Independent financial advisors working with widows and widowers in Oakland, 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.

Losing a spouse often means facing sudden financial decisions while managing grief, such as handling survivor benefits or updating estate plans. Without guidance from an advisor familiar with widowhood, you might overlook critical tax breaks or mismanage inherited assets.

  • Survivor benefit navigation. Confirm how they help you understand Social Security or pension survivor options and timing.
  • Estate and trust updates. Ask how they assist in revising wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations after loss.
  • Tax implications. California’s high income taxes and property tax rules can affect your finances; check how they plan around these.
  • Independent advice. Being independent means they aren’t tied to specific products, which can help keep recommendations focused on your needs.

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

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Michael B

Series 66

Alameda, CA

Planmember Securities Corporation

Michael Britton is a Series 66-credentialed advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation, based in Alameda, CA, and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining PlanMember, he worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors and has held a director role in supply planning and co-manufacturing at Peet's Coffee since 2017. Outside of his advisory work, he maintains a self-employed practice focused on investment-related insurance services. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, focusing on ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary responsibilities and participant-level investment options. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation framework and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios, while offering education and support services including seminars and personalized retirement planning.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner

Corey H

CFP®, Series 66

Petaluma, CA

Edward Jones

Corey Hayashi is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with Edward Jones in Alameda, CA. He has 15 years of industry experience and has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and over 23,700 financial advisors nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Wealth management Retirement income strategy Business ownership considerations Founder/Business Owner Intergenerational Families
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Edward K

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Alameda, CA

OSAIC

Edward Kofman is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and has worked at Royal Alliance Associates and Cal Cap Planning, among other firms. Kofman serves on several nonprofit boards in Alameda, including as president of the Alameda Community Fund and treasurer for the Temple Israel of Alameda Foundation. He is also a financial educator and a wedding officiant. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, and charitable organizations through a large network of advisors. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services with a focus on asset allocation, risk management, and access to third-party money managers and unified managed accounts.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Todd W

Alameda, CA

Legacy Wealth Management, LLC

Todd Wellnitz is a financial advisor with Legacy Wealth Management, LLC, based in Alameda, CA. He has one year of industry experience and has been with Legacy Wealth Management since 2024. Prior to this, he has been involved with Wellguard Insurance Solutions, Inc. since 2010. Legacy Wealth Management is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial consulting, and planning through a multi-team platform, emphasizing tailored strategies and continuous account monitoring.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Annuities
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Kevin K

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Alameda, CA

Kevin Kennedy, LLC

Kevin Kennedy is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience and the principal of Kevin Kennedy, LLC, where he has worked since 2004. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Bank of Marin Bancorp. Additionally, he has been employed by the City of Alameda since 2000. Kevin Kennedy, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, pension plans, and not-for-profit organizations, utilizing SEI-managed account programs and model portfolios for asset allocation and investment selection. The firm primarily offers non-discretionary services and focuses on retirement plans and institutional clients.

Tax-loss harvesting Retirement income strategy Cash flow / budgeting Annuities

Tracey H

ChFC®, Series 66

Albemarle, NC

Edward Jones

Tracey Hayes is a ChFC® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones in Albemarle, NC since 2011. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Retirement income strategy Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Inheritance planning Caring for aging parents Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive Women Professionals Women's Finance Widow/Widower

Glenn E

Series 63, Series 66

Short Hills, NJ

Merrill

Glenn Evans is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in providing personalized financial strategies to a diverse client base. His clients include corporate executives in pharmaceutical, technology, and real estate sectors, business owners, attorneys, medical professionals, widows, members of the LGBTQ community, and extended families across more than 20 states. Glenn’s approach centers on understanding each client’s unique goals and challenges, with an emphasis on planning-based wealth management and legacy strategies. Before joining Merrill, Glenn held senior corporate development and strategy roles at Fortune 500 companies and served as a mezzanine lender to middle market businesses. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College. Glenn’s professional credentials include the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC™) designation, and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA™) designation. He is an Advisory Member of the Association of African American Financial Advisors and serves as a Trustee of The Kappa Guide Right & Scholarship Fund of Montclair, supporting leadership development and scholarships for local high school seniors. In addition to his advisory work, Glenn contributes as a pro bono consultant to nonprofit organizations focused on arts and education and participates in the Harvard Business School Club of New York Community Partners Initiative. He resides in Livingston, New Jersey, with his daughter and enjoys activities such as biking, hiking, running, swimming, photography, music, genealogy, and traveling.

Wealth management Private / alternative investments Business ownership considerations Business exit / sale strategy Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Attorney Doctor or Medical Professional Executive LGBTQIA Widow/Widower African Americans/Black
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Catherine C

CFP®

Oakland, CA

Curtis Financial Planning

Catherine Curtis is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in financial planning. She is the sole advisor at Curtis Financial Planning, an independent firm she has led since 2013 in Oakland, CA. Curtis Financial Planning provides fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, and small-business owners, with a focus on the financial planning needs of women. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process using diversified portfolios and operates as a fiduciary, offering educational seminars and maintaining a business continuity agreement with another fee-only advisory firm.

Equity compensation tax strategy Cash flow / budgeting Charitable giving & philanthropy Single Women Widow/Widower Divorced Women Sandwich Generation

Tyler L

CFP®, Series 66

Dunwoody, GA

Fidelity

Tyler Legault is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2022. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2020, progressing from Financial Representative to Investment Consultant before his current position. Tyler works with a diverse clientele including retirees, young professionals, and widows or widowers. His approach focuses on building confidence in financial plans to help clients navigate changing lifestyles and economic conditions. Tyler emphasizes the use of visual tools to educate clients, aiming to help them stay focused and organized during regular check-ins and plan reviews. He holds a California Insurance License, supporting his ability to advise on insurance matters. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Tyler has interests in baseball, football, movies, pets, traveling, and volunteering.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Income planning Roth conversion strategy Retired Young Professionals Widow/Widower
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William B

Series 65

Menlo Park, CA

BKB Financial Advisors, LLC

William Binder is a financial advisor with BKB Financial Advisors, LLC in Menlo Park, CA, holding a Series 65 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has operated as a self-employed advisor since 2001. Outside of financial advising, he owns a consulting engineering sole proprietorship that provides product development, business development, engineering, and project management services, though he is currently not active in this business. BKB Financial Advisors provides customized financial planning and consulting to individuals and families across life stages, focusing on retirement planning, seniors, and clients facing major life events such as loss or divorce. The firm emphasizes client education and participation, offers hourly fee-based advice without managing or custodying assets, and provides specialized services including divorce financial planning and estate-document support.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Medicare planning Charitable giving tax strategies Divorce financial planning Approaching retirement Retired Widow/Widower Young Families Divorced
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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 Series 65 licensed financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Waverly Advisors, LLC. She previously worked at 9258 Wealth Management for five years and was employed at Teradata Corp for eleven years. Martin also serves as assistant director of tax planning at 9258 Tax and Planning, a non-investment related business. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, offering a range of investment management and financial planning services.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer 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

Irvine, CA

Martin Wealth Management, LLC

David Hart is a financial advisor with Martin Wealth Management, LLC in Irvine, CA. He holds a Series 65 credential and has 15 years of industry experience. Hart previously worked with Safeguard Investment Advisory Group and LifePro Asset Management. He is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary and volunteers as an instructor with the Foundation for Fiduciary Education, providing unbiased fiduciary financial education to the public. Martin Wealth Management offers investment advisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients by co-advising and directing accounts to a third-party money manager, Matson Money. The firm focuses on client onboarding, documentation, and ongoing review of third-party manager accounts rather than direct asset management.

Medicare planning Annuities
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

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