Top business succession planning financial advisors in Santa Maria, CA

Jennifer Murray is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley who holds a Series 66 designation and has 23 years of industry experience. She has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Murray serves on the investment committee of the Santa Barbara Foundation and holds board positions with the Santa Maria Valley YMCA Foundation and CALM – Child Abuse Listening Mediation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs and tailored financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm emphasizes a structured financial planning process using proprietary tools and offers a broad range of investment and planning solutions.

Vanita Kibbe is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 23 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. She has worked with the First Command organization since 2002 and currently serves as a health and weight loss coach with Optavia, LLC. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser that primarily serves individuals, corporations, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and wrap-fee asset management programs managed centrally by its Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Carlos Zepeda is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Pacific Western Bank, as well as positions outside the financial industry. 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.

Alid Gonzalez is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Mechanics Bank, Edward Jones, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan Chase. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with CountryWide Management, Ltd, a real estate rental business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Todd Sears is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Santa Maria, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2016 and previously worked at Brookstone Capital Management LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an employee in a commercial janitorial business. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, utilizing quantitative asset-allocation modeling and centralized due diligence. The firm offers a range of investment solutions delivered on a non-discretionary basis, combining a broad product access with an ESG eligibility framework.

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

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.

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent involved in the sales of fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers pension consulting, estate planning support, business exit planning, and due diligence on alternative investments, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and economic analysis within a fiduciary framework.

Jerald Liesman is a financial advisor at Frost Investment Services with 33 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Frost Brokerage Services, Inc. and Frost Bank since 1993 and 1987, respectively. Frost Investment Services is a retail-focused, SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and managed account programs that integrate model portfolios from its affiliate with third-party managers, utilizing a research-driven investment process and providing optional tax and ESG overlay services.