Top Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara, CA

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Mission Wealth Management is the first firm on our list. The firm’s client base is a mix of mostly non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, with some charitable organizations as well. The firm does not have a minimum initial investment for new clients.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors at Mission may earn commissions on certain transactions. While this creates the potential for a conflict of interest, the firm will always act in its clients’ best interests due to its fiduciary duty.

Mission Wealth Management specializes in financial planning, portfolio management for both individuals and businesses, consulting for retirement plans and the selection of independent investment advisors.

Mission Wealth Management Background

Mission Wealth Management was founded in 2000, and it currently has over a dozen partners. The two majority stakeholders are co-founder and CEO Seth Streeter and co-founder and chief compliance officer (CCO) Brad Stark.

At its Santa Barbara headquarters, the firm boasts a number of certifications, including certified financial planners (CFPs), certified divorce financial analysts (CDFAs), accredited asset management specialists (AAMSs), accredited wealth management analysts (AWMAs), chartered financial consultants (ChFCs), chartered life underwriters (CLUs), chartered retirement plans specialists (CRPSs) and more.

Mission Wealth Management Investment Philosophy

Mission Wealth Management typically makes recommendations on a wide variety of investment securities, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), institutional mutual funds, dimensional funds, multi-manager funds, common and preferred stocks, corporate and government bonds, municipal tax-free bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and cash instruments, variable insurance contracts, existing client holdings and several alternative investments.

Although the firm may make recommendations on any of the above, its primary investments are ETFs, mutual funds, institutional funds and individual securities. Mission Wealth Management doesn’t have custody of any client assets, typically working with a custodian like Fidelity or Charles Schwab. This practice is quite common across the financial advisor industry.

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West Coast Financial is a fee-only firm that opened for business back in 1983. It currently works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

The firm offers portfolio management services for both individuals and businesses, as well as financial planning, consulting and selection of other advisors. West Coast Financial will typically only accept new clients that have at least $1 million in investable assets. However, the firm is open to waiving or altering this requirement.

West Coast Financial Background

West Coast Financial was founded in 1983 under the name E. David Yossem, Inc. Its owners are E. David Yossem, Steven A. Weintraub, David C. Gore and BSD Partners, which is a limited partnership owned by founder E. David Yossem and senior financial advisor Steven A. Weintraub. Of the firm's advisors, a handful are based in Santa Barbara. The firm includes certifications such as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and certified private wealth advisor (CPWA).

West Coast Financial Investment Philosophy

West Coast Financial approaches every client portfolio uniquely, as it believes every client has a distinctive financial situation. It typically invests in money market instruments, bonds, preferred stocks, common stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and mutual funds where appropriate.

When purchasing securities for client portfolios, the firm expects to hold them for several years. The primary exception to this rule is if the firm is rebalancing a portfolio back to its target asset allocation.

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Arlington Financial Advisors is next on our list. Most of its client base is comprised of high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, though it also works with pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as other investment advisors. The firm doesn’t have an account minimum for new clients.

Arlington Financial Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to its clients. Additionally, the firm may offer to consult with retirement plans and may occasionally allocate client assets to independent money managers.

Despite having a few advisors that are insurance agents, this is a fee-only firm because those advisors don't sell insurance to clients. This means all of the firm's compensation comes from client-paid fees.

Arlington Financial Advisors Background

Arlington Financial Advisors was formed in 2010, but it has operated as an SEC-registered investment advisor since just 2016. It’s owned by managing partner Joseph Weiland and partners Cody Makela, John A. Lorenz, Dianne Duva, Arthur Swalley and R. Wells Hughes. Among the firm’s advisors, you’ll find advisory certifications including certified financial planner (CFP) and certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

Arlington Financial Advisors Investment Philosophy

Arlington Financial Advisors seeks to provide a diversified portfolio for each client with an asset allocation that aligns with their investing goals, risk tolerance, cash flow needs and time horizon. After establishing the appropriate asset allocation, the firm typically rebalances on an annual basis.

The firm invests in a standard range of securities, such as individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and options. The firm will also consider other public and private securities if it deems it appropriate for the client’s financial outlook.

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Ariadne Wealth Management has been doing business since 2008. It is a fee-only firm that offers advisory services solely to high-net-worth individual clients. Ariadne has one of the highest account minimums of any firm on this list at $5 million per household.

The firm provides a range of services including asset management, financial planning and consulting for retirement plans. Financial planning services include retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, charitable planning, business planning, debt management and more.

Ariadne Wealth Management Background

Ariadne Wealth Management was founded in 2014 by Gene Dongieux. The Dongieux Family Trust, Ariadne Wealth Holdings, LLC, Rick DuBreuil and Adam Stempel are the owners of the firm. There are advisory certifications at the firm that include certified financial planners (CFP) and chartered financial analysts (CFA).

Fees for wealth management services are calculated as a percentage of your assets under management (AUM). The exact percentage you receive is dependent on the specifics of your finances. This fee tends to incorporate financial planning and ongoing asset management services.

Ariadne Wealth Management Investment Philosophy

Ariadne Wealth Management uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses to come to the right investment strategy for each client. Quantitatively, the firm examines large amounts of data such as historical returns, current returns, regression analysis and more. Qualitatively, advisors rely on years of experience to spot scenarios where the data might be misleading.

The firm may consider a wide range of securities depending on the client’s objectives and risk tolerance. However, it will primarily recommend exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and individual stocks and bonds.

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Avalan has been doing business in the Santa Barbara area since 2011. Its client base is a mix of non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans and charitable organizations. The firm doesn’t have a minimum account size, but it has a $10,000 minimum annual fee.

Certain advisors at Avalan are licensed to sell insurance products and earn commissions on those sales. The receipt of these commissions creates a potential conflict of interest. However, Avalan must abide by fiduciary duty and act in clients’ best interests no matter what.

The firm offers asset management and an automated investing program, along with financial planning and consulting services. Financial planning can cover, among other topics, retirement planning, estate planning, charitable gift planning, education planning, corporate and personal tax planning, real estate analysis, mortgage/debt analysis, insurance analysis and lines of credit evaluation.

Avalan Background

Avalan first opened its doors in 2011. The firm’s principal owners are Richard Schuette and Kathryn Courain, who are two of the firm's advisors. Advisory certifications at the firm include the certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC) designations.

For asset management services, Avalan charges a negotiable percentage of your AUM that won’t exceed 2.00%. If you take part in the automated investing program, you’ll be charged an annual fee of 0.50% to 1.00% of your invested assets.

Avalan Investment Philosophy

When creating client portfolios, Avalan generally invests in a standard range of securities. These could include individual stocks or bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities. 

Every client of the firm will receive a portfolio that’s globally diversified across several different asset classes. This fits in with the firm’s preference for long-term, disciplined investing over speculation and active management.

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Trinity Capital Management is headquartered in Santa Barbara, but it also operates secondary branches in Rancho Cucamonga, California and Olympia, Washington. The majority of the firm’s clients are non-high-net-worth individuals, but it also manages money for high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

Trinity Capital Management provides fee-only investment management services and advanced financial planning. The firm doesn’t have a minimum account size.

Trinity Capital Management Background

Trinity Capital Management was formed in 2006, and its principal owners are Fredric B. Fisher and Andrew Y. Bucher. Fisher is the firm’s president and chief compliance officer (CCO), and Bucher is the chief investment officer (CIO). Of the firm’s advisors, advisory certifications include certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Trinity Capital Management Investment Philosophy

Trinity Capital Management invests in no-load mutual funds, corporate and government bonds, tradable certificates of deposit (CDs) and cash management or money market funds. The firm centers its investing approach around modern portfolio theory, and it prefers to adopt a long-term perspective whenever possible.

Trinity believes that global diversification is a crucial aspect of long-term investing success. The aim is to minimize volatility while accessing sustainable market gains.

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Omega Financial Group is the next firm on our list. The firm mostly works with non-high-net-worth individuals, but it maintains advisory relationships with high-net-worth individuals, pension plans and charitable organizations as well.

Some Omega advisors are licensed to sell insurance products, and they may earn additional commissions for these sales. This makes the firm fee-based and creates the potential for a conflict of interest. Despite this, it has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its clients at all times.

The firm provides asset management, financial planning and consulting services to its clients. The firm has a $1 million minimum investment requirement for new clients, though this minimum is waivable.

Omega Financial Group Background

Omega Financial Group was first established in 2009. Dylan B. Minor is an 80% owner of the firm and Bryan W. Reinhard owns the remaining 20%. The firm's advisors boast numerous certifications, such as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and chartered retirement plan counselor (CRPC).

Omega Financial Group Investment Philosophy

Omega Financial Group often invests in a diversified collection of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities and alternative investments when constructing client portfolios.

The firm tailors its investment strategy to each client’s risk tolerance, liquidity needs and time horizon. The firm takes these factors into account and uses them to create an asset allocation and investment strategy that’s best equipped to produce returns over the long term.

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Pacific Wealth Strategies Group is a fee-based firm. Founded in 2007, the firm primarily works with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, though it also has some pension plans, charitable organizations and corporations as clients too.

The firm is fee-based, which means advisors may earn commissions for conducting certain transactions, like insurance product sales. Although this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm is also bound by fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of its clients at all times.

The firm provides clients with financial planning, investment management and the selection of outside money managers. Like most firms, Pacific Wealth Strategies Group does not act as a custodian of any client assets. The firm doesn’t have any sort of account minimum.

Pacific Wealth Strategies Group Background

Pacific Wealth Strategies Group was established in 2007 by Jefferey D. Brookshire and Erin J. Neil. Brookshire is the president and chief compliance officer (CCO) of the firm. Neil is the firm’s vice president and treasurer. They each own equal shares.

In addition to its Santa Barbara headquarters, Pacific Wealth Strategies Group has a branch based in Porterville, California. The team at its Santa Barbara office includes certifications such as certified financial planner (CFP), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified wealth strategist (CWS) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA).

Pacific Wealth Strategies Group Investment Philosophy

Pacific Wealth Strategies Group provides recommendations on a wide range of investments. These include no-load and load-waived mutual fund shares, exchange-listed securities, securities traded over the counter, fixed income securities, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), foreign issues, warrants, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs) and more.

The firm also prioritizes asset allocation over individual security selection during portfolio construction. To determine the proper asset allocation, advisors will consider the client’s current financial situation, future time horizon, thoughts about the market and family dynamics.

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Curtis Advisory Group is a wealth advisory firm established in 2009. The largest portion of the firm’s clients are non-high-net-worth individuals, but it also works with high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

The firm offers standard portfolio management, as well as investing oversight for externally managed accounts. Further, it provides services including an automated investing program through Charles Schwab, financial planning and consulting for pension plans. The firm generally requires at least $500,000 in investable assets, but it may waive this minimum at its discretion.

Curtis Advisory Group is a fee-based firm, as some on-staff advisors can earn commissions from insurance sales. Despite this, the firm abides by fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in your best interest at all times.

Curtis Advisory Group Background

Curtis Advisory Group was established in 2009 by Ryan Earl Curtis. Curtis remains the principal owner of this independent firm, and he’s also one of the firm’s advisors, along with Joshua D. Hayes. For investment management services, the firm will typically charge between 0.10% and 1.00% of your managed assets.

Curtis Advisory Group Investment Philosophy

Each client of Curtis Advisory Group will open the investment process off by completing a “Client Questionnaire Survey,” which provides the firm with crucial information about your personal investing goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. From there, the firm will assemble investing recommendations that fit in with the unique variables you’ve presented.

Curtis Advisory Group subscribes to modern portfolio theory (MPT), which is the attempt to maximize investment return for a given level or risk. A carefully built asset allocation and global diversification are usually integrated as part of an MPT-based strategy.

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Painted Porch Advisors rounds out our list of Santa Barbara's top financial advisors. It is a fee-only firm that carries no minimum account requirement to obtain its services. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, individual participants of a retirement plan, profit-sharing plans, pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

As a fee-only firm, it does not receive an extra commission for the sale of any securities.  

Painted Porch Advisors Background

Painted Porch Advisors was founded in 2019 by Brian Lloyd, who serves as the CEO today. The firm now has six advisors on the team that combine to manage more than $145 million in assets under management (AUM). The advisors collectively hold designations such as a chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Painted Porch Advisors Investment Strategy

The firm puts a large emphasis on the up-front planning of its investment management practice. Each advisor will sit with new clients to learn their life goals and individual desires for their investments. They claim to never sell or pitch anything and offer free consulting as a means to help potential clients better take control of their finances. Some of the types of investments utilized in its client portfolios include mutual funds, ETFs, Bonds and private placements.