Top startup equity planning financial advisors in San Mateo, 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 startup equity, like stock options or shares, coming your way, you need an advisor who understands how to plan around these assets. A common mistake is treating startup equity like regular investments, which can lead to missed tax savings or poor timing decisions.

  • Equity type expertise. Confirm they know the difference between options, restricted stock units, and other equity forms, as each has unique tax and exercise rules.
  • Tax impact awareness. Ask how they help manage tax events triggered by equity exercises or sales, especially in California's high-income tax environment.
  • Exit strategy planning. Discuss how they incorporate potential liquidity events, like IPOs or acquisitions, into your financial plan.
  • Long-term property tax considerations. Since Proposition 13 limits property tax increases, see if they factor this into your overall wealth strategy.

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

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Melissa E

Series 63, Series 65

San Mateo, CA

Alexander Beard (USA) Inc.

Melissa Eugenio is a financial advisor at Alexander Beard (USA) Inc. with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Alexander Beard since 2018, following prior roles including five years at ABD Retirement Services, Inc. Outside of her advisory work, she is a Bikram yoga instructor, teaching weekly classes at Being Yoga. Alexander Beard (USA) Inc. provides advisory services primarily to individuals and retirement plans, focusing on UK citizens or former UK residents living in the U.S. with UK-based pension accounts. The firm offers pension consulting, portfolio management, and financial planning, tailoring advice to client goals and working with pension trustees to facilitate pension transfers and flexible arrangements.

Retired
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Anatoly V

Series 63, Series 65

San Mateo, CA

OSAIC Institutions, INC.

Anatoly Vilderman is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Osaic Investments, Inc. since 2023. His prior experience includes roles at San Mateo Credit Union and CUSO Financial Services, LP. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments through a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure.

Annuities Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Executive
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David F

Series 66

San Mateo, CA

LPL Financial

David Fung is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in San Mateo, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he worked at NEXT Financial Group, Inc. and held engineering roles at Applied Materials and Lam Research. Fung is also employed as an engineer at TSMC outside of his advisory work. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from internal and third-party sources.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Kent G

CFP®, Series 63

San Mateo, CA

Grealish Investment Counseling LLC

Kent Grealish is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Grealish Investment Counseling LLC, which he joined in 2024 after spending nine years at Garrett Investment Advisors, LLC/CGA Advisors. Grealish Investment Counseling LLC provides investment counseling to individual clients, focusing on investment planning, portfolio construction, retirement cash-flow planning, and supplementary financial planning related to investments and retirement. The firm employs a long-term, primarily passive buy-and-hold strategy using low-cost equity index funds and fixed-income ETFs, and operates on a time-based/project fee model without discretionary trading authority or asset custody.

General retirement planning Income planning
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Hasnain K

CFA®

San Mateo, CA

Kilimanjaro Capital, LLC

Hasnain Karim is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Kilimanjaro Capital, LLC, an independent firm based in San Mateo, CA. He has 16 years of industry experience and has been with Kilimanjaro Capital since 2009. Kilimanjaro Capital manages discretionary investment accounts primarily for individuals using two principal strategies: a long/short strategy and a long-only strategy. The firm employs an opportunistic, value-oriented approach that includes hedging, derivatives, and short-selling in its long/short strategy, with a focus on securities trading below intrinsic value and a typical investment horizon of one to five years.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management

Kimberly H

CFP®, CRPC®

Troy, MI

Innermost Wealth Management, LLC

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.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management Startup equity planning Divorce financial planning Women Professionals Life coaching / goal alignment Established Professionals Approaching retirement Dual Income Family

George S

Series 66

Hartford, CT

Merrill

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.

Exec comp design Startup equity planning Liquidity event planning Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing 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

Adam N

CFP®, Series 66

Mankato, MN

Edward Jones

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014 and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a wide range of investment strategies and affiliated services through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Retirement income strategy Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Startup equity planning General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Juan P

Series 66

San Francisco, CA

Optimo Capital

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.

Business ownership considerations Wealth management Founder/Business Owner

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