affiliated with Fleck & Associates since 2001. In addition to her advisory role, she is co-owner of Lifestyle Retirement Company, which provides third-party administration services to qualified employer retirement benefit plans. World Capital Advisors offers investment advice, asset management, and fee-based financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement accounts, qualified pension and profit plans, and business entities. The firm utilizes third-party managers and advisory programs, conducting annual reviews and employing a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analyses.

Business succession planning General estate planning guidance
user avatar

Jared F

Series 65

Huntington Beach, CA

Northwest Asset Management

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Retirement income strategy Wealth management Active portfolio management Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Edwina M

Series 65

Cincinnati, OH

Waverly Advisors, LLC

Edwina Martin is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Waverly Advisors, LLC. She previously worked at 9258 Wealth Management for five years and was employed at Teradata Corp for eleven years. Martin also serves as assistant director of tax planning at 9258 Tax and Planning, a non-investment related business. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, offering a range of investment management and financial planning services.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Craig M

Series 63, Series 65

Columbia, SC

Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC

Craig Mcdaniel Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Columbia, SC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. and The McDaniel Corporation since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance sales and serves as an independent agent for annuities and related products. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a blend of analytical methods with ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Active portfolio management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities Options & derivatives strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired
user avatar

David H

Series 65

Irvine, CA

Martin Wealth Management, LLC

David Hart is a financial advisor with Martin Wealth Management, LLC in Irvine, CA. He holds a Series 65 credential and has 15 years of industry experience. Hart previously worked with Safeguard Investment Advisory Group and LifePro Asset Management. He is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary and volunteers as an instructor with the Foundation for Fiduciary Education, providing unbiased fiduciary financial education to the public. Martin Wealth Management offers investment advisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients by co-advising and directing accounts to a third-party money manager, Matson Money. The firm focuses on client onboarding, documentation, and ongoing review of third-party manager accounts rather than direct asset management.

Medicare planning Annuities
user avatar

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
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)