Top life insurance needs analysis financial advisors in Irvine, CA

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.

You need a life insurance needs analysis advisor when you're unsure if your current coverage truly protects your family's financial future or if you have gaps that could leave you exposed. A common mistake is overestimating your coverage needs without considering all your financial obligations and future goals.

  • Comprehensive coverage review. Look for advisors who evaluate your entire financial picture, including debts, income replacement, and future expenses.
  • Policy type guidance. Confirm they explain differences between term, whole, and universal life insurance to match your situation.
  • Tax implications. Since California has high income taxes, ask how they factor tax considerations into your insurance planning.
  • Long-term cost analysis. Ensure they assess how premiums may change over time and impact your budget.

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

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Scott S

Series 63

Irvine, CA

Centaurus Financial, Inc.

Scott Schiffer is a financial advisor at Centaurus Financial, Inc. in Irvine, CA, with 27 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Centaurus since 1998. In addition to his advisory role, Schiffer is a senior partner at Kieckhafer Schiffer LLP, a certified public accounting firm where he oversees client tax matters and supervises accountants. Centaurus Financial, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, businesses, and foundations. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management through the CLASSIC Plus platform, retirement-plan consulting, and specialized advisory services, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements supported by a mix of fundamental and technical analysis.

Wealth management Private / alternative investments Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) General tax planning Founder/Business Owner
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Steven H

Series 63, Series 65

Irvine, CA

CWM, LLC

Steven Henningson is a financial advisor with CWM, LLC in Irvine, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Cetera and Applied Financial Planning. Outside of his advisory work, he volunteers on the advisory board of The Effect Recovery Ministry and supports the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a large network of partner offices. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, sub-advisory, and retirement plan services using model portfolios, a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, and access to alternative investments.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Spencer J

Series 66, Series 63

Irvine, CA

CWM, LLC

Spencer Johnston is a financial advisor with CWM, LLC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 designations and five years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Thrivent Financial and Ameriprise Financial Services, among others. Johnston serves as a relationship manager providing operational support, paraplanning, and client service. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of over 600 advisors. The firm employs a discretionary investment approach using model portfolios overseen by an in-house Investment Committee and offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan solutions.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Richard L

CFA®

Irvine, CA

White Stork Asset Management LLC

Richard Lewis is a CFA charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at White Stork Asset Management LLC since 2018 and previously at Raj Vasudevan LLC from 2016 to 2018. He is based in Irvine, CA. White Stork Asset Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, non-profit organizations, and institutions, focusing mainly on equities and U.S. Treasury securities. The firm’s bottom-up, fundamental investment approach emphasizes undervalued market leaders for long-term holding, active allocation, and risk controls at the position level, serving a client base that includes a notable share of non-U.S. investors.

Active portfolio management
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William O

Series 63

Irvine, CA

Applied Financial Planning, Inc.

William Oconnor is a financial advisor with Applied Financial Planning, Inc. in Irvine, CA, holding a Series 63 designation and over 40 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial and Midland National Life, and he currently owns and operates several financial and tax-related businesses. He also hosts a radio program called The Money Guys, which promotes local news and financial planning ideas. Applied Financial Planning, Inc. provides tax preparation and tax planning services to individuals, institutions, and various organizations, focusing on tax-efficiency and long-term investment considerations. The firm bills on a fixed-fee or hourly basis and does not manage client investment accounts directly.

General tax planning Tax-loss harvesting
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Aden P

CFP®, Series 65

Greenville, SC

Foundations Investment Advisors LLC

Aden Partee is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with two years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC and Alloy Investment Management, having previously worked at JEHM Wealth & Retirement, LPL Financial, and other positions. Foundations Investment Advisors is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $10.1 billion for nearly 30,000 clients through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm serves individuals, trusts, estates, and registered investment companies, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan support using a range of investment products and third-party sub-advisers.

Private / alternative investments ESG / Sustainable investing Concentrated stock management Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Don L

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66, Series 65

Mesa, AZ

Larson Wealth Management, LLC

Don Larson is a CFP® with 20 years of experience in the financial advisory industry and has operated Larson Wealth Management, LLC since 2011. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and also manages Larson Business & Tax Solutions, providing bookkeeping and tax preparation services. Additionally, Larson serves as secretary and treasurer for AEM International (US) Ltd. Larson Wealth Management offers investment supervisory and consulting services to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and employee benefit plans. The firm employs customized strategic asset allocation with a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, managing portfolios primarily through mutual funds and ETFs across multiple asset classes.

Business succession planning Cash flow / budgeting Debt management Life insurance needs analysis Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive
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Malissa M

Series 65

Hot Springs, AR

Black Knight Wealth Management, LLC

Malissa Mc Nanna is a financial advisor with Black Knight Wealth Management, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. She has four years of industry experience and has previously worked at Optivise Advisory Services, LLC, OnPointe Advisory and Financial Services LLC, and Vision Advisors, Inc. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Vision Advisors, Inc., where she recruits agents, conducts product training, and provides sales support for annuity and life insurance products. Black Knight Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients by offering portfolio management, financial planning, and coordination with other professional advisors. The firm employs a range of investment strategies and prepares individualized Investment Policy Statements, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary, asset-based basis while reviewing portfolios monthly.

Concentrated stock management Retirement income strategy Annuities Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Gregory S

Series 63, Series 66

Atlanta, GA

Smarr Financial Services Inc.

Gregory Smarr is the sole advisor at Smarr Financial Services Inc. in Atlanta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. He has operated Smarr Financial Services since 2004. Outside of advisory work, he has been involved in selling various insurance products through multiple agencies. Smarr Financial Services provides financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, high net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm also functions as an insurance agency, offering life, disability, long-term care, group life and health products, and fixed annuities. Its investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis and long-term buy-and-hold strategies supplemented by moderate trading across a range of asset classes.

Life insurance needs analysis Disability insurance Long-term care insurance
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Jacob B

Series 63, Series 66

Forsyth, GA

Binnerinvestments

Jacob Binner is a financial advisor at BinnerInvestments with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Fidelity, Merrill Lynch, and E*Trade Securities. BinnerInvestments provides ongoing portfolio management and standalone financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm’s investment approach combines multiple analytical methods to construct diversified portfolios and typically manages discretionary assets while delivering quarterly reports and written investment policy statements.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Life insurance needs analysis Cash flow / budgeting
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