Advisor at Michael Garber Financial Planning
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Some details may be added by the advisor after claiming their profile. Refreshed daily • Updated today.
Location
Gilroy, CA
Credentials
CFP®, Series 65
Industry experience
8 years
Michael Garber is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience and the principal of Michael Garber Financial Planning, an independent advisory firm. He has worked at Keysight Technologies, Inc. since 2014 in an internal organizational consultant role focused on sales skills development. Michael Garber Financial Planning serves individuals and families through a fee-only, independent model offering comprehensive financial planning, investment consulting, tax preparation, estate-plan review, risk management, and small-business planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, cost-minimizing investment approach using passive vehicles and operates on a retainer- and project-based fee structure without discretionary trading authority or acceptance of commissions.
Based on Michael Garber Financial Planning
Project Retainer services are typically flat fees quoted per project; up to $500 due at start, remainder on completion.
Project Retainer fees are based on an hourly rate of $350 per hour for specific project requests.
Fee-only: Open Retainer fees range from $7,500 to $25,000 initially, and $4,000 to $25,000 for renewal years; Project Retainer fees are flat fees based on $350/hour quoted per project.
Gilroy, CA
California · Texas
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
2014 - Present (12 years)
Michael Garber Financial Planning
2005 - Present (21 years)
Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.
Is not active or affiliated with:
Insurance agent
They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.
Broker-dealer / trader
They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.
Bank
They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.
Trust company
They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.
Fund sponsor
They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.
Accountant / CPA / tax prep
They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.
Lawyer
They provide legal services, typically billed separately.
Real estate agent
They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.
Other specialized services
They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.
CFP®, Series 66
Aromas, CA
Wealth Cairn, LLC
Peter Mu is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Wealth Cairn, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company. He is also licensed to sell insurance products as part of his professional activities. Wealth Cairn provides advisory services to institutional and individual clients, specializing in portfolio management, pension consulting, and financial planning. The firm employs a long-term investment approach grounded in modern portfolio theory and often implements strategies through third-party managers with ongoing due diligence.
CFP®, Series 66
Morgan Hill, CA
J Ward Financial
James Ward is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with four years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal of J Ward Financial, an independent firm based in Morgan Hill, CA. In addition to his financial advisory work, Ward is an attorney specializing in estate planning and elder law and owns businesses in real estate and insurance. J Ward Financial provides discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and their trusts. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset allocation based on a comprehensive risk analysis and employs third-party platforms and advisers to manage client portfolios.
CFP®, Series 65
Morgan Hill, CA
EquityFTW
Charles Stermetz is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at EquityFTW. His prior roles include positions at Moss Adams and Blue Barn Wealth, as well as teaching engagements at Utah Valley University. EquityFTW is an independent firm providing fee-only financial planning and consulting to individuals, corporations, and businesses. The firm offers written financial plans and advice across various areas, including retirement, tax, estate, cash-flow, business planning, and equity-compensation analysis, focusing on planning and coordination rather than asset management.
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Hollister, CA
RLS Private Wealth Consulting, Inc.
Alex Baier is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with RLS Private Wealth Consulting, Inc. and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Foresters Financial Services. RLS Private Wealth Consulting provides family office services, wealth concierge, and comprehensive financial planning for families, business owners, and individual clients. The firm focuses on advisory, coordination, and implementation support, using third-party custodians and managers for investment execution, and emphasizes family office operations and education programming without offering discretionary investment management.
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Hollister, CA
RLS Private Wealth Consulting, Inc.
Rhonda Staelgraeve Secor is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at RLS Private Wealth Consulting, Inc. since 2016. She previously spent four years as a stay-at-home mom. Rhonda is also an advisory board member of Monterey County Bank. RLS Private Wealth Consulting offers family office services, wealth concierge, and comprehensive financial planning for families, business owners, and individual clients. The firm focuses on advisory, coordination, and implementation support, utilizing third-party custodians and managers for investment execution, and emphasizes family office operations and education programming.
Series 65
Morgan Hill, CA
Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC
Jared Elson is a Series 65 licensed advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC and has previously worked at Regent Wealth Advisory, Global Financial Private Capital, and Regent Financial & Insurance Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner and agent at Authentikos Financial & Insurance Services, where he manages life insurance, annuities, and long-term care insurance sales and business operations. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement accounts, trusts, estates, and select corporate and employee benefit plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party manager oversight, utilizing a range of investment instruments and model portfolio solutions tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through — whether you ultimately need an advisor or not.
Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly — so you can choose with confidence.
Compare top advisor firms by metric, firm size, and location.
Warmer provides personalized recommendations and introductions to independent fiduciary advisors. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
Each advisor listed on our site is an independent fiduciary responsible for their own advice. Warmer may receive fees from advisors for participation or referrals; these fees are paid by advisors and do not affect the fees clients pay for advisory services.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before entering into an advisory relationship.
By using our service, you agree to Warmer's Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement and Privacy Policy. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")
