Independent, options & derivatives 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 trade options or derivatives, you need an advisor who understands the complex risks and strategies involved. Without this expertise, you might face unexpected losses or miss opportunities to hedge your portfolio effectively.
- Risk management focus. Confirm how they identify and control the unique risks options and derivatives introduce to your investments.
- Strategy customization. Ask how they tailor option strategies to your financial goals and risk tolerance, rather than using one-size-fits-all approaches.
- Tax implications. Options and derivatives can have complicated tax consequences; check how they help you navigate these to avoid surprises.
- Independent advice. Being independent means these advisors aren’t tied to specific products, which can help ensure recommendations align with your interests.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Skip Z
Series 66
Santa Monica, CA
Ocean Avenue Wealth Management
Skip Zwahlen offers expertise in options and derivatives strategies with 19 years of experience at Ocean Avenue Wealth Management in Santa Monica, serving high-net-worth clients independently. His firm uses multiple analytical methods and maintains client authorization for trades, providing a customizable approach with negotiable fees ranging from 0% to 5% AUM and hourly rates between $100 and $300.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $3,066,959
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Aaron W
Series 65
Santa Monica, CA
Reigate Investors LLC
Aaron Wilhelm specializes in options and derivatives strategies with eight years of experience, offering independent advice in Santa Monica, CA. His firm, Reigate Investors LLC, focuses on discretionary management for high-net-worth clients using a value-oriented, bottom-up approach emphasizing U.S.-listed small-cap equities, which may provide tailored risk management and strategy customization compared to other advisors.
Experience: 9 years
Avg account: $1,848,530
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Mary K
Series 63, Series 65
Santa Monica, CA
Victus Capital Wealth
Mary Kusnic's 26 years of experience and Series 63 and 65 licenses equip her to manage complex options and derivatives strategies for high-net-worth clients in Santa Monica. At Victus Capital Wealth, she benefits from a small team approach, combining fundamental and technical analysis with flexible fee options including hourly and 1.25% AUM fees, distinguishing her from advisors with less diverse investment approaches.
Experience: 27 years
Avg account: $1,482,537
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Nicolas C
Series 65
Santa Monica, CA
TRU Independence Asset Management 2, LLC
Nicolas Castano specializes in options and derivatives strategies with a focus on active portfolio management, serving high-net-worth clients in Santa Monica, CA. His firm, Morton Wealth, manages nearly $3 billion and emphasizes risk management and volatility reduction through standardized yet tailored investment strategies, offering flat-fee consulting and discretionary portfolio management services.
Experience: 2 years
Avg account: $450,749
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Devon G
CFP®, ChFC®, Series 65
Santa Monica, CA
Serenus Wealth Advisors, LLC
Devon Galindo specializes in options and derivatives strategies with 13 years of experience, offering independent advice in Santa Monica, CA. His firm, Serenus Wealth Advisors, serves high-net-worth clients using a diverse investment approach including fundamental and technical analysis, and charges flat fees ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, distinguishing him from advisors with different fee structures or less comprehensive portfolio management.
Experience: 13 years
Avg account: $10,439,411
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