Top social Security optimization financial advisors in Waterloo, IA

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 retirement and want to maximize your Social Security benefits, timing and claiming strategies are crucial. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or without considering your full retirement income picture, which can reduce your lifetime benefits.

  • Claiming age strategy. Ask how they determine the best age for you to start benefits, balancing early access against higher monthly payments later.
  • Income integration. Confirm how they factor in your other retirement income sources to avoid unexpected tax consequences.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Check if they evaluate options for maximizing benefits based on your spouse's work history and longevity.
  • Recent state tax changes. Since Iowa has phased out many retirement income taxes, see how they incorporate this into your Social Security planning.

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

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Clark L

CFP®, Series 65, Series 66

Waterloo, IA

Edward Jones

Clark Lichty is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Waterloo, IA, holding the CFP® designation along with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. He has 10 years of industry experience, including 9 years with Edward Jones and 10 years of prior self-employment. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Vice President of the board for his condominium association, where he manages reserve assets. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management.

Business ownership considerations Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Inheritance planning General retirement planning Founder/Business Owner
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Ronald K

Series 63

Waterloo, IA

Cetera

Ronald Kiewiet is a financial advisor with Cetera who has 56 years of industry experience and holds a Series 63 designation. His work history includes roles at Cetera Wealth Services, LLC and VOYA Financial Advisors. He serves as a board member for Friends of Faith Retirement Homes, Inc. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered adviser offering a multi-manager platform that supports individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts with a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.

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

Series 65, Series 63

Waterloo, IA

LPL Enterprise

Matthew Kohls is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including PRUCO Securities, BFC Planning, and Lincoln Savings Bank. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients through advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and a range of brokerage and insurance products, utilizing an integrated platform that combines advisory services with sales of financial products.

General retirement planning Tax-loss harvesting Self-Employed Founder/Business Owner
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Michael O

Series 63, Series 65

Waterloo, IA

LPL Financial

Michael Ohrt is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp., affiliated with LPL Financial, since 2007. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Aaron T

Series 63, Series 66

Waterloo, IA

Ameriprise

Aaron Teare is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Waterloo, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise since 2019 and previously spent 12 years at GMAC Mortgage/Ocwen Financial Corporation. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver personalized recommendation reports. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated companies.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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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 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.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)
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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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