Top Financial Advisors in San Diego, CA

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Kingswood Wealth Advisors ranks No. 1 on our list of the top financial advisors in San Diego. Kingswood is a fee-based firm that has a minimum account size of $100,000.

Founded in 2016, Kingswood has a large team of financial advisors who offer discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, as well as third-party and sub-advisory services, financial consulting and management of outside account assets. However, its advisors may receive commissions for the sale of securities, which represents a conflict of interest. Keep in mind that the firm must put the needs of the client first and is bound by a fiduciary duty to do so. 

Financial consultation services may focus on a variety of financial planning topics, including investment and retirement planning, insurance analysis, tax planning, estate planning and charitable giving, among others. 

Kingswood Wealth Advisors employs long- and short-term investment strategies and may use margin transactions, short sales, derivatives and emerging markets. The firm builds customized portfolios based on client objectives and may include equities, fixed income, commodities, real estate investment trusts (REITs), master limited partnerships (MLPs) and alternative investments. Structured as an open architecture platform, KWA also selects and monitors third-party managers and sub-advisors.

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With more than $11 billion in assets under management, no fim on this list manages more money than Pure Financial Advisors. This fee-only practice has a large team of individual financial advisors, many of whom hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered financial analyst (CFA) or accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations, among others. 

Pure Financial Advisors does not require a set account minimum. The firm says that it serves mid- to high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. 

Founded in 2007, Pure Financial Advisors is based in San Diego but has branch offices throughout California in Brea, Davis, Irvine and Woodland Hills, as well as Greenwood Village, Colorado; Northbrook and Wheaton, Illinois; Franklin, Tennessee; Prescott, Arizona; and Lehi, Utah.

Pure Financial Advisors offers financial planning, portfolio management, transitional portfolio management, sub-advisory services, pension consulting and discretionary management of held-away accounts and managed variable annuities. Its services include both limited and ongoing planning engagements, asset allocation strategies and direct investment management tailored to client objectives, tax considerations and risk tolerance.

The firm uses globally diversified portfolios built around asset allocation strategies tailored to each client’s goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Portfolios may include exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds, and, where appropriate, options. The firm emphasizes tax efficiency, cost control and risk management, incorporating rebalancing, asset location strategies and retirement income planning.

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Sovran Advisors is a fee-based advisory firm that generally requires a $25,000 minimum initial investment for its APM and UMA programs, though this minimum may be waived. AssetMark accounts have minimums of $6,000 for qualified accounts and $10,000 for non-qualified accounts.

As a fee-based firm, Sovran representatives may receive commissions from the sale of insurance or securities, which represents a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its clients.

Founded in 2023, Sovran has additional offices in Pasadena, Costa Mesa, Woodland Hills and West Covina, California. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, tax-qualified retirement plans and other institutions. 

The firm offers financial planning, investment management and retirement plan consulting. Financial planning services may be provided through one-time fixed engagements or ongoing planning arrangements. Investment management services include advisor-managed portfolios, unified managed accounts, third-party investment manager selection and advisory annuities.

Sovran uses technical analysis, fundamental analysis, asset allocation and timing-based strategies to guide investment decisions. Portfolios may include individual equities, fixed income, ETFs, mutual funds, options, alternative investments, structured products, money market funds and advisory annuities, depending on the client's objectives and account program.

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Torren Management is a fee-only advisory firm that works with a limited number of high-net-worth individuals. In fact, to become a client, you'll need at least $3 million in investable assets and be referred to the firm. Founded in 2023, Torren Management is one of the youngest firms on this list. 

The firm offers discretionary investment advisory services, which may include financial planning and consulting. The firm also provides standalone planning services for a separate fee. Additionally, it may allocate assets to independent managers, sub-advisors, private funds or interval funds, depending on client objectives. 

Torren Management primarily allocates client assets among individual equities, fixed income securities, mutual funds, ETFs and independent managers, based on each client’s objectives. It uses charting and fundamental analysis and employs strategies including long-term and short-term purchases, trading and options. Additionally, the firm treats cash as an asset class.

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Telos Capital Management primarily provides advisory services to individuals, though it also serves a number of high-net-worth investors. This fee-only firm has a set account minimum of $250,000. 

For a firm with a smaller staff of advisors, Telos Capital Management’s team has a variety of certifications, including the CFP®, CFA, AIF and accredited asset management specialist (AAMS) designations.

The firm was founded in 2003 as A&M Investment Management and became Telos Capital Management in 2009. The firm's name, Telos, is derived from the Greek word meaning "ultimate purpose" or "goal." The firm says that its name reflects its belief that investment success can only be achieved if investors lay out clear goals and purposes. Telos subsequently invests its clients' assets with the objective of helping them achieve their unique goals. 

The firm focuses primarily on investment management services, as well as limited-scope financial planning. The latter may include retirement planning, modeling and portfolio analysis. However, these financial planning services are not comprehensive. 

Telos Capital Management employs active, discretionary investment strategies grounded in long-term planning, diversification and fundamental analysis. The firm manages portfolios using equity, fixed-income and blended strategies, as well as ETF-based approaches. Asset types include individual stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, REITs, MLPs, closed-end funds and cash equivalents.

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Wilsey Asset Management (WAM) is another fee-only firm that offers services in investment management and financial planning. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, business entities, trusts and estates. As a fee-only firm, there is no potential conflict of interest related to advisors selling securities for commissions. However, there is a $100,000 minimum account size to obtain the firm's services. 

WAM was founded in 2009. The firm has two financial advisors today, and at least one has obtained the CFP® designation. 

The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, hourly consulting and retirement plan services. Additional services include 401(k) management, ERISA plan consultation and custom financial plans developed by designated CFP® professionals.

WAM primarily builds client portfolios using individual equities, ETFs and bonds, with recommendations shaped by each client's risk profile, financial status, investment objectives, income needs and goals. The firm emphasizes long-term investing, strategic asset allocation and company-level analysis. WAM examines sales and earnings growth, management effectiveness, financial strength, valuation ratios and balance sheet quality when evaluating investments. The firm also conducts weekly reviews of portfolio holdings and may use fundamental, technical, charting, cyclical and economic analysis when developing recommendations.

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Measured Risk Portfolios is a fee-based financial advisory firm based in San Diego. The firm's advisory team includes CFP® professionals, as well as advisors who hold the certified investment management analyst (CIMA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and certified fund specialist (CFS) designations.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisory representatives may receive commissions for the sale of insurance products, which represents a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of its clients.

The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, foundations, trusts, U.S. corporations and other investment advisers. It also works with financial advisors and intermediaries through its investment strategies and sub-advisory services.

Founded in 2007, Measured Risk Portfolios offers portfolio management, pension consulting, financial planning, financial consulting, private placement services, ETF sub-advisory services and sub-advisory portfolio management for other independent RIAs. Financial planning may address retirement, education, estate planning, major purchases and insurance needs analysis.

Measured Risk Portfolios generally requires a $250,000 minimum for investment management services, though minimums may be waived. Its mutual fund strategy is generally used for accounts below that level, and the MRP SynthEquity ETF has no minimum investment requirement.

The firm's investment approach centers on model portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance. Its strategies may include short-duration fixed income, S&P 500 Index call options, S&P 500 options, U.S. Treasuries, mutual funds, ETFs and consumer staples stocks with dividend histories. The firm may also use covered calls, cash-secured puts, sector rotation portfolios and a speculative options strategy for aggressive investors.

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Centura is a fee-based firm that works with clients with at least $2 million. The firm offers investment management and financial planning consulting services. Financial consulting can consist of a variety of services ranging from retirement planning to tax planning, real estate planning, insurance services and cash flow forecasting. 

As a fee-based firm, there is a potential conflict of interest related to advisors on staff who can receive compensation for the sale of insurance. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of its clients. 

Centura Wealth Advisory was founded in 2018. Today, the firm employs 19 advisors who have obtained a variety of certifications including the CFP®, CFA, AIF, certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) and chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), among others. 

Centura builds investment portfolios using several approaches, including studying company fundamentals, market trends and statistical models. It invests in a mix of assets such as mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, real estate, private funds and options. Some accounts may include older investments or outside managers when it makes sense to do so.

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Tidemark, which markets itself as Tidemark Financial Partners, is a fee-based advisory firm that offers wealth management and financial planning services. As a fee-based firm, its advisors may receive insurance commissions and third-party insurance referral compensation, which represents a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests.

Tidemark does not require a set account minimum, though individual investment advisor representatives may impose minimums depending on a client's circumstances and needs. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and other business entities.

Founded in 2023, Tidemark Financial Partners offers ongoing asset management, financial planning, consulting services, retirement planning and estate planning through a third-party digital estate planning service. The firm also provides planning services for certain professional groups, including biotech executives, engineers and educators, as well as working executives and individuals or couples who are nearing or already in retirement.

The team at Tidemark Financial Partners comprises advisors who hold the CFP®, CFA and CPWA marks, as well as the accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) designations.

The firm generally uses long-term and short-term purchases, asset allocation, investment selection and portfolio monitoring. Its analysis may include charting, cyclical analysis, fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Portfolios may include equities, ETFs, mutual funds, fixed-income securities, alternative investments, structured products, cryptocurrency products and cash equivalents.

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Our list of the top financial advisors in San Diego concludes with Financial Sense Advisors. No firm on this list has been in business for longer than Financial Sense, which was founded in 1985 and does business under the name "Financial Sense Wealth Management."

Financial Sense, which operates on a fee-based compensation model, primarily works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals. It also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as corporations and other businesses. Account minimums range between $50,000 and $250,000. 

The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and businesses, pension consulting, publication of periodicals or newsletters and educational seminars or workshops. Its reported regulatory assets under management are managed on a discretionary basis.

Financial Sense Advisors' separately managed account assets are primarily allocated to exchange-traded equity securities. Portfolios may also include municipal bonds, non-investment-grade corporate bonds, cash and cash equivalents, U.S. government and agency bonds, investment-grade corporate bonds, derivatives and bullion or precious metals. The firm may use derivatives in client accounts, depending on client objectives.

As a fee-based firm, advisors on staff may receive commissions for the sale of securities or insurance products, which represents a conflict of interest. However, the firm must put the needs of the client first and is bound by a fiduciary duty to do so.