Top liquidity event planning 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.

If you're preparing to sell a business, receive a large inheritance, or cash out significant investments, you need an advisor who understands liquidity event planning — the process of managing a big influx of cash. Without focused expertise, you might overlook tax strategies or timing that protect your wealth.

  • Tax impact awareness. Ask how they navigate California's high income taxes and use tools like Proposition 13 to limit property tax increases after a liquidity event.
  • Cash flow timing. Confirm they help plan when to access funds to balance immediate needs with long-term growth.
  • Investment transition. Look for guidance on shifting from concentrated holdings to diversified portfolios without triggering unnecessary taxes.
  • Estate considerations. Ensure they address how liquidity events affect your estate plan and beneficiary designations.

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

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Jeffrey M

Series 63, Series 65

Brentwood, CA

Wells Fargo Advisors

Jeffrey Martin is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Morgan Stanley in various capacities. Martin is also a 40% owner of Martin Financial Group, an investment management business based in Brentwood, CA. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services. The firm offers a broad range of planning services, including specialized areas such as business-owner transition and sports & entertainment planning, using proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner
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Scott M

CFP®, Series 65

Santa Cruz, CA

SLP Wealth

Scott Mc Donald is a CFP® professional associated with SLP Wealth, holding a Series 65 license and having three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Outside of finance, he operates a commercial photography business, Scotty McDonald Photography, serving editorial and commercial clients. SLP Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm that provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual clients and small-business owners, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm uses diversified, risk-based portfolios primarily consisting of no-load mutual funds and ETFs and offers additional services such as tax preparation and 401(k) plan advisory.

Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Charitable giving tax strategies Founder/Business Owner
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John A

Series 63, Series 65

Santa Cruz, CA

LPL Financial

John Anzaldua is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Santa Cruz, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at U.S. Bancorp Investments, Chase Investment Services, Wamu Investments, Citicorp Investment Services, and Wells Fargo Investments. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Elizabeth F

Series 65

Santa Cruz, CA

Legacy Wealth Advisors, LLC

Elizabeth Flores is a financial advisor with Legacy Wealth Advisors, LLC in Santa Cruz, CA, holding a Series 65 license and 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Legacy Wealth Advisors in 2020, she worked at Sterling Advisory Services, LLC and operated her own CPA practice for 18 years. She is also a 50% owner of a tax preparation business, Oversight Group, LLC, where she is involved in preparing and processing tax returns. Legacy Wealth Advisors, LLC provides multi-family office and wealth management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, and institutions. The firm combines macroeconomic analysis with client-specific risk assessments to build customized portfolios, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management alongside integrated tax and real estate advisory services.

Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing Gifting strategies Real estate investing
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Jane M

Series 63

Santa Cruz, CA

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Jane Mckenzie is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds a Series 63 designation. She has 26 years of experience in the industry and has been with Cambridge since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a volunteer director for the Santa Cruz Surfing Preservation Society. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Annuities Self-Employed

Sarah B

Series 66

Monroe, GA

Edward Jones

Sarah Brown is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Monroe, GA, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked at Georgia College & State University and the Walton County School District. She also has experience with Peachy Keen. 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 programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Wealth management Business ownership considerations General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Women Professionals Women's Finance

Andrew G

Series 66

Cincinnati, OH

Merrill

Andrew Grombala is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on serving corporate executives and high-earning professionals who have complex compensation structures, including equity awards such as RSUs, stock options, ESPP programs, deferred compensation packages, and performance awards. In his role, he helps clients manage concentration risk, reduce tax implications, and align their equity compensation with long-term, goals-based wealth strategies. Since entering the industry in 2017, Andrew has adopted a structured, plan-first approach that incorporates compensation, cash flow, family priorities, retirement planning, and overall risk management. He guides clients through various financial events, including vesting, diversification, liquidity management, and retirement income planning. His expertise extends to executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and tax minimization. Andrew holds FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 registrations and is licensed in Accident & Health, Life, and Variable Insurance. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he also competed as a student-athlete in football and lacrosse. He resides in Anderson Township with his wife and two children. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys boating, golfing, football, ice hockey, music, and spending time with his family.

Exec comp design Stock option exercise strategy Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Liquidity event planning Concentrated stock management Executive Parents
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Sherry N

Series 66

New Braunfels, TX

Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC

Sherry Neeley is a financial advisor at Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Authentikos in 2025, she worked at First Command Insurance Services and related entities from 2022 to 2025. Outside of her advisory role, she provides educational consulting as a Special Education Advocate for parents of special needs children. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals and retirement plans, with offerings that include discretionary portfolio management, written financial plans, and access to model-portfolio solutions implemented on a wrap-fee platform. The firm customizes portfolio allocations based on clients’ goals and risk tolerances using fundamental, cyclical, and technical analysis across a broad range of investments.

Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Liquidity event planning Business succession planning Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Perrin B

Series 65

Charlotte, NC

Apollon Wealth Management, LLC

Perrin Berry is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Crisp Event Rentals, Modern Woodmen, and the Secretary of State's Office. Apollon Wealth Management is an SEC-registered multi-team firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan advisory, sub-advisory, and consulting services, combining centrally managed model strategies with locally managed portfolios tailored through a comprehensive oversight structure.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Business exit / sale strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner
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Heather R

CFP®, Series 65

Camp Hill, PA

River Wealth Advisors LLC

Heather Rivas is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with River Wealth Advisors LLC, where she has worked for four years. She has a total of 11 years of industry experience, including seven years at PSECU prior to joining River Wealth Advisors. River Wealth Advisors offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, investment consulting, and retirement-plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and plan sponsors. The firm uses a fundamentally oriented, customized investment approach and conducts regular portfolio monitoring and formal reviews.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Liquidity event planning Wealth management Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner Retired

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