Large-firm, multi-generational wealth transfer 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.

You might be facing complex decisions about passing wealth to your children or grandchildren while managing tax impacts and family dynamics. Without focused expertise, it's easy to overlook how state-specific rules like California's Proposition 13 affect property tax after transfer.

  • Long-term tax impact. Ask how they plan for California's high income taxes alongside property tax limits to protect your family's assets.
  • Family communication. Confirm their approach to helping you navigate sensitive conversations and align goals across generations.
  • Asset structuring. Inquire about strategies they use to balance liquidity needs with preserving wealth through trusts or other vehicles.
  • Firm resources. Large firms often provide access to specialized legal and tax experts; see how they integrate these services into your plan.

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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Kayla S

Series 63, Series 65

Warwick, RI

Mass Mutual Investors Services

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Warwick, RI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously at MetLife Securities. In addition to her advisory role, Santos is an independent insurance agent, offering life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance products. Mass Mutual 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, wrap and money-manager programs, and educational seminars, structuring engagements as annual collaborative relationships focused on goal analysis and written recommendations.

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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Deborah E

Series 63, Series 66

Cape Girardeau, MO

Edward Jones

Deborah Etherton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Cape Girardeau, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2005. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

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

George B

Series 66

Austin, TX

Merrill

George Bonikos is a Financial Advisor affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He works to help clients build, manage, and optimize their wealth with clarity and confidence through disciplined and tailored strategies. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Hunter College and has earned the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach emphasizes curiosity and continuous improvement, aiming to serve as a trusted partner for clients facing retirement planning, portfolio growth, or complex financial decisions. Outside of his professional work, George has personal interests that include adventure sports, camping, chess, cooking, fishing, hiking, music, reading, rock climbing, and spending time with his family.

Wealth management General estate planning guidance Retirement income strategy General retirement planning
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Carson L

CFP®, Series 66

Greenville, RI

Kintra Wealth, LLC

Carson Leydecker is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Kintra Wealth, LLC. He has held positions at Kintra Wealth and Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2026 and previously worked at Loring Advisory Group and Commonwealth Financial Network. Kintra Wealth serves individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, foundations, pension plans, and corporations, providing wealth management, financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and portfolio management. The firm combines client interviews and document review with model-driven asset allocation and fundamental security analysis to implement tax-efficient investment strategies on a household basis.

Business exit / sale strategy Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Taylor S

CFP®, Series 65

Chamblee, GA

Verisail Partners, LLC

Taylor Stanfill is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Veritas Planning Group since 2014 and is currently part of the Verisail Partners, LLC team in Chamblee, GA. Verisail Partners serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and other institutions with comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs a top-down, asset-allocation first approach, emphasizing a factor-based framework informed by the Fama-French three-factor model, and manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Multi-generational wealth transfer College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Factor investing / smart beta Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Jeffrey P

Series 66

Dacula, GA

Merrill

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Scott M

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Morgan Stanley

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

General estate planning guidance
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Elizabeth B

Series 66

New York, NY

J.P. Morgan Securities

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Wesley P

Series 63, Series 66

Fort Worth, TX

Wells Fargo Clearing

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.

Retired Founder/Business Owner
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Willie M

Series 63, Series 66

Cary, NC

Equitable Advisors

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.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Concentrated stock management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Long-term care insurance Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Sandwich Generation
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