Top business succession planning financial advisors in Santa Ana, 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're preparing to transfer your business ownership, you need an advisor who understands the complexities of timing and valuation. A common mistake is underestimating tax impacts and the ripple effects on your personal finances.

  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm how they navigate California's high income taxes and leverage Proposition 13's property tax limits to protect your assets.
  • Valuation strategy. Ask how they determine your business's worth and incorporate that into a succession plan that fits your goals.
  • Transition timing. Effective succession depends on when you exit; explore how they align this with market conditions and your retirement plans.
  • Stakeholder coordination. Ensure they consider family dynamics, key employees, and legal structures to smooth the ownership transfer.

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

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Sandeep M

CFP®, Series 66

Santa Ana, CA

Ameriprise

Sandeep Madhavan is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise since 2020. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from 2003 to 2020. Madhavan serves on the Board of Directors for the Santiago Canyon College Foundation and is the Sponsorship Chair for the Tustin Western Little League. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research-driven modeling and tax-efficient strategies. As a large institutional firm, it offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated entities.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Scott W

Series 63, Series 65

Santa Ana, CA

Greenworth Investment Advisors, LLC

Scott Wetzel is the principal of Greenworth Investment Advisors, LLC, an independent firm based in Santa Ana, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of experience in the financial industry. Prior to founding Greenworth Investment Advisors in 2011, he was president and partner at Ticon General Contractors, a commercial construction company, where he worked from 1998 to 2021. Greenworth Investment Advisors serves individual clients through fee-based portfolio management and hourly consultations. The firm employs a long-term, rules-based investment approach focusing on value investing and passive strategies, managing client accounts directly without outsourcing.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management
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Michael M

Series 63, Series 66

Santa Ana, CA

Virtue Capital Management, LLC

Michael Morera is a financial advisor with Virtue Capital Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Virtue Capital since 2015 and previously was with Regal Advisory Services, Inc. from 2007 to 2015. Outside of advisory work, Morera is the owner of Beach Cities Tax Service and teaches financial literacy at Financial Education Jr Business School. Virtue Capital Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, qualified retirement plans, and other advisers. The firm customizes portfolios using tactical, strategic, and dynamic approaches, supported by an investment committee, and operates a multi-team model of investment adviser representatives and independent partners.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Taylor B

Series 63, Series 65

Santa Ana, CA

Aequitas Financial, LLC

Taylor Bell is a financial advisor with Aequitas Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. He previously worked at firms including Blue Barn Wealth and Fidelity Brokerage Services and is also the owner of Aequitas Bookkeeping, a business providing bookkeeping and accounting services to small business owners. Additionally, Bell is employed as a Direct Solutions Consultant at Addepar, a performance reporting software company. Aequitas Financial is a single-advisor independent firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with fee-only financial planning and discretionary investment management. The firm combines passive and active investments with socially responsible options and offers educational seminars alongside ongoing client engagements.

Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Sandip S

Series 63, Series 65

Santa Ana, CA

LPL Financial

Sandip Sehmi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Santa Ana, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2009 and previously worked at Mutual Service Corporation from 2006 to 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 20% member of an investment-related LLC, Caversham Resources, and serves as a successor trustee for his family trust. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plans, banks, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, including third-party asset management and institutional platforms, supported by technology tools and a broad suite of non-advisory financial services.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran financial advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Michael I

Series 63, Series 65

Livingston, NJ

Raymond James Financial

Michael Ipp is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors since 2010 and serves as an independent contractor for 1792 Wealth Advisors. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client decision-making, while also maintaining specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement
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Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent involved in the sales of fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers pension consulting, estate planning support, business exit planning, and due diligence on alternative investments, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and economic analysis within a fiduciary framework.

Business exit / sale strategy Multi-generational wealth transfer Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner
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Jerald L

Series 63

San Antonio, TX

Frost Investment Services

Jerald Liesman is a financial advisor at Frost Investment Services with 33 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Frost Brokerage Services, Inc. and Frost Bank since 1993 and 1987, respectively. Frost Investment Services is a retail-focused, SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and managed account programs that integrate model portfolios from its affiliate with third-party managers, utilizing a research-driven investment process and providing optional tax and ESG overlay services.

Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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