Large-firm, general retirement planning financial advisors in The Villages, FL

Darren Mc Quary is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Baum Financial Services and Scott Barnwell State Farm. He is also active as an insurance agent and tax preparer at Baum Financial Services. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individual households, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis methods, serving over 127,000 clients with a platform-focused approach.

Clay Palmer serves as the Senior Resident Director of The Villages Branch Office and as a senior advisor for The Palmer Group at Merrill Lynch. He works with affluent families, individuals, and business owners in Central Florida, focusing on financial strategies and wealth management services. His approach emphasizes understanding clients' needs to build comprehensive investment plans that integrate various aspects of their financial lives. Clay graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. Before joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2008 as a Financial Advisor, he held engineering and project management roles at Progress Energy, FL. His expertise includes portfolio construction, client reviews, and retirement analysis. Clay holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Clay and his wife Jennifer reside in Lady Lake with their children. He engages in various personal interests including adventure sports, boating, fishing, football, golfing, reading, swimming, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Alejandra Torres is currently a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she collaborates with clients and Financial Consultants to develop and maintain customized financial plans tailored to clients' short- and long-term goals. She emphasizes understanding clients' priorities and works closely to identify strategies aligned with their objectives. Alejandra focuses on building and maintaining strong relationships through ongoing plan reviews and consistent communication. Her professional experience includes roles as a Relationship Manager and Financial Services Representative at Fidelity Investments, as well as a Personal Banker at Wells Fargo Bank. These positions have provided her with a foundation in financial services and client relationship management. Outside of her professional work, Alejandra enjoys food, tennis, and traveling.

Cesar Armas Crespo is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Booking.com and Conduent. Outside of his advisory work, he manages GYMVERZE LLC, a business specializing in designing and printing custom logos on sports clothing. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary investment advice and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by a centralized operational structure and a multi-asset investment approach.

Jacob Wells is a financial advisor at Zenith Advisory Group, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked in the NFL/XFL from 2022 to 2025. Zenith Advisory Group provides advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on modern portfolio theory and focuses on client goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance, with regular portfolio reviews and use of sub-advisors as needed.

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.

Amanda Scheele is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2024, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2024 and is involved with Lucky Duck since 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary consulting services, drawing on various portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Lori Fell is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, where she has worked since 2009, accumulating 17 years of industry experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of LAF Properties LLC, a business she maintains in East Lansing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions, including managed account strategies and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Kenneth Blaschke is a financial advisor at HeadInvest in Portland, ME, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with HeadInvest since 2009. HeadInvest serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, trusts, endowments, and government entities, providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a holistic, asset-allocation driven approach, combining fixed-income selection with low-cost ETFs and emphasizing tax efficiency.

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

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.