D

Desert Wealth Management LLC

Updated today

Client assets under management

$49,598,895

Clients

29

31% high-net-worth

Advisors

2

of 2 employees

Firm type

Supported

1-4 advisors or >$200M in AUM

Clients per advisor

15

Very Low

Average account size

$1,710,307

About

Desert Wealth Management is a fee-only investment adviser that provides discretionary asset management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. According to the firm brochure, it managed approximately $49.6 million in discretionary client assets as of December 31, 2025 and works with a small client base (about 39 clients) supported by two advisors.

The firm describes an academic investment approach that emphasizes macroeconomic analysis alongside fundamental security analysis to set asset allocation and select investments, and it implements long-term, short-term and trading strategies as appropriate to client objectives. Accounts are managed on a discretionary basis, clients may impose written investment restrictions, and the firm requires the use of a specified custodian for trade execution and custody.

A few operational features distinguish the firm from many peers: ownership is highly concentrated (one owner holds a substantial majority interest), the firm does not aggregate trades for block execution and does not vote client proxies (clients receive and vote their own proxy materials). The brochure also notes the firm is deemed to have limited custody because advisory fees are deducted by the custodian and it uses third‑party standing letters of authorization (SLOAs) while providing invoices and client statements concurrent with fee deductions.

Client services

Portfolio management

Expertise

Wealth management

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Fee options

Percentage

Annual investment advisory fee not to exceed 1.20%, billed monthly in advance based on assets under management

Other

Account minimum: $500,000 (may be lowered or waived in certain instances) Fee-only: Fee-only investment management firm

Main office location

Desert Wealth Management LLC

Palm Desert CA, United States

Number of offices

1

Most active in

California

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Quick links

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

James E

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65

Palm Desert, CA

Desert Wealth Management LLC

James Estes is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Desert Wealth Management LLC since 2018 and previously spent seven years at Alpha Wealth Management, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he held a position with FINRA for nearly two decades and has been affiliated with California State University. Desert Wealth Management is a fee-only investment adviser serving primarily individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an academic investment approach that combines macroeconomic and fundamental security analysis to guide asset allocation and investment selection, managing accounts on a discretionary basis for a small client base.

Wealth management
user avatar

Maria M

CFP®, Series 66

Palm Desert, CA

Desert Wealth Management LLC

Maria Melecio is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at Desert Wealth Management LLC since 2018 and previously held roles at Alpha Wealth Management, LLC and as an insurance agent. Outside of her advisory work, Ms. Melecio serves as a FINRA arbitrator and is an adjunct professor at California State University San Bernardino. Desert Wealth Management is a fee-only investment adviser managing approximately $49.6 million in discretionary assets for a small client base, primarily individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an academic investment approach that integrates macroeconomic and fundamental security analysis to guide asset allocation and investment selection.

Wealth management
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