Independent 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.

When you face complex financial decisions in Watsonville, CA, an independent advisor can help you navigate options without firm-imposed product choices. The main risk is working with someone whose advice is influenced by their employer's interests rather than your unique situation.

  • Unbiased product selection. Confirm they recommend investments and insurance based solely on your needs, not firm affiliations.
  • Local tax knowledge. Ask how they incorporate California's high income taxes and Proposition 13's property tax limits into your plan.
  • Fee transparency. Independent advisors often have varied fee structures; understand how they charge and what services you receive.
  • Experience depth. Inquire about their years managing financial plans independently, ensuring they can handle your specific challenges.

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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Jared F

Series 65

Huntington Beach, CA

Northwest Asset Management

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Retirement income strategy Wealth management Active portfolio management Founder/Business Owner
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Edwina M

Series 65

Cincinnati, OH

Waverly Advisors, LLC

Edwina Martin is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Waverly Advisors, LLC. She previously worked at 9258 Wealth Management for five years and was employed at Teradata Corp for eleven years. Martin also serves as assistant director of tax planning at 9258 Tax and Planning, a non-investment related business. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, offering a range of investment management and financial planning services.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Founder/Business Owner Executive
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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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David H

Series 65

Irvine, CA

Martin Wealth Management, LLC

David Hart is a financial advisor with Martin Wealth Management, LLC in Irvine, CA. He holds a Series 65 credential and has 15 years of industry experience. Hart previously worked with Safeguard Investment Advisory Group and LifePro Asset Management. He is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary and volunteers as an instructor with the Foundation for Fiduciary Education, providing unbiased fiduciary financial education to the public. Martin Wealth Management offers investment advisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients by co-advising and directing accounts to a third-party money manager, Matson Money. The firm focuses on client onboarding, documentation, and ongoing review of third-party manager accounts rather than direct asset management.

Medicare planning Annuities
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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