If you’re looking for a financial advisor, the search can be frustrating. After all, the financial services industry is not extremely transparent, and it can be difficult to understand all the different arrangements and affiliations. But SmartAsset is here to help. We did all the initial hard-lifting and found the top qualified financial advisors located in Claremont, California. You can also use our financial advisor matching tool, which connects you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area.
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| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Financial Designs Corporation
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|
$425,672,238 | $500,000 |
|
Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
|
| 2 |
LifeSteps Financial
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|
$298,197,991 | No set account minimum |
|
Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 3 |
Claremont Financial Group, Inc.
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|
$115,575,968 | $250,000 |
|
Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Claremont, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services, those that don't serve primarily individual clients and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
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AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
Financial Designs Corporation
Financial Designs Corporation (FDC), a fee-only financial advisor firm, is the top-rated firm in Claremont. The company works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates and charitable organizations. FDC also works with corporations, pensions and profit-sharing plans. The firm's investment advisory team includes two certified financial planners (CFPs).
In order to receive investment advisory services, you'll need to invest a minimum $500,000. That said, Financial Designs may waive this requirement at its discretion.
As a fee-only practice, FDC's compensation comes solely from client-paid fees. Advisors do not sell financial products or insurance for commissions from third-party firms.
Financial Designs Corporation Background
Founded in 1981, FDC is a owned by a holding company controlled by the 2008 Pavan Family Trust. Nino G. Pavan, who serves as the firm's president, is an attorney specializing in estate planning and has worked in the financial services industry for more than two decades. In addition to a law degree, he holds Series 7, 24 and 63 securities licenses.
FDC provides discretionary portfolio management services through a wrap-fee program. This means you pay a bundled fee for advisory services, transaction fees and custodian costs. The firm also offers asset allocation services to individuals' employer-sponsored retirement plan accounts.
Advisors can additionally provide financial planning advice on topics like estate planning and retirement savings. They also offer investment and asset allocation advice to participants of qualified retirement plans like 401(k) and 403(b) plans.
Financial Designs Corporation Investment Strategy
The investment team at FDC develops strategies based on the needs, risk tolerance and tax situation of clients. It builds portfolios with asset allocations it believes can help capture returns while not taking on more risk than the client can handle.
These portfolios may invest in various types of securities including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), fixed income securities and fixed annuities.
LifeSteps Financial
LifeSteps Financial, the next firm on our list, serves individuals with and without high net worths. The firm also works with trusts, estates, retirement plans, charities and businesses. Its team includes multiple professionals, but does not feature any financial designations like certified financial planners (CFPs) or chartered financial analysts (CFAs).
The firm, which doesn't have a minimum account size requirement, offers its services on a fee-only basis. This means it only collects client fees and doesn't receive any kind of payment from third-party financial services firms for selling their services or products.
LifeSteps Financial Background
LifeSteps was founded in 2009 as Foothill Financial Advisors. It adopted its current name in 2017. Its founder and current owner Henry Ford previously worked at TD Waterhouse and Citigroup Global Markets.
The staff at LifeSteps Financial collectively has more than 50 years of experience in the financial services industry. Team members offer combined investment advisory and financial planning services.
LifeSteps offers both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches to managing client portfolios. This means some clients give the firm authority to change investment positions without their input, while others require the firm's advisors to consult them when making individual decisions.
LifeSteps Financial Investment Strategy
Before advisors at LifeSteps make any financial recommendations, they conduct a thorough analysis of the client's financial profile. They consider such factors as the client's risk tolerance, financial goals and liquidity needs. They use this information to deliver financial planning advice and design portfolios with asset allocations that the firm believes can help the client meet their objectives.
These portfolios are generally built with exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Depending on the client's needs and changing financial profile, the firm may also invest assets in:
Claremont Financial Group, Inc.
Claremont Financial Group is a fee-based firm with three certified financial planners (CFPs) on staff. The firm typically requires a $250,000 account minimum for advisory services. It works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts and charitable organizations.
Some of its advisors are also representatives of broker-dealers and receive commissions on transactions. These dual roles may create potential conflicts of interest. That said, the firm must make sure that its representatives uphold their fiduciary duty to work in the best interest of clients when serving as their advisor.
Claremont Financial Group charges asset-based fees for investment management, as well as hourly fees for financial planning services.
Claremont Financial Group Background
Established in 1994, Claremont Financial Group is owned by Gaetan Scalzo, a CFP with over 25 years experience serving clients as an independent consultant.
Claremont Financial Group provides portfolio management and financial planning services. It utilizes third-party asset allocation platforms to manage client accounts.
Claremont Financial Group Investment Strategy
Investment advisors with Claremont Financial Group offer asset allocation models through third-party providers like Pacific Financial Group. Claremont Financial Group analyzes its clients’ needs, financial profiles and risk appetites in order to recommend appropriate models. The firm then builds portfolios based on these models and continuously manages them. It makes adjustments as it sees necessary, based on market conditions and the client’s changing financial profile.
The firm typically invests in mutual funds, ETFs, bonds and variable annuity sub accounts. Claremont Financial Group may employ various portfolio management strategies, including strategic asset allocation, tactical asset allocation, long-term holding, as well as keeping cash as a strategic asset.
