CFP®-certified, income planning financial advisors 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.

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

Vandana Devi is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she has been serving since 2025. She began her career at Fidelity Investments in 2023, progressing through roles including Financial Service Representative, Financial Representative, and Relationship Manager before assuming her current position. Prior to joining Fidelity, she worked as a Personal Banker at Fremont Bank from 2020 to 2022. Her professional experience encompasses client relationship management and financial planning, with a focus on empowering clients to make informed decisions and maintain confidence in their financial goals. Vandana holds a California Insurance License, supporting her expertise in insurance-related financial services. Outside of her professional work, Vandana engages in activities such as cooking and baking, outdoor adventures, parenthood, reading, traveling, and writing.

Kayla Wheeler is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Madison, WI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. She has worked at Primerica Advisors since 2024 and has prior experience with Spectrum Brands and Lakeside Foods. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in sales of loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and limited discretionary separately managed account options. The firm curates third-party asset managers and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors, operating primarily on a tiered wrap-fee basis.

Stavroula Koutsfetsoulis is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2011. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in fiduciary activities as an attorney-in-fact (power of attorney). Ameriprise is a large institutional firm that provides retirement-income planning services primarily to individuals with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver written recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team, focusing on tailored retirement income strategies.

Cassandra Sanchez is a financial advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, TIAA, US Health Advisors, and various other firms. Sanchez also had involvement with Drunken Donkey, reflecting experience outside the financial sector. Financial & Tax Architects provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm offers proprietary “Private Wealth Strategies” that use ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with accounts reviewed monthly and customizable strategies to meet client needs.

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

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.

Jace Hart is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience and currently serves as a financial advisor at Rockwall Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Leo Wealth, LPL Financial, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Rockwall Wealth Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost ETF model portfolios with a focus on tax efficiency, liquidity, and systematic macro tilts, offering both traditional and advanced investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

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.