Top business sale tax planning financial advisors in Santa Clara, 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.

Selling a business triggers complex tax decisions that can affect your net proceeds and future financial plans. Without expert guidance, you might miss opportunities to reduce your tax burden or mismanage timing, leading to unexpected liabilities.

  • Tax timing strategies. Ask how they plan the sale date and income recognition to optimize your tax outcomes.
  • Capital gains management. Confirm their approach to minimizing taxes on sale profits, including use of exemptions or deferrals.
  • State tax implications. Inquire how they navigate California's high income taxes and leverage rules like Proposition 13 to your advantage.
  • Post-sale planning. Understand how they integrate sale proceeds into your broader financial goals, including investment and estate considerations.

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

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Steven D

Series 63, Series 66

Santa Clara, CA

Edward Jones

Steven Duffy is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1992 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Lay Pension Board, Investment Committee, and Finance Council for the Diocese of San Jose, overseeing and reviewing the management of their investment pool. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm operates a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs, tax-efficient services, and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Hongze C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Santa Clara, CA

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Hongze Chen is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at MassMutual Investors Services since 2017 and has been affiliated with MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2016. Prior to that, he spent 18 years at Metlife Securities Inc. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, with planning engagements structured as annual collaborative relationships using firm-approved analytical tools.

Divorce financial planning General estate planning guidance Multi-generational wealth transfer Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Attorney Executive Married/Couples/Partners Divorced
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Syed A

Series 66

Santa Clara, CA

J.P. Morgan Securities

Syed Ali is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank NA. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a team of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Dan W

Series 63, Series 65

Santa Clara, CA

Transamerica Financial Advisors

Dan Wang is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has held roles at several firms, including Dream Builder Financial and Silicon Valley Enterprise, where he serves as treasurer. Wang is also involved in insurance product sales affiliated with his primary firm. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers advisory and broker-dealer services with proprietary and third-party model portfolios, providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment options.

ESG / Sustainable investing Concentrated stock management Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Hanyu Z

CFP®, Series 66

Santa Clara, CA

Charles Schwab

Hanyu Zhao is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Charles Schwab in Santa Clara, CA, where he has worked since 2016 across various Schwab entities. Prior to that, he was employed by JP Morgan Chase Bank and JP Morgan Securities from 2019 to 2022. 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 combination of non-discretionary investment guidance and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and centralized operational resources.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Multi-state taxation College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Ethan S

Series 65

St. Louis, MO

Focus Partners Wealth, LLC

Ethan Singer is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at The Colony Group, LLC and Buckingham Strategic Partners, LLC. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a comprehensive range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business sale tax planning Dentist Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Established Professionals Approaching retirement Values-based investing
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Brian M

Series 65

Watkinsville, GA

Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC

Brian Moore is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advisory Services Network, LLC, and Precision Capital Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in several non-investment business activities including ownership roles in insurance commissions and land ownership ventures. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional clients such as pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory and financial planning services.

ESG / Sustainable investing Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Business sale tax planning Retirement income strategy Executive Founder/Business Owner Retired HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Mid-Career Professionals
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Rodney L

Series 63, Series 66

Boston, MA

Flagship Harbor Advisors, LLC

Rodney Laurenz is a financial advisor with Flagship Harbor Advisors, LLC in Boston, MA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Flagship Harbor Advisors and LPL Financial since 2011. Laurenz teaches several investment-related classes annually through the Cambridge Centre for Adult Education. Flagship Harbor Advisors is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $3.42 billion in discretionary assets and employs a range of investment strategies including mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party managed accounts.

Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Wealth management Business sale tax planning Founder/Business Owner Executive

Matthew A

Series 66

Florham Park, NJ

Merrill

Matthew Armendinger is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He specializes in helping individuals and families with various financial strategies including employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Matthew earned his Bachelor's Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and remains actively engaged with his alma mater through the Fairleigh Dickinson Young Alumni Association. His professional involvement extends to volunteering as a guest speaker with ALPFA NJ and supporting the Lupus Foundation for America, New Jersey Chapter. Outside of his professional work, Matthew enjoys baseball, basketball, football, golfing, reading, running, spending time with his family, and practicing yoga. He participates in activities such as running with his run club in Jersey City and competing in indoor golf leagues.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Business sale tax planning
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William F

CFP®, Series 63

San Diego, CA

Sovran Advisors, LLC

William Frankenstein is a CFP® with 42 years of industry experience, currently serving as an investment advisor representative at Sovran Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Co., and MetLife Securities Inc. He is also involved with the Foundation for Senior Services, where he discusses financial planning with seniors. Sovran Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $1.78 billion in client assets through a team of about 53 advisors, offering customized portfolio management and diversified investment strategies.

Business sale tax planning Annuities Options & derivatives strategies Executive Founder/Business Owner

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