Large-firm, income planning financial advisors in Bakersfield, CA

Lance Howard is the principal advisor at Howard Financial with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has operated his own insurance services firm since 1995. He manages an independent financial advisory practice based in Bakersfield, CA. Howard Financial provides fee-based financial planning, consulting, and portfolio advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm follows a non-discretionary approach with documented client goals and uses third-party money managers alongside multi-tier planning services.

Gabriel Woodward is a financial advisor at Woodward Diversified Capital, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Investments, LLC, and Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates a swim instruction business in Bakersfield, California. Woodward Diversified Capital is a fee-only, SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $610 million for around 400 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers customized, risk-adjusted, and tax-aware portfolios using a combination of active and passive strategies, and serves as managing member and investment manager for sector-focused private funds across various industries.

Arnell Land is a financial advisor with Integrated Advisors Network LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Global Markets. He is also an independent licensed insurance agent specializing in accident and health, life only, and variable insurance products. Integrated Advisors Network is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, employing both fundamental and quantitative approaches and frequently utilizes third-party sub-advisers to implement and oversee client portfolios.

Ronald Young is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Bakersfield, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007 and previously worked at Merrill from 2005 to 2007. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

Guillermo Rivas Flores is a financial advisor with Merrill in Bakersfield, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America and California State University Bakersfield. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

Vandana Devi is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she has been serving since 2025. She began her career at Fidelity Investments in 2023, progressing through roles including Financial Service Representative, Financial Representative, and Relationship Manager before assuming her current position. Prior to joining Fidelity, she worked as a Personal Banker at Fremont Bank from 2020 to 2022. Her professional experience encompasses client relationship management and financial planning, with a focus on empowering clients to make informed decisions and maintain confidence in their financial goals. Vandana holds a California Insurance License, supporting her expertise in insurance-related financial services. Outside of her professional work, Vandana engages in activities such as cooking and baking, outdoor adventures, parenthood, reading, traveling, and writing.

Kayla Wheeler is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Madison, WI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. She has worked at Primerica Advisors since 2024 and has prior experience with Spectrum Brands and Lakeside Foods. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in sales of loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and limited discretionary separately managed account options. The firm curates third-party asset managers and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors, operating primarily on a tiered wrap-fee basis.

Stavroula Koutsfetsoulis is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2011. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in fiduciary activities as an attorney-in-fact (power of attorney). Ameriprise is a large institutional firm that provides retirement-income planning services primarily to individuals with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver written recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team, focusing on tailored retirement income strategies.

Cassandra Sanchez is a financial advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, TIAA, US Health Advisors, and various other firms. Sanchez also had involvement with Drunken Donkey, reflecting experience outside the financial sector. Financial & Tax Architects provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm offers proprietary “Private Wealth Strategies” that use ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with accounts reviewed monthly and customizable strategies to meet client needs.

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.