Top Financial Advisors in La Jolla, CA

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Coastedge Partners is a fee-only firm which works with high-net-worth individuals, There are some institutional clients on the rolls as well, including pooled investment vehicles and corporations. There is no formal account minimum for advisory services, but the fact that only high-net-worth clients use Coastedge implies advisors might prefer to work with bigger account balances.

Fees for asset management are based on a percentage of assets under management. Advisors do not earn commissions.

The team includes one chartered financial advisor (CFA) and one certified public accountant (CPA).

Coastedge Partners Background

Coastedge was founded in 2006. It is 100% owned by the firm’s partners, Richard Effress (managing partner and chief investment officer) and Steven Simpson (managing partner and chief compliance officer).

Services include investment management and financial planning.

Coastedge Partners Investment Strategy

Bonds make up the majority of investments at Coastedge, especially U.S. state and local bonds. Stocks are also used, as are mutual funds, pooled investment vehicles and cash holdings.

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AlphaCore Capital, LLC is a fee-based firm that boasts a number of advisory certifications. In fact, the firm's staff includes one certified financial planner (CFP), three chartered financial advisors (CFAs), one chartered financial consultant (ChFC), one chartered life underwriter (CLU), one certified investment management analyst (CIMA), four chartered alternative investment analysts (CAIAs) and two investment advisor certified compliance professionals (IACCPs).

Clients of the firm are mostly non-high-net-worth individuals, with some high-net-worth individuals as well. The firm also works with some investment companies, charitable organizations and corporations. The minimum investment is $1 million.

Fees for asset management are charged based on a percentage of assets under management. Financial planning services are also included in that fee. Some of the advisors at this firm are also insurance agents, so they may earn commissions for selling insurance products to clients. This is a potential conflict of interest, but when acting as an advisor, the firm must abide by its fiduciary duty.

AlphaCore Capital, LLC Background

AlphaCore Capital, LLC was founded in 2016, making it one of the most recently created firms on this list. It is owned by Rickard “Dick” Pfister, who also serves as the CEO, president and managing member. Pfister has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry.

The firm’s services include asset management, financial planning, retirement planning, education planning, tax planning, insurance analysis and investment consulting.

AlphaCore Capital, LLC Background

AlphaCore Capital creates investment portfolios for each client based on objectives, risk tolerance and the individual situation of each client. Long-term investments are the preferred strategy, especially alternative investments.

Securities the firm invests in include stocks, bonds, hard assets and derivatives.

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Callan Capital is a financial advisor firm in northern La Jolla. The on-staff advisors at this firm have a few certifications, including two certified financial planners (CFPs), two certified private wealth advisors (CPWAs) and one certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

Individual clients at Callan are about 75% high-net-worth. Institutional clients include pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. There is no set account minimum at Callan Capital, but there is a $15,000 minimum annual fee. Fees for asset management are based on a percentage of assets under management, while financial planning fees are fixed.

Some advisors at the firm earn commissions for selling insurance products. This is a potential conflict of interest, but when acting as an advisor, the firm must act in the best interest of the client.

Callan Capital Background

Callan Capital was founded in 2007. Trevor Callan owns 60% of the firm, while Tim Callan owns 26% and Ryan Callan owns 14%. All three principal owners are managing partners at the firm. The firm has a second office in Austin, Texas.

The firm’s services include asset management, financial planning, tax analysis, cash flow analysis, philanthropic planning, budgeting, retirement planning and estate planning.

Callan Capital Investment Strategy

Callan Capital has five model portfolios it uses to invest clients' money. It matches each client with a model after analyzing their financial objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon. Each of these model portfolios utilize different types of securities in accordance with the portfolio's intended risk level.

Strategies used by the firm may include long-term purchases, short-term purchases, margin transactions and options writing.

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WorthPointe is a fee-only firm, which means all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees (as opposed to third-party commissions, which can introduce potential conflicts of interest). Around two-thirds of the firm's client base is comprised of non-high-net worth individuals, though there are high-net-worth investors among the client base as well. Institutional clients of the firm include charitable organizations and government entities.

Of the on-staff advisors at WorthPointe, nine are certified financial planners (CFPs), one is a chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and two are certified kingdom advisors (CKAs).

The minimum account size at WorthPointe is $500,000. Fees for wealth management are based on a percentage of assets under management. Financial consulting services are either charged hourly or at an agreed-upon fixed rate.

WorthPointe Background

WorthPointe was first established in 2000 by founder Christopher Van Slyke. Van Slyke, along with Anthony Ferreira combine to principally own the firm. The firm has additional offices in Newport Beach, California; Austin, Dallas and Tyler, Texas; and Jackson, Wyoming.

Services offered by the firm include financial planning, consulting, retirement planning, estate planning, financial reporting, insurance needs analysis, charitable giving and wealth management.

WorthPointe Investment Strategy

Advisors at WorthPointe use both long-term and short-term purchase as part of their strategy, plus derivatives. Of all the money the firm manages, most of it is invested in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The rest is typically invested in stocks and cash or cash equivalents.

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Financial Alternatives is a fee-only firm. That means that the firm's only source of compensation is client-paid fees, as opposed to a combination of client-paid fees and third-party commissions. The whole advisory team includes six certified financial planners (CFPs) and one chartered financial advisor (CFA).

The firm's client base features a nearly evenly split between high-net-worth individuals and non-high-net-worth individuals. The only institutional client of the firm is a single charitable organization.

Fees at Financial Alternatives are based on a percentage of assets under management for investment advice and are billed hourly for financial planning. There is no set account minimum.

Financial Alternatives Inc. Background

Financial Alternatives was founded in 1991, though it wasn't until 2001 that it became a corporation. The principal owners of the firm are James A. Freeman, who serves as chief compliance officer (CCO) and president, and Christopher E. Jaccard, who is the chief operating officer (COO).

The firm’s services include investment advice, financial planning, consulting and asset valuation.

Financial Alternatives Inc. Investment Strategy

Fundamental analysis is the basis of the firm’s decision making. This method of analysis attempts to take current and past price data and use it to forecast future price movements for a given security. Investment strategies include:

• Long-term purchases
• Short-term purchases
• Trading
• Short sales
• Margin transactions
• Options

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Litton Financial is a firm focused on serving high-net-worth individuals, who comprise more than 70% of its client base. It does work with non-high-net-worth individuals as well. The firm has a $2 million minimum account size, though clients that are referred to the firm through outside sources have a $1 million minimum.

The team at Litton Financial includes three certified financial planners (CFPs), two accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs) and one certified wealth strategist (CWS).

Some advisors earn commissions for selling insurance products. This is a conflict of interest, though when acting as an advisor all must act in the best interst of the client.

Litton Financial Background

Litton Financial is one of the oldest firms on this list, as it was established back in 1987 by founder William L. Litton II. But in 2019, the firm's ownership changed hands, as senior financial advisor Charlie Gillespie became principal owner. Litton II still advises the firm today.

This fee-based firm offers tailored asset management services to clients who need help managing their investments. It also boasts a number of financial planning and consulting services, such as personal tax planning, real estate analysis, charitable planning, retirement planning, estate planning and more.

Litton Financial Investment Strategy

Litton Financial looks to personalize each portfolio it creates based on the needs and goals of clients. Factors that go into this process include investment objectives, risk tolerance, income needs and time horizon. Once the firm feels as though it knows what you're looking for, it will put together and implement a custom asset allocation, which will be the basis for your portfolio.

For the most part, Litton Financial invests in some combination of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Depending on how your portfolio's returns affect its allocation, the firm may decide to rebalance your portfolio on a semi-regular basis.

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Canter Wealth is a fee-only firm. This means that the only way the firm makes money is through client-paid advisory fees. The firm mostly works with high-net-worth individuals, though it also maintains relationships with non-high-net-worth individuals and charities. A $500,000 minimum initial investment is required of new clients, though this minimum is waivable.

Almost every member of the advisory team at this firm holds a certified financial planner (CFP) designation. There are also two accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs).

Canter Wealth Background

Canter Wealth has been in business since 2013 when it was founded by principal owner Andrew Canter. Partners Babak Gahvari and Todd Buchner are minority owners of the firm.

The main service that Canter Wealth provides its clients is investment management. The firm has a selection of asset allocation models that it uses for this service. Financial planning services available through the firm include cash flow projections, business planning, estate planning, retirement planning, Social Security and pension planning, tax strategies and more.

Canter Wealth Investment Strategy

According to its Form ADV, "Canter Wealth’s investment strategy involves the use of factor-based investment vehicles, with the goal of designing low cost, tax-efficient, globally diversified portfolios." This diversification is important, as it can help to ensure that your returns are reliable and less affected to downturns in specific markets.

For the most part, Canter Wealth tends to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and fixed-income securities, such as bonds. 

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Carter Financial, LLC works excluisvely with individual clients. More than half of them have a high net worth, with the rest coming in below the high-net-worth threshold. To become a client of this fee-only firm, you'll need at least $500,000 in investable assets, though this requirement can be waived. Written financial plans have a $1,500 minimum fee.

The advisory staff at this firm includes three certified financial planners (CFPs).

Carter Financial, LLC Background

Carter Financial, LLC was founded relatively recently, in 2018. The firm was created by its current president Steve Carter, who has more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry.

Regardless of what kind of financial planning services you're looking for, Carter Financial likely has what you need. The firm's offerings range from education fund planning to retirement planning to tax planning and beyond. It also has the ability to build personalized investment portfolios for clients.

Carter Financial, LLC Investment Strategy

The basis for each portfolio that Carter Financial, LLC builds is a customized asset allocation. Before any plans are made, the firm will do a deep dive into what kind of investor you are. This involves looking into your risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs, liquidity needs, financial goals and more.

Based on the above information, the firm will create a diversified portfolio for you that features predetermined percentages of different types of securities. The firm tends to invest in securities like stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options and mutual funds.

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Hamilton and Associates is a fee-based firm that has a client base mostly comprised of individuals, with more non-high-net worth individuals than high-net-worth. Institutional clients include pension and profit sharing plans and charitable organizations. 

There are two advisors certified financial planners (CFPs) on staff at the firm. The minimum account size varies based on the program. There is no minimum for standard asset management, but some other programs have minimums up to $250,000.

Fees for asset management are based on a percentage of assets under management. Financial planning fees are generally fixed, but may also be billed hourly. Some members of the firm are also registered with a broker/dealer and may earn commissions for selling securities. This causes a potential conflict of interest, but advisors must act in a clients' best interests due to their fiduciary duty.

Hamilton and Associates Background

Hamilton and Associates was originally founded as a tax and wealth management firm in 1986, and it became an investment advisor in 2011. In 2015, the firm added asset management to their services. Keith Hamilton is the leader and sole owner of the firm.

The services offered by the firm include asset management, asset allocation, investment policy, model wealth portfolios, retirement planning, insurance needs and estate planning.

Hamilton and Associates Investment Strategies

The exact strategy used by advisors at Hamilton depends on which program you use. The model wealth portfolios program, for instance, invests in mutual funds. Indeed, most of the firm’s assets under management are invested in mutual funds, with the remainder invested mostly in stocks and a small percentage in cash or cash equivalents.

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Sage Stone Wealth Management, LLC is a fairly small fee-only financial advisor firm (which means that its sole form of compensation is client-paid fees). The advisors at this firm do not hold any certifications.

Clients of Sage Stone include a nearly even split of regular individual investors and high-net-worth investors. There are also institutional clients, including pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

Portfolio management fees at this firm are based on a percentage of your assets under management, while fees for consultation are paid via an hourly rate. The minimum investment size is $250,000, though this requirement is waivable.

Sage Stone Wealth Management, LLC Background

Sage Stone Wealth Management, LLC was founded in 2010. Mary Naber King owns 100% of the company and serves as president and chief compliance officer (CCO). The firm's leadership team is rounded out by Michael Lopez, who is vice president of financial analytics and operations.

The firm’s services include comprehensive portfolio management, investment planning, retirement planning, estate planning, charitable gift planning, education planning, insurance analysis and real estate analysis.

Sage Stone Wealth Management, LLC Investment Strategy

There are a few set strategies Sage Stone advisors use for clients. One is the “inflation hedged strategy” that uses various securities, including natural resources and precious metals, to protect against inflation. Another is the dividend strategy which looks to create income. Finally, advisors can put together ethical portfolios for clients that reflect the moral/social value each client holds.