Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Troy, AL

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.

If you're approaching Social Security age and want to maximize your benefits, you need an advisor who understands the timing and claiming strategies that fit your unique situation. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or in the wrong order, which can reduce your lifetime income.

  • Claiming strategy expertise. Look for advisors who explain how different claiming ages affect your monthly and total benefits.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they consider how your spouse's work history and survivor benefits impact your overall Social Security plan.
  • Coordination with retirement income. Ask how they integrate Social Security decisions with your other income sources to optimize cash flow.
  • Local tax impact. Since property taxes in Troy, AL are low, check how they factor this into your retirement budgeting and Social Security planning.

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

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Walter C

Series 63, Series 66

Troy, AL

Cetera

Walter Cotton Jr. is a financial advisor with Cetera in Troy, Alabama, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Avantax Investment Services, Inc., Avantax Insurance Agency, LLC, and Avantax Advisory Services for 11 years. Cotton also serves as treasurer for the nonprofit United Appeal and holds a board position on the Pike County Republican Executive Committee. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers across various program structures.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive

Kenneth G

Series 66

Troy, AL

Edward Jones

Kenneth Green is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 13 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he officiates youth soccer matches as a referee for the United States Soccer Federation. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs with both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement income strategy Business ownership considerations Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner
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Tyson P

Series 63, Series 66

Troy, AL

Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc.

Tyson Pugh is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Benjamin F. Edwards in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and American Fidelity Assurance. Outside of his advisory role, he operates a cattle business in Troy, Alabama. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, combining proprietary strategies with third-party models, supported by in-house equity and fixed income portfolios and an internal trading desk.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Donald B

Series 63

Troy, AL

LPL Financial

Donald Bentley is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Troy, Alabama, holding a Series 63 designation and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera and Troy Bank and Trust. Bentley is involved in Financial Edge Solutions LLC, a business entity associated with his LPL practice. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

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

Series 63, Series 65

Ariton, AL

Thrivent Investment Management

Jonathan Cook is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent since 2014 and Thrivent Financial since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Cook serves as a council member for the town of Ariton, AL, participates as a board member of the Ozark Heritage Association and the Dale County Pregnancy Center, and holds a leadership position at Glory to Him Church. He is also a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning without discretionary trading authority, allowing clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option known as “WealthPlan.”

Business ownership considerations
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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