Monterey, CA Office

McFarland Associates serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, non‑profits and other business entities, advising a mix of high‑net‑worth and non‑HNW clients. It offers comprehensive financial planning and implementation support, including plan preparation, ongoing plan reviews, retirement and estate analysis, tax‑reduction strategies, insurance and mortgage considerations, and referrals to other professionals for execution.

The firm’s investment approach emphasizes broadly diversified, mutual‑fund based portfolios aligned with modern portfolio theory, and it generally manages client accounts on a non‑discretionary basis—requiring client approval for allocation or trading decisions. When clients prefer delegated management, McFarland recommends and supervises independent third‑party investment advisors (including a recommended provider) who handle execution, reporting, and administrative tasks while McFarland retains oversight.

What is noteworthy relative to peers is McFarland’s primary use of non‑discretionary management for the bulk of its assets, which is uncommon among similar firms and shapes its client engagement model and review cadence. The firm also integrates a wide range of non‑investment planning services (for example, small business valuation, forward/reverse mortgage planning, and coordination of tax preparation) into its advisory relationships and relies on third‑party custodians and reporting platforms for custody and account administration.