Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Stockton, CA

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 unnecessary taxes or penalties. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or in the wrong sequence, which can reduce your lifetime income.

  • Claiming strategy expertise. Look for advisors who explain how timing your benefits affects your total Social Security income over time.
  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm they consider how Social Security benefits interact with your other income sources and California's high state taxes.
  • Coordination with retirement plans. Ask how they integrate Social Security decisions with your overall retirement income and withdrawal plans.
  • Property tax considerations. Since Proposition 13 limits property tax increases, see if they factor this into your long-term financial planning.

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

Erica T

Series 66

Stockton, CA

Merrill

Erica Taylor is a financial advisor with Merrill holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Bank and Uber Technologies. She is based in Stockton, CA. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
user avatar

Barbara M

Series 63

Stockton, CA

Ameriprise

Barbara Moore is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Stockton, CA, holding a Series 63 license and with 34 years of industry experience. She has worked with Ameriprise Financial Service, LLC since 1992 and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from 2005 to 2020. Outside of advising, she serves as Treasurer of the San Joaquin Zoological Society and is a Director and Secretary on the Board of Directors for Rialto Bridge Office Park. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services focused on clients approaching or in retirement, typically with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
user avatar

Tina W

CFP®, Series 63

Stockton, CA

LPL Financial

Tina Wells Lee is a CFP® professional with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently affiliated with LPL Financial. Her prior experience includes roles at First Allied Advisory Services, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides a range of advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm supports its network of advisors with model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and technology tools, managing over $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

James D

Series 63, Series 65

Stockton, CA

Equitable Advisors

James Diserio is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 49 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 1999 and previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC for 21 years. His credentials include Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm emphasizes personalized client assessments and utilizes third-party advisory programs alongside proprietary options.

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
user avatar

Richard C

Series 63, Series 65

Stockton, CA

Transamerica Financial Advisors

Richard Cutler is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors based in Stockton, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 40 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at WealthWave, American Gateway Mortgage & Realty, and Champion Health, Inc., where he is involved in health insurance supplement services. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of advisory and broker-dealer services, utilizing proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

ESG / Sustainable investing Concentrated stock management Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

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
user avatar

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
user avatar

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
user avatar

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
user avatar

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

People also searched

Find advisors by type

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”)