Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Palm Desert, CA

Adam Ochoa is a financial advisor at Lotusland Properties with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. He is also a Certified Public Accountant with The Practice CPA, where he has worked for over a decade. Lotusland Properties is an independent, single-advisor firm serving individuals and high-net-worth clients by selecting and referring them to third-party investment advisers. The firm does not manage client portfolios directly and focuses on vetting recommended advisers without exercising trading authority or custody of assets.

Gregory Hill is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services Inc, Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. Outside of advising, he has business ownership through Shining Star Ventures, LLC, which holds a financial partnership interest in an Ameriprise franchise. Ameriprise is an institutional firm that offers a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, written recommendations, leveraging a centralized consulting team and algorithmic tools to support financial advisors.

Craig Mcbarnes is a financial advisor at The Wealth Consulting Group with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Intrepid Financial Planning Group. His practice is based in Palm Desert, CA. The Wealth Consulting Group is an SEC-registered wealth management firm serving individual, corporate, retirement plan, and trust clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, macroeconomic, and quantitative analysis to tailor investment strategies, offering both active and passive solutions alongside legal and implementation support through licensed attorneys.

Michael Goodman is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Cetera since 2026 and previously spent 20 years at Gold Coast Securities, Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he owns and operates a CPA and tax services business providing bookkeeping and accounting services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, utilizing a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Marsha Lee is the principal advisor at Marsha Lee & Company, Inc. in Palm Desert, CA, with 44 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Cetera Advisors LLC and First Allied Securities, Inc. She serves on the FINRA Board of Arbitrators. Marsha Lee & Company, Inc. provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and pension plans. The firm employs an active, discretionary management approach focused on diversification and risk optimization, offering clients a choice between asset-based or transaction-based fee arrangements.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Warwick, RI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously at MetLife Securities. In addition to her advisory role, Santos is an independent insurance agent, offering life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance products. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, wrap and money-manager programs, and educational seminars, structuring engagements as annual collaborative relationships focused on goal analysis and written recommendations.

Gordon Brown III is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment options, operating under a fiduciary standard.

William Soltow is a financial advisor at Smith & Wyatt with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at CoreCap Advisors, LLC. Outside of advising, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and serves as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million across 724 clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, estate-planning consulting, and specialized educational programs, utilizing mutual funds and ETFs as primary investment vehicles.

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.