Top Financial Advisors in California

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NFP Retirement is a fee-based firm that serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans.

The firm generally requires clients to have at least $25,000 in investable assets to start an advisory relationship. However, the firm may be willing to waive this stipulation under certain circumstances.

Certain on-staff advisors at NFP can receive commissions and other compensation from the sale of specific financial products. This creates a potential conflict of interest, though the firm's fiduciary duty means it must act in clients' best interests.

NFP Retirement Background

NFP Retirement was founded in 1980, and it's under the ownership of its larger company, NFP Corp. The firm is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, but it has branch offices around the U.S.

The firm offers services ranging from investment management to financial planning. Its institutional services are centered around the management of corporate retirement plans.

NFP Retirement Investing Strategy

NFP Retirement bases its investment strategy for each client based on the specifics of their situation. That means you and your advisor will have an in-depth conversation about your needs, desired future and any other factors that may play a role. This could involve your income and liquidity needs, risk tolerance, time horizon, long-term goals and more.

For the most part, NFP tends to invest client assets in some combination of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It, however, isn't opposed to investing in individual securities as well.

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Hall Capital Partners, a fee-only firm based in San Francisco. Its team holds several certifications, including the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation. The firm charges a minimum annual fee of $500,000, or $350,000 for accounts that also pay performance-based fees.  

The firm's individual investor client base solely consists of high-net-worth individuals. It also serves pooled investment vehicles, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and other investment advisors.

Hall Capital Partners Background

Hall Capital Partners is an independent firm that is privately owned, primarily by the firm's partners. Its roots date back to 1994 when it began managing portfolios for select family offices and their private foundations.

The firm, which also has an office in New York, offers three main services:

• Customized global multi-asset class portfolios: The creation of custom, diversified portfolios for clients
• HCP pooled vehicles: Unregistered funds of funds that the firm or its affiliates manage 
• Specialized mandates: Client investments in a certain asset class, including hedge funds, private equity or real assets

Hall Capital Partners Investment Strategy

Hall Capital Partners creates its global multi-asset class portfolios based on each client's unique financial situation. Though this largely shapes the firm's investment objectives, the firm also sticks to certain core investment principles across its client portfolios.

Generally, the firm maintains a long-term horizon, investing assets globally and in a highly selective manner. It diversifies assets across what it defines as "drivers of value," which include fixed income, equities, hedge funds, private equity and real assets.

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Jordan Park Group is a fee-only firm in San Francisco with a minimum account size of $100 million. The firm serves high-net-worth investors, pooled investment vehicles, charities and other investment advisors.

Jordan Park Group generally charges an investment advisory fee that is based on a percentage of the client’s assets under management.

Jordan Park Group Background

Founded in 2017, Jordan Park Group is owned by Frank Ghali, the firm's CEO. Ghali owns the firm through a separate holding company called Jordan Park Holding Company, LLC.

Jordan Park provides investment management and financial advice services to clients. The firm also offers family office services, which include comprehensive financial planning services. 

Jordan Park Group Investment Strategy

The investment process at Jordan Park Group looks specifically at areas including public equities and fixed income, private equity, real estate, natural resources, derivative overlay strategies, transaction structuring, risk management, special situations and impact investing.

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Beacon Pointe Advisors is a fee-based firm located in Newport Beach. Individuals with and without a high net worth make up the majority of the firm's client base. Institutional clients also include banks or thrift institutions, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, government entities, insurance companies and businesses.

You'll need to have a minimum of $1 million to become a client at Beacon Pointe. The firm's advisors hold multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs), among other designations.

Because some of Beacon Pointe's advisors sell insurance and securities on a commission basis, the firm is considered fee-based. Despite the potential conflict of interest that commission-based compensation creates, Beacon Pointe is a fiduciary and must act in its client's best interests.

Beacon Pointe Advisors Background

Founded in 2002, Beacon Pointe is independently owned. However, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., an outside investor, owns a stake in the firm. Beacon Pointe provides consulting services and portfolio management, but also offers educational seminars and publishes periodicals. The firm will also help clients select third-party investment managers.

Beacon Pointe Advisors Investment Strategy 

Beacon Pointe's investment strategies focus on asset preservation and growth. The firm uses asset allocation modeling programs and its own analysis to develop investment plans for its clients. Advisors rely on "core" asset classes of domestic and foreign equities, emerging markets, U.S. fixed income, global fixed income, public and private real estate, hedge funds, real assets and others. 

The firm's investment philosophy is heavily based on diversification. "Proper asset allocation diversification produces a portfolio with more appealing risk/return characteristics than investing in one single asset class or with one investment manager," the firm states.

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Perigon Wealth Management, a fee-based company, rounds out our list of San Francisco's top-rated financial advisory firms. Perigon primarily advises individuals and high-net-worth individuals but also works with pensions, profit-sharing plans, as well as corporations. The firm does not have a minimum account size requirement. 

Perigon's expansive team of advisors includes many Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), five chartered financial analysts (CFAs), two certified divorce financial analysts (CDFAs), an accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), one certified public accountant (CPA) and a retirement income certified professional (RICP).

As a fee-based firm, some of the firm's advisors may earn commissions for selling certain products. Despite the potential conflict of interest that commission-based compensation can create, Perigon is a fiduciary and must act in its client's best interests. 

Perigon Wealth Management Background

Founded in 2004, Perigon is owned by Perigon Financial Holdings, LLC. The firm offers wealth management, which includes a broad range of financial planning and consulting services, as well as portfolio management, retirement plan advisory services and Perigon180, an automated investment solution provided through TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. Today, Perigon manages more than $6.9 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its 73 advisors. 

Perigon Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Like other financial advisor firms, Perigon works with clients to understand their investment goals, risk tolerance and financial situation. Based on those factors, the firm will either use an independent manager to manage portions of a client's portfolio or place their assets in one of Perigon's model portfolios.  

Perigon typically assumes a long-term investment approach, but advisors may sell or reallocate positions that have been held for under a year. Advisors may use mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds or options contracts, depending on an individual client's needs. 

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Allworth Financial is a fee-based firm with a $500,000 account minimum. Advisors at the firm hold multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and certified fund specialists (CFSs), among other designations. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors collect commissions in addition to advisory fees. This creates a potential conflict of interest, but advisors still must act in the client's best interests.

Allworth serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and business entities. 

Allworth Financial Background

Founded in 1993, Allworth has been an investment advisor since June 1996. The firm is owned and controlled by subsidiaries of the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan and Lightyear Capital. Allworth offers investment management, financial planning, retirement planning, tax planning and estate planning, among other services.

Allworth Financial Investment Strategy

Allworth typically builds client portfolios using low-fee mutual funds, no-load mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The firm generally does not attempt to time the market but it will increase cash holdings when appropriate.

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EP Wealth Advisors, a fee-only firm headquartered in Torrance, works with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

The minimum account size here is $500,000, though the firm may be willing to waive this.

The firm's large team of advisors features Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), chartered divorce financial analysts (CDFAs) and other accredited professionals.

Fees are generally based on assets under management, though hourly fees may also apply.

EP Wealth Advisors Background

EP was founded in 2004 when two other firms - Premier Financial Management, LLC and Enright Financial Consultants, Inc. - merged. EPWA Holding Company, LLC is the principal owner of the firm.

Investment management and financial planning are the primary services offered at EP, although the firm also provides tax preparation services, estate planning, retirement planning and help selecting other advisors, including private fund managers.

EP Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Advisors at the firm use charting, technical analysis, fundamental analysis and cyclical analysis to make investment choices for clients. Long- and short-term purchases may be used, plus margin transactions and options trading.

Investments and asset allocations are typically based on a client's financial situation, their objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and other factors. The firm primarily invests in mutual funds and equity securities, although ETFs, corporate debt, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal debt and U.S. government securities may also be used. 

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Lido Advisors is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as banking or thrift institutions, investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, charities, insurance companies, corporations and ERISA pooled plans.

Certain Lido representatives are also representatives of a securities broker-dealer and those individuals may receive commissions or fees for the sale of these products in a client’s advisory account. Lido Advisors generally requires a $1 million account minimum.

Advisors at the firm hold multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), certified investment management analyzt (CIMA) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), among other designations.

Lido Advisors Background

Lido Advisors was founded in 2001 and is majority-owned by pooled investment vehicles that are advised by affiliates of Charlesbank Capital Partners LLC. 

The remaining part of the firm is also owned own directly or indirectly by its chief executive officer Jason Ozur, president Ken Stern, chairman and founder Gregory Kushner and other Lido employees.

Lido Advisors Investment Strategy

Lido Advisors uses stocks and bonds and aims to invest in assets that are not highly correlated.

The firm offers clients investment management, asset allocation and financial planning, among other services.

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Parallel Advisors is a fee-only firm providing an array of advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit plans, business entities, trusts, estates and charitable organizations. The firm does not have a set account minimum.

The firm’s fee-only structure means that it’s only compensated for the advisory services it provides and not for the commissioned products it sells. Parallel Advisors’ main fees include asset-based fees, hourly fees and fixed fees.

Its advisors offer a range of certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), certified public accountant (CPA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) designations. 

Parallel Advisors Background

Principally owned by Jerry E. Rendic, Parallel Advisors provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and philanthropic planning and evaluation. The firm also offers investment manager due diligence, intergenerational wealth transfer strategies and more. Today, the firm manages more than $7 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its 56 advisors. 

Parallel Advisors Investment Strategy

Parallel Advisors says on its website that it creates portfolios positioned for the long term. The firm constructs portfolios by following an asset allocation that lines up with a client's investment objectives, income and liquidity needs and risk tolerance. "We believe that not all asset classes are created equal. Parallel Advisors use a variety of methods when conducting investment research, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis. 

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SEIA (Signature Estate & Investment Advisors, LLC) is a fee-based firm, which means that certain advisors are licensed to sell insurance and investment products, and could earn commissions on those transactions. However, the firm’s advisors have a fiduciary duty that requires them to act in the best interests of their clients.

Account minimum depends on the account option. Its lowest account minimum, for its equity/blended portfolios, is $250,000. For the fee-based firm’s fixed-income portfolios, it’s $500,000.

SEIA's financial advisor team holds many certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), chartered mutual fund counselors (CMFCs), chartered financial consultants (ChFCs) and chartered life underwriters (CLUs).

SEIA Background

SEIA was founded in 1997. According to the firm's brochure, "SEIA is wholly owned by Signature Financial Service Group, LLC, which is owned primarily by a consortium of employees and investors through Reverence Capital Partners Opportunities Fund V, L.P." Today, the firm manages more than $14 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its 99 advisors. 

SEIA Investment Strategy

SEIA’s Department of Investment Management and Economic Strategy (DIMES) heads up the firm’s research and development of its asset allocation strategies for portfolios. The team is guided by the principles of strategic macro asset allocation, which considers asset class and style and tactical micro allocation, which looks at business cycles, global and domestic economic conditions and event-driven opportunities.

SEIA portfolios are primarily composed of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, closed-end mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, trusts, certificates of deposit, and options, among other investments.