Top college savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) financial advisors working with high-net-worth individuals in Santa Barbara, CA

Lauren Vanveelen is a financial advisor at Axxcess Wealth Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Daniel Investment Associates, LLC from 2016 to 2020 before joining Axxcess Wealth Management in 2020. Axxcess Wealth Management provides wealth management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, businesses, and governmental entities. The firm utilizes a customized, multi-asset investment approach with portfolios constructed from internal management, third-party managers, ETFs, mutual funds, structured products, and alternative investments.

Hunter Sears is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 63 and Series 66 designations and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, he worked at NYlife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company from 2021 to 2023. His background also includes roles at Abercrombie and Fitch, Nike, Sinclair Broadcasting Corporation, and the University of Washington. 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 under management and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, alongside affiliated mutual funds and tax-efficient services.

John Bell is a financial advisor at Thryve Wealth Management with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Quasar Distributors, LLC, and Strive Asset Management, LLC. Thryve Wealth Management provides wealth management, financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan advisory to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, foundations, corporations, and other entities. The firm uses a Core-and-Satellite investment approach focused primarily on U.S. markets, combining passive direct indexing with systematic tax-loss harvesting and alternative investments.

Gregory Smith is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 23 years of experience in financial advisory. He has been with Mission Wealth Management, LP since 2003, including its predecessor entity, and is based in Santa Barbara, CA. In addition to his advisory role, he holds licenses as a health insurance agent for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Mission Wealth Management serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients by providing integrated wealth management, financial planning, and investment consulting services. The firm employs a comprehensive approach that combines investment management with tax, trust, legacy, philanthropy, and risk planning, managing portfolios through a mix of internal and third-party strategies.

Gregory Van Wyk is a financial advisor at Daniel Investment Associates, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Daniel Investment Associates since 2011 and was previously with Kobo Wealth Conservancy from 2015 to 2020. He holds a Series 65 designation and maintains an inactive CPA certification. Daniel Investment Associates provides investment management and advisory services primarily to high net worth individuals, foundations, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using index and actively managed mutual funds, ETFs, and long/short techniques, managing accounts mainly on a non-discretionary basis with quarterly reviews.

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is also involved with NIHFCU Wealth Advisors, a related business entity. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Richard Brandi is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank ssb since 2003 and 2005, respectively. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, leveraging multi-asset model portfolios and research from its Schwab Center for Financial Research.

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.

Paul Kinneberg is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He has been the principal and sole advisor at Longview Financial, Inc. since 2000 and also holds a long-term corporate role at CenturyLink. Longview Financial, Inc. provides personalized, fee-only financial planning and investment management primarily for individual clients. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation approach with a core-and-satellite framework, combining passive index and ETF core holdings with active funds when appropriate, and manages client assets on a non-discretionary basis with an emphasis on individualized advice.

Justin Scicluna is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Prairie Village, KS, holding the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, including a range of household types, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers various advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and affiliated investment products through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

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.

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.

Linda Postorivo is a financial advisor at BC Advisors, LLC with 43 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has worked with MAFG RIA Services, Inc. since 1994 and with Mid-Atlantic Companies since 1981. BC Advisors provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, family trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional clients. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary investment recommendations grounded in fundamental analysis alongside technical and cyclical reviews, employing a variety of strategies including long-term, short-term, trading, options, and alternatives.

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor with Seasons of Advice Wealth Management in New York, NY. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 43 years of industry experience, including roles at Ameriprise Financial Services and RBC Capital Markets. Outside of her advisory work, she records and sells vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book on the spiritual meaning of disease and science. Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm uses a proprietary planning process that integrates goal tracking, asset allocation, and tax planning, tailoring investment recommendations to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

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.