Strategic Solutions Financial Group (offering fiduciary investment advisory services through SEC-registered Investment Adviser Park Avenue Securities LLC, CRD #46173, SEC File #801-58108, an affiliate of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and North Florida Financial) is an established North Okaloosa County retirement income, long-term care planning, and wealth preservation practice located at 492 Texas Parkway in Crestview, Okaloosa County, Florida (ZIP 32536, just off North Ferdon Boulevard / State Road 85 near North Okaloosa Medical Center). Founded and led by Principal Financial Advisor Freddie Earl Spears, ChFC®, CLTC® (CRD #2040145, advising North Okaloosa families for more than 35 years since 1990), the firm holds the rare combination of Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC® from The American College of Financial Services) and Certified in Long-Term Care® (CLTC®) credentials.

As the premier credentialed retirement and long-term care advisory practice physically based in Crestview, Strategic Solutions Financial Group serves older adults, agricultural and timberland owners, Okaloosa County School District and county government (FRS) retirees, and military and civil-service families stationed at or retired from nearby Camp Bull Simons (7th Special Forces Group [Airborne]), Duke Field (919th Special Operations Wing), and Eglin Air Force Base. Freddie Spears, ChFC®, CLTC® specializes in converting Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) DROP, and 401(k)/403(b) balances into reliable, tax-sensitive retirement income while evaluating Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) elections, Social Security claiming strategies, and VA disability income integration.

With his specialized Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC®), Mr. Spears helps Crestview, Laurel Hill, Baker, and Niceville families proactively protect retirement savings from skilled nursing and assisted living spend-down—comparing traditional and hybrid asset-based long-term care policies alongside Florida Medicaid Institutional Care Program (ICP) and Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) rules. The firm also coordinates Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and Roth conversions to control Medicare Part B/D IRMAA surcharges with NWFLAAA (PSA 1) SHINE counseling (1-866-531-8011) and guides North Okaloosa homeowners on filings at the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser's Crestview office (Mack Busbee, CFA — 302 N Wilson St, Ste 201, Crestview, FL 32536) for the $50,000 Homestead Exemption, Save Our Homes (3%) portability, the Additional $50,000 Senior Homestead Exemption (65+ at ~$37,694 2026 AGI), and F.S. 196.081 / 196.082 disabled veteran property tax exemptions.