Top Financial Advisors in Walnut Creek, CA

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Destination Wealth Management takes the No. 1 spot on our  list of the top financial advisors in Walnut Creek. A majority of the firm's individual clients have a high net worth, while the rest of the firm's client base comprises non-high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

In order to become a client of this firm, you'll need at least $500,000 in investable assets. However, the fee-only firm may decide to reduce or waive this minimum at its discretion.

The firm has a wealth management offering, which combines your investment portfolio with a financial plan. By doing this, the firm hopes to align all of your financial needs. Typical financial planning services include retirement planning, tax management, estate planning and review, insurance needs analysis, family and charitable giving planning, education fund planning and more.

There are quite a few certifications across the advisory team at Destination Wealth Management. These include the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) and certified investment management analyst (CIMA) designations.

On a firm-wide basis, Destination Wealth Management believes in investing with an eye toward long-term returns. More specifically, the firm states in its Form ADV that its focus "tends to be on longer-term trends that we see having a financial impact on investable assets." Despite this approach, the firm realizes that short-term trends in the market may be necessary to adjust for. In these cases, the firm will make investment decisions by combining fundamental analysis with a review of current market trends.

Asset allocations will be decided on based on your personal financial goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. The firm may invests in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), derivatives, interests in partnerships, among other asset classes.

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Earned Wealth Advisors works with individuals, families, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, corporations and charitable organizations. The firm has a particular focus on serving doctors, dentists and their practices. 

Earned Wealth Advisors is a fee-based firm. While its advisory services are billed as flat or asset-based fees, some supervised persons are licensed insurance agents and may receive commission compensation from affiliated insurance agency Vital Financial Insurance Services, LLC. This creates a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is bound by its fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of clients.

The team at Earned Wealth Advisors features CFP® professionals, as well as holders of the CFA, CPA/PFS and EA credentials, among others.  

The firm offers a broad suite of services that include wealth management, financial planning and retirement plan advisory. Its financial planning services can cover tax and insurance planning, mortgage and career consulting, retirement and estate planning, budgeting, debt refinancing and employee benefit analysis. 

When constructing portfolios, Earned Wealth Advisors employs a diversified, risk-aware approach that emphasizes asset allocation across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and private investments.

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Castle Rock Wealth Management is next up on our list. This group works with a large client base. Clients include non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plan sponsors and businesses. The firm does not maintain a minimum asset requirement, so technically anyone can open an account with Castle Rock.

Castle Rock offers portfolio management, financial planning and consulting services to its clients. Occasionally, the firm may refer client assets to third-party investment advisors.

Castle Rock is a fee-based firm, which means some advisory employees can sell insurance products or securities on a commission basis. Although this represents a potential conflict of interest, the firm abides by fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in your best interest.

Advisors on staff hold a combination of the following professional credentials: CFP®, AIF, certified plan fiduciary advisor (CPFA) and certified wealth strategist (CWS).

Castle Rock Wealth Management typically invests in individual stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities when constructing client portfolios. 

Before deciding on any specific investments, the firm will look to establish a few important factors that are unique to each client. This can include current resources, investment goals, time until retirement, risk tolerance and even tax concerns. With these considerations in mind, the firm will develop a diversified asset allocation that matches the client’s tolerance for risk and delivers an expected return that’s in line with their goals.

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Burton Enright Welch has been providing investment advice in Walnut Creek for nearly 40 years. The firm principally works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients include pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses.

The firm specializes in investment management and financial planning, as well as consulting for 401(k) and other retirement plans. Occasionally, the firm may allocate a portion or all of a client’s assets with independent managers. The firm does not have a specific minimum account size for new clients.

Burton Enright Welch is a fee-only firm. While some of its advisors are licensed insurance agents, they do not receive any commissions. As a result, all of the firm's compensation comes from client-paid fees. The firm has advisors on staff who hold the CFP®, EA, CFA, ChFC and chartered retirement plan specialist (CRPS) designations. 

Fees for investment management services are based on a percentage of client assets that can range from 1.50% to 0.30%. 

Burton Enright Welch generally recommends that clients invest in a combination of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and bonds, options and more. These investments are generally intended to be held for a year or longer. The firm may also recommend investing in individual stocks and bonds.

The firm begins the portfolio creation process by working with each client to establish a target asset allocation. This serves as a starting point for each portfolio, but the firm will continue to analyze investment options and reevaluate if changes to the allocation could potentially be beneficial to you.

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Capital Advantage is a fee-only practice that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trustees, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. 

Capital Advantage charges asset-based fees according to a tiered schedule. The firm also maintains a minimum quarterly fee of $1,125, which may be waived in certain cases. It’s important to note that Capital Advantage does not charge performance-based fees, nor does it accept commissions from the sale of securities or investment products.

The Capital Advantage team includes (CFP®) professionals and CFA charterholders, as well as advisors who hold the CPA, CRPC and CIMA designations. Each advisor is required to act as a fiduciary, placing client interests first.

The firm provides two core services: investment management and financial planning. The former includes discretionary management of client portfolios built around goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. Strategies may emphasize growth, income or capital preservation, and clients may impose reasonable restrictions on certain securities. Financial planning is available at no additional cost for clients who engage the firm, and may cover budgeting, retirement, tax planning, estate considerations, education funding, insurance analysis and other financial topics.

When constructing portfolios, Capital Advantage relies on both fundamental and technical analysis. Advisors review economic indicators, company financials, investor sentiment, interest rates, money supply, inflation and other factors, along with price and volume data, to inform investment decisions. Portfolios are diversified across asset classes and may include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities, corporate and municipal bonds, CDs and other securities.

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Vista Advisor Group is a fee-based practice that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm is also open to working with charities, corporations and other businesses. 

While advisory services are primarily billed as flat or asset-based fees, certain representatives are also licensed insurance agents and may receive commission compensation from the sale of insurance products. This creates potential conflicts of interest, though the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times.

The firm provides three core advisory services: wrap comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning and consulting and retirement plan consulting. Portfolio management is offered exclusively through its wrap fee program, in which clients receive individualized investment management, ongoing monitoring and rebalancing and tailored asset allocation strategies. 

Financial planning and consulting services may address investment planning, retirement planning, estate planning, charitable giving, education funding, personal tax planning, real estate analysis, mortgage/debt review, insurance analysis and other financial issues. Retirement plan consulting services assist employer plan sponsors with investment policy statements, plan design, asset allocation models, investment monitoring and participant education.

When constructing portfolios, Vista Advisor Group applies a wide range of strategies, including strategic, dynamic, tactical and core-satellite asset allocation approaches. Advisors may recommend investments across multiple asset classes, such as equities, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), commodities, derivatives and alternative assets. The firm also utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis, evaluating factors such as management quality, competitive advantage, economic cycles and market trends.

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J.P. King Advisors has been providing investment advice in Walnut Creek since 1981, making it the oldest practice on this list. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, women, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, partnerships and small businesses.

The firm offers investment advisory services, financial planning, portfolio monitoring, quarterly performance reporting, portfolio review meetings and investment policy reviews. It also provides concierge services for clients with complex financial needs, annuity recommendations and insurance policy reviews. The firm does not have a specific minimum account size for new clients.

J.P. King Advisors is a fee-based firm. The firm charges tiered asset-based advisory fees that are billed quarterly in arrears. Certain related persons are licensed insurance agents and may receive commission compensation from the sale of insurance products. This creates a potential conflict of interest, though the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests.

Advisors on staff hold the CFP® and CRPC designations.

When constructing portfolios, J.P. King Advisors uses a modern portfolio theory-based approach that emphasizes strategic asset allocation, global diversification and long-term portfolio discipline. Portfolios are generally rebalanced at least quarterly.

The firm generally invests client assets across domestic and international equities, fixed income, alternatives such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and cash. It primarily uses no-load mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and may also use active investment managers and other securities when appropriate.

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Elevation Wealth Partners works with individuals, families, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, banks, thrift institutions and investment companies. The fee-only firm is headquartered in Walnut Creek, with additional offices in Santa Rosa, Napa and North Lake Tahoe.

Elevation Wealth Partners does not state a minimum asset requirement. However, the firm generally applies a $5,000 minimum annual fee, which it may waive or negotiate at its discretion.

The firm offers investment management, wealth advisory services, discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement account management, third-party money manager selection and non-investment consulting. Financial planning services may address retirement, tax, estate, education, insurance, cash flow and debt management matters. Elevation also provides tax preparation, accounting and bookkeeping services under a separate agreement and fee.

The firm's advisors hold a variety of professional credentials, including the CFP®, CFA, CPA and PFS designations.

When constructing portfolios, Elevation Wealth Partners generally uses an asset allocation investment approach, rather than stock picking or market timing. The firm develops investment policy statements based on each client’s objectives, risk tolerance and constraints, and it reviews portfolios at least quarterly.

The firm typically builds portfolios with diversified mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including institutional, low-cost, tax-efficient and no-load funds where appropriate. ESG-aligned investing may also be incorporated upon request.

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Treehouse Wealth Advisors works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. 

Treehouse Wealth Advisors is a fee-only firm, as it does not accept commissions or maintain affiliated broker-dealer relationships. While it may recommend or select third-party money managers, the firm discloses these arrangements and remains bound by fiduciary duty to act in its clients’ best interests at all times.

The firm offers a wide range of services, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial consulting, wealth planning and the selection of third-party money managers. Wealth planning covers areas such as family continuity, estate planning, trustee oversight, integrated tax and financial planning, lifestyle management, philanthropy and risk management.

Advisors on staff hold the CFP®, CRPC and ChFC designations. 

When constructing portfolios, Treehouse Wealth Advisors provides advice on a wide variety of securities, including equities, mutual funds, corporate and municipal bonds, U.S. government securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), structured notes and private fund interests. 

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Our list of the top financial advisors in Walnut Creek concludes with Boltwood Capital Management. Founded in 1986, it's the second-oldest practice on this list after J.P. King Advisors. Today, the firm offers investment management and related financial planning services.

As a fee-only firm, Boltwood Capital Management does not receive commissions for the sale of securities, insurance or other investment products, and it is required to act in clients' best interests as a fiduciary.

The firm works with individuals and families, as well as trusts, estates, foundations, endowments, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, IRAs, retirement plans and 529 plan accounts.

Boltwood Capital Management does not require a set account minimum or minimum fee to become a client. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, 401(k) consulting and advisory-only engagements. Financial planning is generally included for investment management clients and may also be offered separately on a negotiated-fee basis.

The small advisory team at Boltwood Capital Management includes one CFA charterholder. 

Boltwood Capital Management generally uses a strategic asset allocation approach based on each client’s investment policy statement. Portfolios may include individual securities, ETFs, mutual funds, convertible bonds, investment-grade fixed income, cash and other asset classes. The firm typically takes a long-term buy-and-hold approach and may rebalance portfolios when allocations move away from target ranges.