Large-firm, social Security optimization financial advisors in Walnut Creek, CA

Nathan Sadowski is a financial advisor at Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. for six years and has been associated with Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors since 2013. Nathan is also the owner of Pacific Excel Insurance Services, Inc., an investment-related business offering various insurance products. Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, pooled vehicles, and charitable organizations. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis with diversified investment vehicles and offers tailored service tiers that include advanced planning and portfolio management.

Gary Gardner is a CFP® with 49 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with OneAscent Financial Services LLC. He has previously worked at Life & Wealth Advisors, Inc. and Chauner Securities, Inc., and has operated his own firm, Gary Gardner & Company, since 1975. OneAscent Financial Services LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, broker/dealers’ customers, and other institutions. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and Unified Managed Account solutions using individualized asset allocation, model-based platforms, and outsourced services.

Timothy Oshima is a CFP® with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal advisor at Acclaro Wealth Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2015, and he is also a co-owner of Simplera Benefits & Insurance Solutions. Outside of advising, he provides input on user interface and other aspects for a financial software development project. Acclaro Wealth Management offers investment management and financial planning to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, and small businesses. The firm uses a disciplined approach that includes written Investment Policy Statements, ongoing monitoring, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, with implementation methods that may involve model portfolios, independent money managers, and wrap-fee arrangements.

William Leitch is a financial advisor at Casilio Leitch Investments with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with the firm since 2014. Casilio Leitch Investments provides discretionary investment management and integrated financial planning to individuals, trusts, and estates. The firm combines top-down global economic analysis with bottom-up security selection, using Modern Portfolio Theory to guide diversification and managing accounts on a discretionary basis with quarterly reporting.

William Harvey is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial since 2021. Prior to this, he worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors from 2013 to 2021. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and corporations. The firm offers various advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services supported by research and model portfolios.

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.