CFP®-certified, general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Santa Cruz, 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 need a general estate planning advisor if you're organizing your will, setting up trusts, or planning for how your assets will be managed after your passing. Without focused guidance, it's easy to overlook how state-specific rules, like California's Proposition 13 property tax limits, affect your long-term plans. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, including estate matters.
- State tax implications. Confirm how they incorporate California's high income taxes and property tax protections into your estate plan.
- Trust structuring. Ask about their approach to setting up trusts that align with your goals and minimize probate delays.
- Asset distribution clarity. Ensure they help you clearly define who inherits what to avoid family disputes.
- Coordination with legal counsel. Check how they work alongside your estate attorney to keep financial and legal plans aligned.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Zachary B
CFP®, Series 63, Series 66
Scotts Valley, CA
Edward Jones
Zachary Brown's 20 years of experience and CFP® certification equip him to provide general estate planning guidance tailored to Santa Cruz residents, including trust structuring and asset distribution clarity. As part of Edward Jones, a large full-service firm, he offers diverse investment solutions and serves clients with a program fee up to 1.35% annually, distinguishing him from advisors at smaller firms or with different fee models.
Experience: 21 years
Avg account: $246,728
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Jacqueline L
CFP®, Series 63
Aptos, CA
Continuum Advisory, LLC
Jacqueline Lakocy offers general estate planning guidance in the Santa Cruz area, backed by 41 years of experience and CFP® certification, ensuring knowledgeable handling of California-specific estate issues. Her firm, Continuum Advisory, LLC, serves a diverse client base including trusts and corporations, providing customized financial planning with negotiable flat fees, which may appeal to clients seeking flexible and independent advisory services.
Experience: 42 years
Avg account: $541,807
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Curtis D
CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65
Campbell, CA
PFG Advisors
Curtis Davis offers general estate planning guidance with over 38 years of experience and holds CFP® and ChFC® certifications, making him well-equipped to address California-specific estate issues. His firm, PFG Advisors, uses a blend of macroeconomic and technical analysis with index-based ETFs, providing flat-fee financial planning services and catering to individuals, trusts, and estates, which distinguishes him from other advisors in the Santa Cruz area.
Experience: 39 years
Avg account: $421,263
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Scott P
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Campbell, CA
Seek First Inc.
Scott Pearring's 15 years of experience and CFP® certification equip him to provide general estate planning guidance tailored to California's tax environment, including Proposition 13 considerations. As founder of Seek First Inc., he serves high-net-worth clients with a comprehensive approach that integrates tax, estate, and insurance planning alongside discretionary portfolio management, differentiating him through a bundled consulting program and a 1.50% AUM fee structure.
Experience: 15 years
Avg account: $2,917,647
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Steven A
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Los Gatos, CA
Morgan Stanley
Steven Anderson offers general estate planning guidance with 15 years of experience and CFP® certification, ensuring knowledgeable support for organizing wills and trusts. Based in nearby Los Gatos and affiliated with Morgan Stanley, a large firm managing $2.74 trillion in assets, he provides access to extensive advisory resources and tailored financial planning tools, distinguishing him from smaller local advisors.
Experience: 15 years
Avg account: $670,481
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