Seasoned, social Security optimization financial advisors in Wausau, WI

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. Without expert guidance, you might claim too early or miss out on spousal or survivor benefits that could increase your income.

  • Claiming age strategies. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full retirement age and life expectancy.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Confirm they evaluate options for you and your spouse to optimize combined benefits.
  • Coordination with pensions. Since Wisconsin has strong public pensions, check how they integrate pension income with Social Security claims.
  • Tax impact awareness. Social Security benefits can be taxable; see how they plan to minimize your tax burden.

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

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Zachary K

Series 65

Wausau, WI

Buska Wealth Management, LLC

Zachary Kyhos is a Series 65-registered advisor with Buska Wealth Management, LLC and has 10 years of industry experience. He has been involved with Buska Retirement Solutions, Inc. since 2016 and previously was affiliated with Weston Health Club, LLC. Kyhos is currently associated with Skiddles, LLC. Buska Wealth Management serves individual investors and qualified retirement plans, managing approximately $538.7 million across about 1,700 client relationships. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and often uses third-party managed models through co-advisor arrangements.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Tax strategies for small businesses Options & derivatives strategies
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Kimberly G

Series 66

Wausau, WI

LPL Financial

Kimberly Garski is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. She has two years of industry experience and has previously worked with Grove Point Advisors, LLC, Kelch & Associates, LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, and GI Associates. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in bookkeeping outside the investment industry. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and multiple investment strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Steven S

Series 63, Series 65

Wausau, WI

UNITED PLANNERS' FINANCIAL SERVICES of AMERICA a Limited Partner

Steven Story is a financial advisor with United Planners' Financial Services of America and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 30 years of industry experience and has worked as a fixed insurance agent since 2001. He is also president of Steven Story & Associates, Inc., a marketing entity related to his insurance and financial services activities. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through a network of 477 independent advisors. The firm operates an open-architecture platform using multiple custodians and third-party money managers, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary assets and a combination of fee-based and commission-based options.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Cash flow / budgeting Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Established Professionals
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Amanda M

CFP®, Series 65

Wausau, WI

Creative Planning

Amanda Molin is a financial advisor with Creative Planning in Wausau, WI, holding CFP® and Series 65 credentials and bringing nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wipfli Financial Advisors and Hewins Financial Advisors, as well as work at the University of Denver. She serves as a board member and Treasurer for the Humane Society of Marathon County, providing oversight on the organization’s financial wellness. Creative Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tactical portfolio options and comprehensive retirement plan services.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Dan A

Series 63, Series 66

Wausau, WI

Ameriprise

Dan Augustine is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Weston, WI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise in 2023, he spent 15 years at Commonwealth Financial Network and Peoples Wealth Management. Augustine also serves as a financial advisor at IncredibleBank. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for clients approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

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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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

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.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

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.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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David C

Series 63, Series 65

Houston, TX

LPL Financial

David Cade is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Next Financial Group, Inc. for 20 years before joining LPL Financial in 2025. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services with both discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing research and model portfolios to support diversified investment strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

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.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Linda P

Series 63

Mt. Laurel, NJ

BC Advisors, LLC

Linda Postorivo is a financial advisor at BC Advisors, LLC with 43 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has worked with MAFG RIA Services, Inc. since 1994 and with Mid-Atlantic Companies since 1981. BC Advisors provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, family trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional clients. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary investment recommendations grounded in fundamental analysis alongside technical and cyclical reviews, employing a variety of strategies including long-term, short-term, trading, options, and alternatives.

Active portfolio management
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