Top general retirement 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.

Planning for retirement in Santa Clara, CA often means balancing high income taxes with the benefits of Proposition 13, which can cap your property tax increases. Without careful planning, you might overlook how these local tax rules affect your long-term income and expenses.

  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm how the advisor integrates California's income tax rates and Proposition 13 limits into your retirement income projections.
  • Withdrawal sequencing. Ask how they plan distributions from various accounts to minimize your overall tax burden over time.
  • Inflation and cost of living. Ensure they consider Santa Clara's living expenses and inflation trends when estimating your retirement budget.
  • Social Security timing. Discuss strategies for when to claim benefits to optimize your income alongside other retirement sources.

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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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

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.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Amanda S

Series 66

Ft. Wayne, IN

Raymond James & Associates

Amanda Scheele is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2024, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2024 and is involved with Lucky Duck since 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary consulting services, drawing on various portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive

Lori F

Series 66

East Lansing, MI

Edward Jones

Lori Fell is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones in East Lansing, MI, where she has worked since 2009, accumulating 17 years of industry experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of LAF Properties LLC, a business she maintains in East Lansing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions, including managed account strategies and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Multi-generational wealth transfer General retirement planning Wealth management Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Kenneth B

Series 63, Series 65

Portland, ME

Headinvest

Kenneth Blaschke is a financial advisor at HeadInvest in Portland, ME, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with HeadInvest since 2009. HeadInvest serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, trusts, endowments, and government entities, providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a holistic, asset-allocation driven approach, combining fixed-income selection with low-cost ETFs and emphasizing tax efficiency.

Wealth management General retirement planning Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Retired
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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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