Top social Security optimization financial advisors in West Des Moines, 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.

You might need a Social Security optimization advisor if you're approaching retirement and want to maximize your benefits without triggering unnecessary taxes or penalties. A common mistake is claiming benefits too early or in the wrong sequence, which can reduce your lifetime income.

  • Benefit timing strategies. Ask how they determine the best age to start benefits based on your full financial picture, not just your current needs.
  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm they understand how Social Security benefits interact with other income sources and recent state tax changes.
  • Spousal and survivor benefits. Inquire about strategies that consider your spouse's work history and potential survivor benefits to enhance household income.
  • Coordination with retirement plans. Ensure they factor in how Social Security fits with your other retirement income streams for a balanced withdrawal plan.

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

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Stephen M

CFA®, Series 66, Series 63

West Des Moines, IA

Legacy Bridge Private Family Offices

Stephen Musser is a financial advisor at Legacy Bridge Private Family Offices with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation as well as Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC and Victory Capital Management. Legacy Bridge Private Family Offices serves high-net-worth families, related entities, and select trusts, estates, and foundations by providing discretionary investment management alongside comprehensive private family office services. The firm emphasizes diversified, asset-allocation driven portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance and offers detailed consolidated performance reporting and negotiated performance-based fee arrangements.

Wealth management Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Matthew K

Series 63, Series 66

West Des Moines, IA

Charles Schwab

Matthew Kenny is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in West Des Moines, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TD Ameritrade Investment Management, Scottrade, Voya, and Directed Services. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers multi-asset model portfolios alongside a structured due diligence process for alternative investments.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Multi-state taxation College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Eric R

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

West Des Moines, IA

Wells Fargo Advisors

Eric Raasch is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 37 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2026, he worked at Ameritas Advisory Services, Midwest Financial Solutions, RK Wealth Management, and Ameritas Investment Company. Raasch serves as a director for Norwich Housing Corporation, a nonprofit lender that provides housing loans to fraternity-affiliated alumni organizations. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser offering investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides comprehensive planning solutions using proprietary research and tools, with services tailored to clients meeting specific net-worth criteria.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner
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Tiffany S

CFP®

West Des Moines, IA

Gilbert & Cook, Inc.

Tiffany Scharfenkamp is a CFP® professional with four years of experience at Gilbert & Cook, Inc., following prior roles at Vision Financial Group and Iowa Realty - Midland Title & Escrow. She is based in West Des Moines, IA. Gilbert & Cook serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, employer retirement plans, and business entities, offering comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach combining active and passive strategies across a broad range of public and private instruments, integrating insurance capabilities and alternative-investment due diligence within its advisory services.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Business exit / sale strategy Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Joshua E

Series 63, Series 65

West Des Moines, IA

Commonwealth Financial Network

Joshua Ervasti is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including New York Life, Eagle Strategies, and R2 Financial Strategies, where he is a co-owner. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in business consulting through his firm, Ervasti Financial, LLC. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients, providing a range of advisory programs and back-office support. The firm offers discretionary model portfolios and multiple program structures, combining investment management, technology, and compliance services for affiliated advisors.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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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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