Top private / alternative investments financial advisors working with high-net-worth individuals 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 a significant portion of your wealth in private companies or alternative assets like real estate or hedge funds, you need an advisor who understands the unique risks and liquidity challenges involved. Without this expertise, you might face unexpected tax consequences or miss opportunities to optimize your portfolio.
- Valuation insight. Ask how they assess the worth of illiquid assets, since market prices aren’t always available.
- Tax strategy awareness. Confirm they consider California’s high income taxes and how Proposition 13 limits property tax increases when planning.
- Liquidity planning. Ensure they help you manage cash flow needs given the longer timelines to sell private investments.
- Diversification approach. Look for advisors who balance alternative holdings with public assets to reduce concentration risk.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
-
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 high-net-worth clients in California managing illiquid assets. With 19 years of experience and CFP® certification, he operates within Wealthspire Advisors, a large firm known for a relationship-driven, diversified investment approach and offering flat-fee planning services, which may appeal to clients seeking comprehensive wealth management and family office support.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $3,410,246
-
John R
Series 63, Series 66
San Francisco, CA
1919 Investment Counsel, LLC
John Roberson specializes in private and alternative investments, making him well-suited for high-net-worth clients in California with significant holdings in illiquid assets. He brings 19 years of experience and works at 1919 Investment Counsel, a firm managing $23.9 billion with a core and satellite approach emphasizing liquid equities and fixed income, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with family office services.
Experience: 20 years
Avg account: $4,080,449
-
Scott L
CFA®
Emeryville, CA
Mariner
Scott Lummer specializes in private and alternative investments, making him well-suited for high-net-worth clients in California with complex portfolios. With 15 years of experience and a CFA® designation, he operates within Mariner Wealth Advisors, a large firm offering comprehensive services including tax planning and family-office administration, and employs both active and passive investment strategies, distinguishing him from advisors at smaller firms or with narrower focuses.
Experience: 15 years
Avg account: $2,116,909
-
David H
Series 63, Series 65
San Francisco, CA
Corient
David Hultman specializes in private and alternative investments, making him well-suited for high-net-worth clients in California managing illiquid assets. With 23 years of experience and a flat-fee, negotiable pricing model, he offers comprehensive services including family office support and discretionary portfolio management, distinguishing him through a flexible fee structure and an open-architecture investment approach tailored to diverse client needs.
Experience: 23 years
Avg account: $6,073,959
-
Melissa S
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
San Diego, CA
Creative Planning
Melissa Saxton specializes in private and alternative investments, making her well-suited for high-net-worth clients in California managing illiquid assets. With 17 years of experience and CFP® certification, she operates within Creative Planning, a large firm known for a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, offering flat-fee arrangements and serving a diverse client base including executives and business owners.
Experience: 18 years
Avg account: $2,113,277
Want help finding the right advisor?
Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.
Advisors focused on
People also searched
Popular in California
Find advisors by type
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.
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. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)