Large-firm, private / alternative investments financial advisors 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 have significant assets outside traditional stocks and bonds, like private equity or hedge funds, you need an advisor who understands these complex investments. Without that expertise, you might face hidden fees or liquidity issues that can disrupt your financial goals. Large-firm advisors often have access to a wider range of private investment opportunities and resources.
- Due diligence depth. Ask how they evaluate private deals beyond surface-level information to uncover risks and potential returns.
- Liquidity planning. Confirm they help you manage cash flow given that private investments can be hard to sell quickly.
- Tax implications. Private investments often have unique tax treatments; check how they integrate this into your overall tax strategy.
- Firm resources. Large firms may offer specialized teams and research that individual advisors can’t match—see how they leverage these for your benefit.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Charles P
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
San Rafael, CA
WealthSpire Advisors
Charles Pyfer III specializes in private and alternative investments, making him well-suited for managing complex assets like private equity within California's large-firm environment. With 19 years of experience and CFP® certification, he offers a flat-fee structure and serves high-net-worth clients, leveraging Wealthspire Advisors' institutional-style asset allocation and family office support to provide diversified, customized portfolio management.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $3,410,246
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Matthew S
Series 63, Series 66
San Francisco, CA
Charles Schwab
Matthew Smith specializes in private and alternative investments, making him well-suited for managing complex assets like private equity or hedge funds in California. Working at Charles Schwab, a large firm with extensive resources, he offers a 0.80% annual AUM fee and brings 12 years of experience, including expertise in real estate investing and multi-state taxation, which can provide broader financial planning benefits compared to smaller firms.
Experience: 12 years
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Scott L
CFA®
Emeryville, CA
Mariner
Scott Lummer specializes in private and alternative investments, making him well-suited for managing complex assets like private equity and hedge funds in California. With 15 years of experience and a CFA® designation, he operates within Mariner, a large firm offering extensive resources including tax services and family-office style administration, and employs both active and passive investment strategies, differentiating him from advisors with narrower focuses or smaller firm support.
Experience: 15 years
Avg account: $2,116,909
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Jerod W
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Roseville, CA
CWM, LLC
Jerod Wurm specializes in private and alternative investments within a large-firm setting in California, making him well-equipped to handle complex asset classes like private equity and hedge funds. With 28 years of experience and CFP® certification, he offers flat-fee financial planning and investment management through CWM, LLC, which supports clients with discretionary portfolio management and access to in-house and third-party resources, distinguishing him from advisors with smaller firm affiliations or less comprehensive support.
Experience: 29 years
Avg account: $875,860
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Melissa S
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
San Diego, CA
Creative Planning
Melissa Saxton is well-equipped to assist with private and alternative investments in California, leveraging 17 years of experience and CFP® certification at Creative Planning, a large firm known for its extensive resources and comprehensive advisory services. Her expertise also includes tax-loss harvesting and retirement income strategies, and she offers flexible flat-fee arrangements, making her a versatile choice for high-net-worth clients seeking sophisticated investment and financial planning solutions.
Experience: 18 years
Avg account: $2,113,277
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