Large-firm, general retirement planning financial advisors in Topeka, KS

Cale Yost is a financial advisor at Blazing Star Financial with two years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 65 and 66 licenses. Prior to his current role, he worked at Maize Financial and Rademacher Financial, Inc. Additionally, he serves as Inspector General Superintendent for the Kansas Air National Guard, a position he has held since 2004. Blazing Star Financial is a state-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth households, and select small businesses. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a diversified, passive investment approach informed by Modern Portfolio Theory, supplemented by fundamental and values-based analysis upon client request.

Julie Connor is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. She has worked at Cetera Advisors LLC since 2013 and Martell Financial Services since 2002. Outside of her advisory role, she is co-owner and president of Employee Benefit Services, Inc., providing group health and related insurance services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that serves a broad client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment programs, supported by a nationwide network of over 10,000 advisors.

Valerie Nelson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Topeka, KS, where she has worked since 2009, accumulating 17 years of industry experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as a consultant in the skin care business Mary Kay. Edward Jones is a wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Lawrence Hesse is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 52 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including LPL Financial since 2024, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Cornerstone Advisors, Union Central, and American United Life Insurance Company. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Nathaniel Miller is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC in Topeka, KS, bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with AE Wealth Management since 2016 and owns the Miller Retirement Group, where he serves as an insurance producer focusing on life and annuity products. Additionally, he is involved in educational development through the Prepare Institute, creating college-style courses on retirement planning. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes model portfolio and direct asset management, utilizing various investment strategies and maintaining a platform that supports a large number of clients through standardized services.

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, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Raymond James. Amanda is also involved with Lucky Duck since 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional and pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a broad platform of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Lori Fell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a business focused on property management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee options, tax-efficient services, and affiliated mutual funds.

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.