Independent, factor investing / smart beta financial advisors in San Francisco, 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 want to use factor investing or smart beta strategies, you likely seek to improve returns by targeting specific investment drivers like value or momentum. Without an advisor who truly understands these approaches, you might end up with a portfolio that looks smart but doesn’t deliver the intended risk or return benefits. Independent advisors here operate without ties to big firms, which can mean more flexibility in choosing investments.
- Factor selection rationale. Ask how they decide which factors to emphasize and why those fit your financial goals.
- Risk management approach. Confirm how they monitor and adjust factor exposures to avoid unintended risks.
- Cost transparency. Independent advisors often have clearer fee structures; check how fees relate to the strategies used.
- Performance measurement. Understand how they evaluate success beyond simple benchmarks, focusing on factor-specific outcomes.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Peter K
Series 65
Sausalito, CA
Macroclimate LLC
Peter Kriss specializes in factor investing and smart beta strategies with a focus on ESG and passive index investing, making him well-suited for clients seeking independent advice in San Francisco. His firm, Macroclimate LLC, manages $210 million with a long-term, low-cost approach and offers flat fees for accounts between $200,000 and $500,000, catering primarily to high-net-worth individuals and organizations.
Experience: 5 years
Avg account: $5,377,709
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Josh S
Series 63, Series 65
San Francisco, CA
Global Key Advisors
Josh Schein specializes in factor investing and smart beta strategies, leveraging 28 years of experience and an independent approach in San Francisco. His firm, Global Key Advisors, uses proprietary analytics and unconventional data to manage concentrated, long-only portfolios with a transparent 0.2% AUM fee, catering primarily to high-net-worth clients through separately managed accounts.
Experience: 29 years
Avg account: $544,681
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Nicholas L
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Oakland, CA
Apella Wealth
Nicholas Levinson specializes in factor investing and smart beta strategies, leveraging 23 years of experience and a model-driven investment process that integrates quantitative methods and tax-aware strategies. As an independent, CFP®-certified advisor offering flat-fee financial planning, he serves high-net-worth clients from Oakland, providing a flexible approach distinct from larger firms in San Francisco.
Experience: 24 years
Avg account: $1,287,176
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Jun Z
CFA®
Mopraga, CA
Crystal Investment Management
Jun Zhu specializes in factor investing and smart beta strategies, leveraging nine years of experience and a CFA® designation to manage portfolios with a global-macro, asset-allocation approach. Operating independently with flat fees, he serves high-net-worth clients and integrates ETFs, long/short index funds, and leverage to pursue absolute returns while controlling downside risk, distinguishing him from other advisors in the San Francisco area.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $1,364,151
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Minyi C
CFA®
Oakland, CA
Qubed Capital, LLC
Minyi Chen specializes in factor investing and smart beta strategies, leveraging 11 years of experience and a CFA® designation to manage discretionary portfolios with a multifaceted approach that includes fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis. Operating independently through Qubed Capital in Oakland, CA, he offers transparent 1.00% AUM fees and serves individual clients, distinguishing himself with a proprietary algorithmic model and ETF consulting expertise.
Experience: 11 years
Avg account: $1,837,994
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