Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics 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.
If you work in education or academia, your income and benefits often follow a unique schedule and structure that can affect your financial planning. A common mistake is treating your compensation and retirement options like those of a typical corporate employee, which can lead to missed opportunities or unexpected tax consequences.
- Benefit timing awareness. Confirm how the advisor accounts for school-year pay cycles and summer breaks in your cash flow planning.
- Retirement system knowledge. Ask how they handle public pension plans and 403(b) accounts common to educators.
- Tax impact of Proposition 13. Since California limits property tax increases for homeowners, see how they factor this into your long-term housing and estate plans.
- Education-specific deductions. Check if they consider deductions and credits unique to teachers, such as classroom expense write-offs.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Roberto G
Series 66, Series 63
Pasadena, CA
TIAA-CREF
Roberto Groag specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in California, bringing 20 years of experience and expertise in retirement plans and estate planning. Based in Pasadena and affiliated with the large firm TIAA-CREF, he offers a 0.30% annual wrap fee and focuses on high-net-worth clients, distinguishing him from others by combining deep industry knowledge with tailored services for mid-career professionals approaching retirement.
Experience: 20 years
Avg account: $523,144
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Paul M
Series 63
Beverly Hills, CA
Cheviot Value Management, LLC
Paul Matheson specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in California, bringing over 50 years of industry experience and a Series 63 designation. His firm, Cheviot Value Management, employs a value-oriented investment approach and offers flat-fee financial planning up to $10,000, catering to high-net-worth clients with discretionary investment management and budget coaching services.
Experience: 52 years
Avg account: $1,935,958
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Christian C
Series 63, Series 65
Brea, CA
Merrill
Christian Cruz specializes in financial planning for educators, teachers, and academics in California, offering tailored strategies that consider unique income schedules and retirement systems common to this group. With 19 years of experience at Merrill, a large firm, he integrates wealth management, retirement income strategy, and tax coordination with CPAs and attorneys, providing a comprehensive approach that includes access to lending services and a 1.10% AUM fee for managed strategies under $2 million.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $860,085
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Lee C
CFP®, Series 66
San Francisco, CA
RFG Advisory, LLC
Lee Crocker specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in California, bringing 19 years of industry experience and CFP® certification to address unique income schedules and retirement plans common in education. Operating from San Francisco with RFG Advisory, LLC, he offers flat-fee financial planning and combines active and passive investment strategies, differentiating himself with expertise in annuities, options, and tax-loss harvesting.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $295,694
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Brenda B
Series 66
Greenville, SC
Edward Jones
Brenda Belnome is equipped to support educators and academics in California by leveraging her expertise in retirement plans and public service employee needs, aligning well with the unique financial schedules of education professionals. Operating within Edward Jones, a large firm with extensive resources and a broad client base, she offers a comprehensive approach with a fee structure up to 1.35% annually, distinguishing her from advisors with smaller practices or different specialty focuses.
Experience: 2 years
Avg account: $246,728
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