Top startup equity planning financial advisors in Redwood City, CA

Jackson Bussell is a financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Pettinelli Financial Partners, LPL Financial, Northwestern Mutual, and ShoreAcres. Stratos Wealth Partners provides advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers an open-architecture platform that supports both advisor-managed and model-based portfolios, emphasizing active monitoring and asset allocation across multiple custodians.

Keli Cole is a financial advisor at Avalon Capital Management in Menlo Park, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with five years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Avalon, she worked at Capstone Financial Group and KPMG. Avalon Capital Management serves high net worth individuals and families, offering discretionary investment management alongside cash management and fixed-income services. The firm uses a proprietary, quantitative investment process combined with external research and investment-committee review to implement dynamic global asset allocation across a multi-asset framework.

Carol Acker is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Nancy K Weeks Associates, LLC since 2002. Nancy K Weeks Associates, LLC is an independent advisory firm serving individuals, families, and charitable organizations, primarily higher-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on comprehensive financial planning and the oversight of third-party investment managers, emphasizing planning-level guidance and specialized areas such as LGBTIQ+ planning, ESG, and special-needs planning.

Ben Eshaghi is a Certified Financial Planner® with 45 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with OSAIC and has previously worked at Signator Investors, Inc. for 36 years and Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. for 8 years. He also operates a sole proprietorship offering health insurance services including Medicare supplement policies. OSAIC serves a diverse client base that includes individual investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of investment advisory and brokerage services through an extensive network of advisors, utilizing asset-allocation tools and multiple investment platforms.

Lin Kong is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has a background that includes roles at Oracle Corporation, ServiceMax, Inc., General Electric, and World Financial Group, Inc. Outside of advising, he is involved in the sales of insurance and non-insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios and provides a range of discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

I founded Innermost™ Wealth Management to create a more personal, thoughtful approach to financial planning and wealth management. My background in both finance and psychology shaped my belief that money is not just about numbers. It is deeply personal and connected to your values, goals, and life experiences. I work with professionals who want to grow and simplify their wealth, with a special focus on women navigating career growth, equity compensation, and major life transitions such as divorce. Many of my clients are balancing busy lives and complex financial decisions, and they value having a long-term financial partner who truly understands their needs. My firm is centered on ongoing wealth management through investment advisory relationships. Clients work with me for comprehensive financial planning and investment management that evolves with them over time. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Candidate, I provide technical expertise and strategic guidance, while also recognizing the emotional side of financial decisions. My approach is compassionate, judgment-free, and designed to reduce stress while helping you feel more confident in your choices. I operate a fully virtual firm, working with clients across the country who appreciate flexibility and convenience. My goal is to simplify your financial life, provide clear advice, and help you align your wealth with what matters most to you. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, cooking, and spending quality time with my Beagle, Gracie.

George Silvester is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a member of the Boston Executive Services Team since 2017. He works primarily with founders, executives, and key associates at both privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on the intricacies of equity ownership and equity compensation. George's approach begins with understanding what is most important to his clients and assessing their current position relative to their goals, ultimately developing customized financial strategies that align with their evolving life needs, resources, and aspirations. George began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Summer Analyst in 2016, where he developed an understanding of the client-advisor relationship and the collaborative pursuit of clients’ life goals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Additionally, George has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, George’s personal interests include biking, bowling, chess, cooking, golfing, hiking, and reading.

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.

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising, currently working at Edward Jones since 2014. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee solutions, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Juan Polanco is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Optimo Capital in San Francisco, CA, and has 11 years of industry experience. Before founding Optimo Capital, he worked at Carr & Ferrell LLP for two years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Polanco works full-time as an engineer at PacBio and mentors startups and founders at the Founder's Institute and LoyalVC. Optimo Capital advises founders of venture-backed companies, recently funded startups, and private investors on portfolio supervision and capital-raising. The firm uses a combined top‑down and bottom‑up analytical approach with a supervisory and consultative model, focusing on tailored services such as Investment Policy Statements, due diligence management, and pitch material preparation.