Top charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Watsonville, 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 want to support causes you care about while managing your finances, a charitable giving and philanthropy advisor can help you plan gifts that fit your goals and tax situation. Without focused expertise, you might miss opportunities to maximize your impact or tax benefits.

  • Tax-aware giving strategies. Ask how they navigate California's high income taxes and property tax rules like Proposition 13 to optimize your donations.
  • Gift timing and types. Confirm they explain when to give and whether to use cash, appreciated assets, or donor-advised funds for your situation.
  • Legacy planning integration. See if they connect your philanthropy with estate plans to support causes beyond your lifetime.
  • Nonprofit vetting. Check how they help you evaluate charities to ensure your gifts align with your values and have meaningful impact.

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

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Abraham R

Series 66

Watsonville, CA

Merrill

Abraham Rivera is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 2024 and was previously employed by Hartnell College for 14 years. 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 investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management

Diana B

Series 66

Watsonville, CA

Edward Jones

Diana Brenneise is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing eight years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices. The firm 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.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Multi-generational wealth transfer Retirement income strategy Wealth management Technology Professional Intergenerational Families
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Jose C

Series 63, Series 66

Watsonville, CA

J.P. Morgan Securities

Jose Cerda is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Watsonville, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and six years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2019. Prior to his current roles, his work history includes positions at Target Corporation, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., and San Jose State University. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm delivers its program on a non-discretionary basis, combining institutional advisory operations with affiliated brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Matthew L

Series 66

Soquel, CA

OSAIC

Matthew Lopez is a financial advisor with OSAIC who holds a Series 66 designation and has 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Securities America Advisors and Questar Asset Management. Outside of advising, Lopez is a member of Rotary International, where he participates in community service activities. OSAIC serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers, offering integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers and wrap programs. The firm uses various asset-allocation tools and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jacqueline C

Series 66

Freedom, CA

LPL Financial

Jacqueline Carrillo is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at RBC Capital Markets, Edward Jones, and Bay Federal Credit Union. Her current roles include advising at both LPL Financial and Bay Federal Credit Union. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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Sally H

Series 63, Series 65

New York, NY

Seasons of Advice Wealth Management

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor at Seasons of Advice Wealth Management with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Outside of finance, she is a singer who sells her own vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book titled "Congenital Alterable Transmissible Asymmetry: The Spiritual Meaning of Disease and Science." Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm follows a life-cycle investment approach called the “Seasons of Advice” process and offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and specialized fixed-income programs through sub-advisors.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals
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Richard M

Series 63

Fort Walton, FL

Cetera

Richard Martin is a financial advisor at Cetera with 29 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has a background that includes nearly three decades at Avantax Advisory Services and eight years at Avantax Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and sole proprietor of Martin & Pellegrin, CPAs, a tax preparation and accounting firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Thaddeus P

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Grand Rapids, MI

Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Charitable giving & philanthropy General estate planning guidance General tax planning Options & derivatives strategies

Edward B

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Forest Hills, NY

Merrill

Edward Blatz serves as a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He specializes in working with high net-worth individuals and families, focusing on estate and wealth management needs. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1985, he has provided personalized financial solutions tailored to his clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Edward's expertise encompasses a range of areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He collaborates closely with clients' tax advisors and estate planning attorneys to ensure comprehensive management of clients' financial and personal affairs. Edward is recognized as a member of The Blatz-Rooney Group, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Edward holds a Bachelor's Degree from Adelphi University and has earned several professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Outside of his professional work, he has interests in golfing, reading, and tennis.

Wealth management General estate planning guidance Family Business Retirement income strategy Divorce financial planning
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Patrick F

Series 66

New Market, MD

Intentional

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Commonwealth Financial Network. In addition to his advisory role, Ferguson is licensed to sell fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan consulting for businesses and institutions. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and economic analysis in its investment approach and offers due diligence and monitoring of alternative and private investments for qualified investors.

Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Founder/Business Owner
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