Top retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) financial advisors in Santa Maria, 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 own a business and want to set up a retirement plan like a SEP or solo 401(k), you need an advisor who understands how these plans fit into your overall financial picture. A common mistake is choosing a plan without considering how it affects your business cash flow and tax situation.

  • Plan type suitability. Ask how they determine whether a SEP or solo 401(k) is better for your business size and income.
  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm they consider California's high income taxes and how Proposition 13 limits property tax increases.
  • Contribution strategy. Look for advice on balancing retirement contributions with your business's operational needs.
  • Compliance guidance. Ensure they help you navigate IRS rules and deadlines specific to business retirement plans.

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

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Jennifer M

Series 66

Santa Maria, CA

Morgan Stanley

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.

General estate planning guidance
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Vanita K

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 66

Santa Maria, CA

First Command Advisory Services

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.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Self-Employed Young Professionals
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Carlos Z

Series 63, Series 66

Santa Maria, CA

Merrill

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.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Alid G

Series 66

Santa Maria, CA

LPL Financial

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.

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

Series 63, Series 65

Santa Maria, CA

J.P. Morgan Securities

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.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Craig M

Series 63, Series 65

Columbia, SC

Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC

Craig Mcdaniel Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Columbia, SC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. and The McDaniel Corporation since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance sales and serves as an independent agent for annuities and related products. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a blend of analytical methods with ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Active portfolio management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities Options & derivatives strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Hassan A

Series 63, Series 65

Rockville, MD

LPL Financial

Hassan Al Kadhimi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is also involved with NIHFCU Wealth Advisors, a related business entity. 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, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

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

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

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

Series 66

Independence, OH

Hantz financial Services, Inc.

Thomas Trefzger is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Hantz Financial Services, Inc. since 2018 and previously held roles at Sprint and Cleveland State University. Hantz Financial Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business owners. The firm offers financial planning and wealth management primarily through ETF-based model portfolios across five risk levels, supplemented by third-party managers and Direct Indexing, and combines advisory, broker-dealer, mortgage, and insurance activities under one platform.

Active portfolio management Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting Business ownership considerations Retirement withdrawal strategies Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Taylor R

Series 63, Series 65

San Francisco, CA

Oppenheimer

Taylor Reed is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Co, and Atlas Capital Advisors LLC. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers a range of programs including asset management, consulting, and retirement services, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts across diverse portfolio strategies.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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