Large-firm, exec comp design financial advisors in Palo Alto, 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.

If you have executive compensation like stock options or bonuses, you need an advisor who understands how to design these plans to fit your financial goals. Without this expertise, you might face costly tax mistakes or miss opportunities to maximize your benefits. Large-firm advisors often have access to broader resources and specialized teams that can support complex compensation strategies.

  • Plan customization insight. Ask how they tailor executive compensation plans to align with your career stage and tax situation.
  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm they consider California’s high income taxes and how Proposition 13 might affect your property tax exposure.
  • Coordination with employers. Find out if they work directly with your company’s HR or legal teams to optimize plan design.
  • Long-term strategy focus. Ensure they look beyond immediate payouts to how compensation fits your overall wealth plan over time.

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

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Adam G

CFP®, Series 65

Palo Alto, CA

Frank, Rimerman Advisors LLC

Adam Gensler is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience and is currently 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 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 conducts ongoing client reviews.

Wealth management Passive / index investing
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Lavina N

CFP®, Series 65

Palo Alto, CA

Maya Advisors, Inc.

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.

General retirement planning
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Kanaka S

CFP®, Series 63

Los Altos, CA

Gates Pass Advisors, LLC

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.

General retirement planning Income planning General tax planning Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Executive HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Established Professionals
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Nicholas R

Series 63, Series 65

Los Altos Hills, CA

The Raffin Group LLC

Nicholas Raffin is a financial advisor at The Raffin Group LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Merrill from 2016 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an advisor and strategic partner to Rowzzy, an AI startup focused on Natural Vision Understanding technology. The Raffin Group is an independent advisory firm that provides tailored portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a range of investment approaches, including model allocations with low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, and offers discretionary portfolio management, standalone financial planning, and a wrap-fee program.

Options & derivatives strategies Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Executive HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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Jacques S

Series 66

Palo Alto, CA

J.P. Morgan Securities

Jacques Shepherd is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Palo Alto, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2021 and previously held positions at UBS Financial Services and UBS. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework in its investment recommendations.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner

Kenneth M

Series 63, Series 66

Cincinnati, OH

Empower Advisory Group

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.

Wealth management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Exec comp design Retirement income strategy Income planning Executive Consultant
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Lambros V

Series 63, Series 65

Poughkeepsie, NY

Merrill

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.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Divorce financial planning Exec comp design Retirement income strategy Active portfolio management Women's Finance
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Todd C

Series 63, Series 65

Lake Oswego, OR

Executive Investment Services, LLC

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.

Private / alternative investments Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive

James V

Series 66

Stuart, FL

Fidelity

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.

Exec comp design Liquidity event planning Startup equity planning Executive

Seth A

Series 66

Kennesaw, GA

Edward Jones

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.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Business ownership considerations Exec comp design Wealth management Founder/Business Owner Executive Technology Professional
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Jeffrey P

Series 66

Dacula, GA

Merrill

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

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.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Wesley P

Series 63, Series 66

Fort Worth, TX

Wells Fargo Clearing

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Willie M

Series 63, Series 66

Cary, NC

Equitable Advisors

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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