Top gifting strategies financial advisors in Santa Monica, 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 planning to transfer wealth or assets to family or friends, you need an advisor who understands the nuances of gifting strategies. Without expert guidance, you might miss opportunities to reduce tax burdens or unintentionally trigger gift tax consequences.

  • Tax impact awareness. Confirm how they navigate federal and state gift tax rules, especially in high-tax states like California.
  • Property tax considerations. Ask how Proposition 13's limits on property tax increases might affect your gifting plans.
  • Long-term planning. Look for advisors who consider how gifts fit into your overall estate and financial goals, not just immediate transfers.
  • Coordination with other advisors. Ensure they work with your tax preparer or estate attorney to align gifting with your broader financial picture.

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

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Robert J

Series 66

Santa Monica, CA

Victus Capital Wealth

Robert Jones is a financial advisor at Victus Capital Wealth with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley and Beverly Hills Wealth Management. Jones has been with Victus Capital Wealth since 2014. Victus Capital Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and business entities by providing portfolio management and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with various investment strategies and regularly monitors and rebalances client portfolios under a fiduciary standard.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments
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Skip Z

Series 66

Santa Monica, CA

Ocean Avenue Wealth Management

Skip Zwahlen is a financial advisor at Ocean Avenue Wealth Management in Santa Monica, CA, with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Ocean Avenue Wealth Management since 2010. Zwahlen is also a licensed insurance agent and occasionally offers clients commissionable insurance products. Ocean Avenue Wealth Management provides ongoing portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs multiple analytical methods and implements a range of strategies without accepting investment discretion, maintaining client authorization for trading and execution.

Options & derivatives strategies Real estate investing Annuities
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Ravin W

Series 63, Series 66

Santa Monica, CA

Thrivent Investment Management

Ravin Walters is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at firms including Royal Alliance Associates, Bank of America, Merrill, and Charles Schwab. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering both one-time and ongoing planning engagements. The firm delivers holistic, goal-based analyses across a broad range of planning topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing option called WealthPlan.

Business ownership considerations
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Michael H

CFP®, Series 66

Santa Monica, CA

McDonald Hartman Wealth Advisors

Michael Hartman is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal of McDonald Hartman Wealth Advisors, an independent firm he joined in 2022. His prior roles include positions at Mutual Advisors, LLC, Kaye Capital Management, WealthSource Partners, LLC, and Reilly Financial Advisors LLC. McDonald Hartman Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $26.3 million in assets. The firm focuses on tailored advice based on client objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance, employing various strategies including asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and technical analysis.

Wealth management
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Devon G

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 65

Santa Monica, CA

Serenus Wealth Advisors, LLC

Devon Galindo is a CFP®, ChFC®, and holds a Series 65 license with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Serenus Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2024 and previously spent 10 years at Camden Capital, LLC. Serenus Wealth Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm employs a diverse investment approach that includes fundamental and technical analysis, quantitative models, and third-party manager due diligence, emphasizing asset allocation, duration management, and periodic rebalancing.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments

Christopher F

Series 66

Spirit Lake, IA

Edward Jones

Christopher Fuhrman is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2019, he worked for ten years at Pelzer Law Firm. He owns and oversees operations of a family-owned ambulance service and a non-profit ambulance service in Iowa. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including pension plans and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

General estate planning guidance Business exit / sale strategy Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Gifting strategies Attorney
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Krista W

CFP®

Olympia, WA

SoundView Advisors

Krista Wallace is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving at SoundView Advisors. Prior to joining SoundView in 2020, she worked at Zeiders Enterprises for six years. She serves as a Trustee and Finance Elder at University Place Presbyterian Church, contributing to the financial oversight of the organization. SoundView Advisors provides discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm customizes portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, and sub-advisors, with ongoing monitoring and coordination with clients’ attorneys and accountants.

Equity compensation tax strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Gifting strategies Wealth management

Cody T

Series 66

Nashville, TN

Merrill

Cody Tellis is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and the founder of The Tellis Group, established to provide a unified source for comprehensive wealth management. With over 25 years of experience across the private and public sectors, Cody's professional background combines business ownership, banking, tax planning, and law. This diverse experience equips him to address the unique opportunities and challenges associated with significant wealth. Cody holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Trinity Law School and a Master’s Degree from St. Thomas University, enhancing his ability to offer informed financial insights to his clients. His areas of focus include tax-sensitive trust and estate planning services, financial services for nonprofits, business succession planning, individual and corporate captive insurance, college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and tax minimization. Cody does not provide legal or tax advice in his role with Merrill and advises clients to consult appropriate professionals for these services. Outside of his professional life, Cody enjoys music, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy Gifting strategies Family Business

Garrett J

Series 63, Series 66

Salt Lake City, UT

Fidelity

Garrett Jensen is the Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. In this role, he supports clients and their families in implementing and monitoring financial plans, with a focus on tax-efficient investing, gifting, estate planning considerations, and other areas of financial planning. He holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP4) designation and is licensed to provide insurance services in Arkansas and California. Garrett has been with Fidelity Investments since 2016, progressing through various roles including Financial Consultant, Planning Consultant, PAS Portfolio Specialist, and Workplace Planning Consultant. His career path reflects experience in portfolio management, workplace planning, and high net worth client services. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Garrett enjoys biking, golf, reading, and skiing.

General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy Gifting strategies Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management
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Kylee H

Series 65

Columbia, SC

Hobbs Group Advisors LLC

Kylee Holderied is a financial advisor at Hobbs Group Advisors LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Onthemarc Catering. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC provides investment advice to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, combining portfolio oversight with financial planning, and uses client interviews and risk-tolerance questionnaires to develop individualized investment policies.

Wealth management Gifting strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired

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