Top Financial Advisors in San Jose, CA

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Silicon Valley Capital Partners has one of the simplest fee structures on this list, as its fees are solely charged as a percentage of clients' assets under management (AUM). This is one of the many reasons it takes our top spot. The firm does not require a set account minimum. However, approximately two-thirds of the firm’s clients are high-net-worth individuals. Individuals without a high net worth, businesses and retirement plans make up the rest of the firm’s client base.

This fee-only firm is known for its all-encompassing takes on topics like risk tolerance, investment research and financial planning. It takes a comprehensive and lifestyle-based approach, as it believes this will provide the most complete picture of a client’s financial life.

Its advisory team includes one certified financial planner (CFP).

Silicon Valley Capital Partners Background

Christopher Combs, portfolio strategy officer, founded Silicon Valley Capital Partners in 2003. Combs, who remains the sole owner of the firm, has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Clients who join this firm can take advantage of many different types of financial management offerings, including:

• Business planning
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Asset allocation
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning
• Financial reporting
• Investment consulting
• Insurance needs analysis
• Retirement plan analysis
• Charitable giving
• Risk management
• Distribution planning

Silicon Valley Capital Partners Investment Strategy

Silicon Valley Capital Partners has built its own research platform called Where Are We Now to help manage risk for its clients. The firm’s tools take into account the typical past performance of an investment, while also projecting how the investment and related market areas will likely perform in the future. 

The firm typically uses exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, stocks, individual bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and bond ETFs. How your assets are allocated between these various investment types is completely determined by your specified liquidity needs, risk tolerance and time horizon.

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Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management (WRP) is up next on our list of San Jose's top financial advisory firms. A fee-only firm, WRP works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals and families.

The firm has advisors who hold the designations of certified financial planners (CFPs) and certified public accountants (CPAs) on staff. To open an account with this firm, you will need to have a minimum of $500,000 in investable assets, though this requirement is waivable. 

Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management Background

This firm was founded in 2006. However, because of multiple name changes over the years, it has been named Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management, LLC since just 2017. The firm is independently owned by managing members Alan Werba, Aaron Rubin and Jason Papier.

Services available include investment consulting, tax planning, income/asset protection, retirement and estate planning, education cost planning, trust creation, IPO stock options planning, philanthropic giving and business succession planning.

WRP also offers supplementary market content, such as newsletters and educational workshops. These are designed to enhance your investing knowledge to give you greater control over your finances.

Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management goes through a clear-cut procedure to ensure your account is optimized to your needs and desires. This process begins with a discovery meeting, during which the firm learns about your priorities and your risk tolerance. Once the aforementioned factors are established, an investment plan is created and presented to you at a personal meeting.

WRP's investment recommendations are generally designed as long-term strategies. Most clients participate in one of four services sponsored by Buckingham Strategic Partners, LLC. These portfolio allocation services invest in various no-load, asset-class mutual funds, as well as individual stocks and bonds.

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Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors primarily works with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as a small number of pensions, profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.

This fee-only firm generally requires clients to have at least $500,000 in investable assets. A socially responsible investing (SRI) focus is available through this firm. In turn, it uses environmental, social and governmental (ESG) factors to make certain investment decisions. There are four certified financial planners (CFPs) on staff.

Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors Background

Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors was founded in 1991 as Weil Capital Management. Its name changed to Lasecke Weil Wealth Advisory Group, LLC in 2005, and then to its current name in 2013. The firm is owned by Lasecke Enterprises, LLC, which is owned by the firm's managing partner Tracy Lasecke, as well as Chris Duke and Scott Ponder, two senior wealth managers at the firm. 

The firm offers asset management and financial planning that may touch on a variety of topics, including:

• Cash flow management
• Estate planning
• Insurance review
• Tax minimization
• College planning
• 401(k) plans for businesses

Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors strives to avoid a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Your advisor will work with you to identify your risk tolerance and financial goals. The firm then uses this information to form a portfolio with a specific asset allocation that fits your needs.

The firm generally recommends institutional-class stock mutual funds with low annual expense ratios and low transactional costs. Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors may also recommend ETFs, low-cost bond funds, individual fixed income securities and other securities. 

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BetterWealth is a fee-only financial advisor firm that has experience working with a wide range of clients. Its clients include individuals (both those with high net worths and otherwise), businesses, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans.

There is no minimum investment needed to open an account with this firm. However, its clients typically have a net worth between $1 million and $25 million.

The BetterWealth team includes some certified financial planners (CFPs) and accredited investment fiduciaries (AIF).

BetterWealth Background

Formed in 2015, BetterWealth is one of the newer financial advisory firms on this list. This firm places an emphasis on educating its clients. Principal owner Scott Stauffer has experience in financial education, and the firm also offers a wealth of educational market reports. Stauffer, who founded the firm, has been in the personal finance industry for 20 years.

BetterWealth can help clients with investment and retirement planning, estate planning, real estate analysis, corporate and personal tax planning, lines of credit evaluation, philanthropic planning, mortgage/debt analysis and more. 

BetterWealth Investment Strategy

BetterWealth clients typically have long-term investment perspectives of at least five to seven years. A client's risk tolerance and time horizon are determining factors in their portfolio, which may consist of some combination of individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, mutual funds and other securities. 

While the firm generally adheres to long-term strategies, it will also purchase certain securities for shorter-term needs from time to time. "For example, when harvesting tax losses, our firm will generally purchase replacement funds that are similar to a client’s portfolio funds and hold them for 31 days to avoid wash sales rules. The original funds are usually then repurchased," the firm says in its brochure. 

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C-J Advisory, the next firm on our list, says that its ideal client is committed, patient, responsive and open-minded. The firm's account minimum is set at $25,000, though this is waivable. The majority of the firm's clients are individual investors who do not have a high net worth, but it also serves some high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates and charitable organizations.

The fee-only firm has two accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs) on staff. Its fees are charged as a percentage of a client's assets under management. The firm also charges hourly for some services and imposes fixed fees in some cases. 

C-J Advisory Background

Established in 1980, C-J Advisory is the oldest firm on this list. Kevin Van Dyke, an unaffiliated individual, currently owns 100% of the firm. Senior vice president Kyle Thompson runs C-J Advisory on a day-to-day basis. 

The firm offers both consultations and advisory relationships. Its services include:

• Retirement planning
• Tax planning
• Cash flow management
• Estate planning
• Insurance analysis

C-J Advisory Investment Strategy

C-J Advisory holds that in order to achieve your financial goals, it’s important to first take an all-encompassing look at your financial life. To get a clear picture of your finances, this firm requires clients to fill out a detailed cash flow statement. This informs your advisor of how you spend your money, while it also identifies your liquidity needs, which in turn influence how your money will be invested.

C-J Advisory primarily invests its clients’ assets in ETFs and passively managed index funds. However, actively managed funds, which have grown in popularity in recent years, are also part of the firm’s overall investment strategy. "We do not put all your eggs in one basket," the firm states on its website. "To reduce risk, investments are diversified across many sectors, countries, bond durations and other non-correlated asset classes to withstand potential challenges in the markets."

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Clarity Wealth Advisors says that it strives to help all of its clients reach financial independence. The firm believes that through “defined investment objectives, a thoughtful plan and a well-constructed implementation strategy” it can accomplish this goal for its largely high-net-worth client base. It does have some individual clients with less than high net worth, though.

At least $500,000 is needed to open an advisory account with this fee-based firm. There is one certified financial planner (CFP) on staff.

Advisors at this firm may earn commissions from selling certain insurance products or securities. However, fiduciary duty requires this firm and its advisors to always act in clients' best interests, no matter what.

Clarity Wealth Advisors Background

Clarity Wealth Advisors is principally owned by managing partner Parvin Manuchehri and managing director Milind Dalal. The firm has been working with clients since 2011.

Clarity Wealth Advisors offers services that include investment management, income tax planning, retirement planning, insurance analysis, estate planning, education funding, cash flow management, debt management and more.  It also provides pension consulting services, which involve advising pension plan sponsors on how to choose investment options, educating their plan participants and providing consistent plan reviews.

Clarity Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Clarity Wealth Advisors builds client portfolios based on clients’ unique objectives and two types of investment analysis. The firm uses both fundamental and technical analysis to provide a snapshot of how a particular investment has performed in the past, how it’s currently performing and whether the market it’s in is projected to do well. This information is then applied within the context of your stated time horizon and risk tolerance. 

Depending on a client's needs, the firm may create a custom portfolio or invest the client's assets in one or more model strategies. These model portfolios may be built in-house or offered through third-party managers. "In either case, we will monitor your portfolio's performance on an ongoing basis, and will rebalance the portfolio as required by changes in market conditions and in your financial circumstances," the firm states in its brochure. 

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Legacy Wealth Advisors, a fee-only firm, has the best client-per-advisor ratio of any company on our list. With its hefty $2 million account minimum, Legacy works with twice as many high-net-worth individuals as it does individuals who fall short of the high-net-worth threshold. 

The Legacy team features a number of accredited professionals, including certified public accountants (CPAs), personal financial specialists (PFSs), chartered financial analysts (CFA) and certified financial planners (CFP). As a fee-only firm, Legacy does not sell third-party financial products on a commission basis. Instead, its revenue comes solely from the fees that clients pay.  

Legacy Wealth Advisors Background

Founded in 2000, Legacy Wealth Advisors is principally owned by its president and chief investment officer Edwin Ryu. In addition to more than 25 years of experience as a wealth advisor, Ryu also holds the CPA and PFS designations. 

Legacy Wealth Advisors works with clients in a variety of areas, including portfolio management, cash flow analysis, retirement planning, education funding, income tax strategies, risk management, estate tax planning and charitable giving.

Legacy Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Before investing a client's money, the firm conducts what it calls "an extensive discovery process" that includes interviews with the client and questionnaires. Legacy especially focuses on identifying the client's risk tolerance and return expectations. 

From there, the firm may invest in a variety of areas, including real estate, healthcare and biotech, and use passive index strategies, active alpha-generating strategies, as well as tax-efficient strategies. 

Legacy may recommend target asset allocation paired with tactical asset allocation, "which allows for clients to occasionally engage in short-term deviations from their original asset mix in order to capitalize on the advantageous market and economic conditions that are more favorable for one asset class than for others," the firm states in its brochure.

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Concentrum Wealth Management does not require a minimum account size. It primarily serves individuals without a high net worth, though its client base also includes high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans and various types of businesses. The firm has four certified financial planners (CFPs) and two certified divorce financial analysts (CDFAs) on staff.

This firm’s advisors may earn commissions from selling certain insurance policies and securities, making Concentrum a fee-based firm. But because this firm is a fiduciary, it must always act in your best interest, no matter what.

Concentrum Wealth Management Background

Managing partners and brothers Jeffery and Jay Fong founded Concentrum Wealth Management in 2013. The duo has nearly 50 years of combined experience working in the financial services industry.

The firm most commonly serves individuals and businesses, and its services reflect that. For individuals, the firm offers retirement planning, estate planning, college planning, tax mitigation, insurance analysis, charitable giving planning, as well as debt and mortgage evaluation services. For businesses and corporations, the firm offers tax planning, investment planning and general financial planning.

Concentrum Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Concentrum Wealth Management may use a variety of investment strategies, including long-term purchases (buying security and holding it for more than a year), short-term purchases (holding a security for less than a year) and trading (selling a security within 30 days of its purchase). The firm may also engage in short sales, margin transactions and option writing.

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TTP Investments is a fee-only firm, and it does not have any minimum investment requirements for new clients. In turn, its client base is primarily composed of individuals without a high net worth. However, the firm also works with high-net-worth individuals and one charitable organization.

The firm's advisory staff does not hold any certifications, such as certified financial planner (CFP) or chartered financial analyst (CFA).

TTP Investments Background

TTP Investments is a relatively young firm, having been established in 2016. The firm is under the ownership of its CEO and founder, Harris Willner. Willner holds an MBA in financial planning from Golden Gate University.

TTP offers a selection of asset management services that include helping clients invest their money through a series of different portfolio strategies developed by the firm. Its financial planning offerings can cover topics like retirement, capital accumulation, investment and property management, tax avoidance and more.

TTP Investments Investment Strategy

TTP Investments has four main investment strategies that it uses to invest in clients' assets. They are each based on a specific risk tolerance profile, ranging from conservative to aggressive. Here's a breakdown of each:

• Conservative Risk Tolerance: This strategy is meant for clients who want liquidity but want better returns than what a bank can offer. Therefore, this strategy generally invests in bonds, but may also invest in blue-chip dividend-paying common stocks. 
• Balanced Risk Tolerance: This is designed for risk-averse clients who are either in retirement or approaching it. The portfolio aims to provide income too, so it incorporates dividend-paying domestic equities and corporate bonds.
• Growth Risk Tolerance: This strategy is intended for clients who are still a few years off of retirement. For starters, the firm will review various market sectors and buy into those with the strongest momentum. Then, depending on how these sectors perform, the firm will review your portfolio and make as many changes as is necessary.
• Aggressive Risk Tolerance: In most cases, this strategy is reserved for accredited investors who can handle a substantial amount of risk. The firm will make sure only a small portion of your overall assets are being used for this type of strategy.

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Hayes Financial, another fee-only firm, has a client base that's comprised almost entirely of individuals and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also works with pension and profit-sharing plans. There is no minimum initial investment for new clients.

The staff of advisors at this firm does not hold any advisory certifications, such as certified financial planner (CFP).

Hayes Financial Background

Hayes Financial was founded in 2017 by firm president Zachary D. Hayes, who has over 20 year of experience in the financial services industry. Hayes remains the sole owner of the firm today.

Investment services are central to what Hayes Financial can offer its clients. The firm utilizes a seven-step process to create an investment plan for these clients. In addition, the firm has a selection of financial planning services that clients can tap.

Hayes Financial Investment Strategy

At the dawn of every client relationship, Hayes Financial works to understand its clients' specific needs. This involves reviewing their current financial situation, such as their budget, liquidity expectations and income levels. Once the firm feels as though it understands the client's needs, it will create an asset allocation for their investable assets.

The firm adheres to Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT), the investing philosophy states that portfolios can have their returns maximized for a specific risk tolerance level. When it comes to specific securities that are used, the firm tends to invest in mutual funds, but may also use stocks, bonds and ETFs.