Top exec comp design financial advisors in Palo Alto, CA

Adam Gensler is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Frank, Rimerman Advisors LLC in Palo Alto, CA. He has been a tax partner at Frank, Rimerman & Co. LLP, a public accounting firm, since 2012. Frank, Rimerman Advisors LLC provides financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, qualified investors, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and select limited liability companies. The firm employs a long-term, individualized investment approach with diversified portfolios and maintains a close operational relationship with its parent accounting firm.

Lavina Nagar is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. She has been with Maya Advisors, Inc., an independent firm based in Menlo Park, CA, since 2008. Maya Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as charitable organizations, offering investment and portfolio management, financial planning, and advisory services for donor-advised funds through Schwab Charitable. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes long-term fundamental analysis, utilizing low-cost diversified mutual funds and ETFs, and provides a notable client-managed program for self-directed investors.

Kanaka Szabo Cummings is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has been with Gates Pass Advisors, LLC since 2015. Gates Pass Advisors, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and ongoing wealth management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes financial-planning-driven asset allocation, diversification, and tax-aware management, typically implementing strategies through third-party independent managers on a turn-key platform.

Nicholas Raffin is the principal advisor at The Raffin Group LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Los Altos Hills, CA. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has 11 years of industry experience, including four years at Merrill prior to founding his firm in 2020. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as an advisor and strategic partner to Rowzzy, an AI startup, and is an independent licensed insurance agent. The Raffin Group provides tailored portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern-portfolio approaches, favoring low-cost, diversified ETFs and mutual funds, and sponsors a wrap-fee program.

Jacques Shepherd is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS Financial Services. Shepherd is based in Palo Alto, CA. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with broker-dealer and investment adviser registrations.

Ken Mason is an Executive Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2025. In this capacity, he works closely with clients to develop wealth strategies that incorporate their workplace benefits, aiming to support them in pursuing their financial goals. Ken emphasizes building trust through a consultative approach, ensuring clients receive personalized and understandable financial plans. He is committed to helping clients achieve peace of mind by focusing on what matters most to them. Specific details about his education, credentials, or personal interests were not provided.

Lambros Violaris is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing 30 years of experience in assisting individuals and institutions with wealth management and income generation. His client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, institutional investment consulting, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, sports and entertainment, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Bob Jones University. Outside of his professional work, Lambros enjoys adventure sports, baseball, biking, chess, drawing and sketching, hiking, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Todd Caudle is a financial advisor at Executive Investment Services, LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Executive Investment Services since 2009, as well as at Independent Financial Group during overlapping periods. Caudle is an officer and principal of Medical Professionals Financial Group, a marketing entity within the investment channel. Executive Investment Services provides asset management and financial planning to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, and consulting for small- and medium-sized businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management with strategic and tactical asset allocation, and integrates investment management with insurance and executive-benefit services.

James Van Nice is a Benefits & Planning Consultant specializing in Executive Services. In this role, he partners with executives to help them understand their employer benefits and develop plans to work towards their financial goals. James has professional experience as an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2025 and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch as an Investment Solutions Representative I from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Outside of his professional work, James engages in fishing, fitness, golf, running, and volunteering.

Seth Austin is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Kennesaw, GA, holding a Series 66 credential with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he was involved with several organizations including Orange Cone Productions and served as owner of CrazyLegs Creative Group, a marketing agency. He is also engaged in medical health navigation on a consulting basis. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.