Large-firm, social Security optimization financial advisors in Towson, MD

James Simmons is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and The Simmons Partnership, Inc. since 2011. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in the sales and service of fixed life insurance and annuity contracts as an insurance agent. The Simmons Partnership, Inc. advises individuals, trusts, foundations, pension plans, and corporations, serving both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients with financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and portfolio management. The firm constructs portfolios based on client-specific asset allocation guidelines using a variety of investment vehicles and provides services on discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Michele Beernink is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Towson, MD, holding a Series 65 credential and bringing 16 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Verdence Capital Advisors, Private Advisor Group, and LPL Financial. She also serves as Director of Private Wealth Services at Capital Financial Partners, LLC. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, including plan sponsors. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advice supported by due diligence, serving a diverse client base that includes large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Austin Smith is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Towson, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and The Legacy Group, Inc. since 2017 and previously held positions at the United States Postal Service and Trazzi and Grasso. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent with The Legacy Group, Inc. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, trusts, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, utilizing proprietary and third-party model strategies with both discretionary and non-discretionary investment options.

Joseph Valletta is the principal of HR Investment Consultants, Inc. in Baltimore, MD, holding a Series 65 credential with 35 years of industry experience. He has been with HR Investment Consultants since 1994. Outside of advisory services, he co-owns Pension Data Source, Inc., a firm that publishes fee benchmarking data for retirement plans. HR Investment Consultants, Inc. provides specialized retirement-plan consulting to corporations, institutions, and associations with participant-directed plans, focusing on 401(k) and 403(b) sponsors. The firm operates as a solo practice serving a limited client base, offering non-discretionary fiduciary and non-fiduciary consulting services without managing client assets.

Thaddeus Pedzich is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds the ChFC® designation and has 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera and its affiliates since 2021 and previously spent seven years with VOYA Financial Advisors. He serves as president and owner of Green Gate Technology, Inc., where he manages business, financial, accounting, and personnel activities, and is a member of the finance committee at Life Bible Fellowship Church. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser operating a large nationwide network of independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting a wide range of program structures and custodial relationships.

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 and previously at AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for the nonprofit Alpha Light Fund Inc., focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, leveraging LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and previously at AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for the nonprofit Alpha Light Fund Inc., focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, leveraging LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.