Independent advisors focused on business sale tax planning in California

The right financial advisor for you depends on how you weigh location, expertise, experience, the clients they typically serve, and how they work with you.

Selling a business in California triggers complex tax decisions that can significantly impact your net proceeds. Without expert guidance, you might overlook key deductions or mismanage timing, leading to unnecessary tax burdens. Independent advisors here operate without firm constraints, focusing solely on your unique sale scenario.

  • Capital gains timing. Ask how they plan the sale date to optimize your tax bracket and minimize state and federal taxes.
  • Allocation strategy. Confirm how they recommend dividing sale proceeds among assets to reduce taxable income.
  • Tax deferral options. Inquire about strategies like installment sales or 1031 exchanges that can defer tax liabilities.
  • Post-sale planning. Ensure they consider reinvestment and estate implications to protect your wealth after the sale.

Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.

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Jared F

Series 65

Huntington Beach, CA

Northwest Asset Management

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Retirement income strategy Wealth management Active portfolio management Founder/Business Owner
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

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.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

Chicago, IL

J.P. Morgan Securities

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.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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David H

Series 65

Corona, CA

Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC

David Hart is a financial advisor with Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Safeguard since 2020 and previously held roles at LifePro Asset Management, LLC, Martin and Associates Insurance Services, Inc., and Martin Wealth Management, LLC. Hart is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary and volunteers as an instructor with the Foundation for Fiduciary Education (NACFF), providing unbiased fiduciary financial education. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC serves individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and business clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party sub-advisers, and fee-based financial planning. The firm employs a fundamental-analysis investment process with a preferred horizon of two to ten years and manages over $600 million across approximately 1,800 client relationships.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Retirement income strategy
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Alan T

Series 63, Series 65

Los Angeles, CA

Regal Investment Advisors LLC

Alan Toman is a financial advisor with Regal Investment Advisors LLC in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Regal Investment Advisors since 2018 and has prior experience with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation and Bankers Life. Outside of his advisory role, Toman is active in the insurance sector, offering accident and health insurance, fixed and indexed annuities, and traditional life insurance products through American Senior Benefits and as an insurance agent. Regal Investment Advisors LLC provides discretionary investment management services to independent advisers and other registered advisers, serving a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers proprietary and third-party model portfolios across various asset classes, with advisers selecting allocations and granting Regal authority to implement and manage strategies.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies

Andrew C

Series 66

Madison, WI

Merrill

Andrew Charles is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over a decade of experience. He works with individuals, families, non-profits, and business owners to navigate financial complexity through a tailored and dynamic planning process. His client focus areas include college education planning, employee financial health, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and tax minimization. Andrew holds a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Wisconsin Madison and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional as well as a Personal Investment Advisor. He takes a holistic approach to financial planning, understanding that every financial decision is part of a larger picture, and bases his client relationships on trust and mutual respect. Outside of his professional work, Andrew enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as biking, fishing, golfing, hiking, ice skating, skiing, and woodworking, as well as drawing, painting, and photography. He is also involved with professional organizations including the Middleton Chamber of Commerce, Middleton Friendship Initiative, Morgan's Caring Connection, and The Madison Club.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning Business sale tax planning Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner Mid-Career Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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Collin L

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Dayton, OH

Anderson Financial Strategies, LLC

Collin Lyon is a CFP® and ChFC® with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Anderson Financial Strategies, LLC. His previous roles include positions at Kovar Wealth Management and First Command Advisory Services. Anderson Financial Strategies is a SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs an active, tailored asset management approach combining fundamental and technical analysis with modern portfolio theory.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting Business sale tax planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed
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Rodney L

Series 63, Series 66

Boston, MA

Flagship Harbor Advisors, LLC

Rodney Laurenz is a financial advisor with Flagship Harbor Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Flagship Harbor Advisors and LPL Financial since 2011. In addition to his advisory work, he teaches several investment-related classes annually through the Cambridge Centre for Adult Education. Flagship Harbor Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $3.42 billion in discretionary assets through a team of about 60 advisors and employs a range of investment strategies including mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and separately managed accounts.

Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Wealth management Business sale tax planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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William F

CFP®, Series 63

San Diego, CA

Sovran Advisors, LLC

William Frankenstein is a CFP® with 42 years of industry experience, currently serving as an investment advisor representative at Sovran Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Co., and MetLife Securities Inc. He is also involved with the Foundation for Senior Services, where he discusses financial planning with seniors. Sovran Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $1.78 billion in client assets through a team of about 53 advisors, offering customized portfolio management and diversified investment strategies.

Business sale tax planning Annuities Options & derivatives strategies Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Matthew N

Series 63, Series 65

Grapevine, TX

Flourish Financial Planning

Matthew Nelson is a financial advisor at Flourish Financial Planning with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. In addition to his advisory role, Nelson is a partner and executive in tax preparation businesses, including Nelson & Nelson Tax Services, Inc., where he serves as Vice President. Flourish Financial Planning serves individual, high-net-worth, and corporate clients, managing approximately $28.2 million in assets. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory approach with primarily passive investments and provides comprehensive financial planning and employer-funded educational workshops.

Business sale tax planning Tax strategies for small businesses Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Founder/Business Owner Religious/faith focused
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Jared F

Series 65

Huntington Beach, CA

Northwest Asset Management

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Retirement income strategy Wealth management Active portfolio management Founder/Business Owner
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Edwina M

Series 65

Cincinnati, OH

Waverly Advisors, LLC

Edwina Martin is a financial advisor at Waverly Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at 9258 Wealth Management for five years and Teradata Corp for eleven years. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as assistant director of tax planning at 9258 Tax and Planning. Waverly Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary services, employing a combination of centralized and customized investment strategies across traditional and alternative asset classes.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Tax-loss harvesting Options & derivatives strategies ESG / Sustainable investing Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Craig M

Series 63, Series 65

Columbia, SC

Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC

Craig Mcdaniel Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Columbia, SC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. and The McDaniel Corporation since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance sales and serves as an independent agent for annuities and related products. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a blend of analytical methods with ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Active portfolio management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities Options & derivatives strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired
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David H

Series 65

Corona, CA

Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC

David Hart is a financial advisor with Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Safeguard since 2020 and previously held roles at LifePro Asset Management, LLC, Martin and Associates Insurance Services, Inc., and Martin Wealth Management, LLC. Hart is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary and volunteers as an instructor with the Foundation for Fiduciary Education (NACFF), providing unbiased fiduciary financial education. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC serves individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and business clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party sub-advisers, and fee-based financial planning. The firm employs a fundamental-analysis investment process with a preferred horizon of two to ten years and manages over $600 million across approximately 1,800 client relationships.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Retirement income strategy
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. She is currently with Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously worked at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Santander Securities LLC provides investment advisory and related services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers wrap-fee advisory programs and financial planning services, delivering investment advice through the FMAX managed-account platform with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing suitability reviews.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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