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2024

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Best Financial Advisors in Palo Alto, CA

Our Recommended Top 12

We did the research for you!

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Palo Alto Financial Advisors on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

27Reviewed

21Curated

12Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

441 California Ave, Suite 7, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Why choose this provider?

Meyers Wealth Management aims to provide financial peace of mind for clients throughout Palo Alto through its financial advisory services. Its advisors work closely with individuals and families by providing ongoing comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management that prioritizes their goals. Likewise, the firm offers consultations on retirement savings projections, portfolio risk analysis college savings, tax planning, and dealing with stock options. David Meyers is a CFP who established the firm in 2008. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

530 Lytton Avenue, Floor 2 Suite 224, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Maya Advisors is an independent fiduciary firm that has been serving clients in Palo Alto since 2007. Its financial advisory services factor in various elements to create planning solutions, including clients' life stages, income and expenses, investments, insurances, assets and liabilities, and concentrated portfolio positions. The company assists busy professionals, women, and retiring individuals manage their wealth to support them in their life transitions. Founder Lavina Nagar is a Certified Financial Planner and is a member of the Financial Planning Association.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Retirement Planning

2100 Geng Road, Suite 210, Palo Alto, CA 94303
WebsiteLicense: 133908

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Parkworth promotes the financial success of tech professionals in Palo Alto and the surrounding areas. It delivers strategies that help clients control and grow their finances despite the tech industry's volatile nature. It also renders wealth management services so tech employees stop being reliant on employer success and maximize RSUs and stock options. The company has authored and published a book on personal finance. Its principal wealth advisor, Bruce Barton, has been seasoned by over 30 years of industry experience.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

228 Hamilton Avenue Suite 300, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Why choose this provider?

Westridge Wealth Strategies serves startup professionals, business owners, and technology managers in and around the Palo Alto area. It is headed by Robert M. Cheney, a CFP and Chartered Financial Analyst, who offers various wealth management services such as risk management and tax strategy development. He also develops plans for clients seeking assistance in managing investments and protecting estates and assets. Cheney has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. He also worked in the field of investment banking for nearly 10 years.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

245 Lytton Avenue, Suite 300, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Sand Hill is a financial advisory firm with offices in Palo Alto and San Francisco. Its team offers succession planning services for entrepreneurs. The professionals also help executives manage risks and taxes. Additionally, they craft financial plans for clients looking to transfer estates and prepare education funds. Sand Hill also serves as a fiduciary partner for foundations and endowments. Jeffrey Abadie, one of its senior wealth managers, is a CFP with nearly two decades of experience. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

200 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
WebsiteLicense: 105396

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (13)
Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Established in 1978, Cornerstone Capital is an investment management firm that serves clients in Palo Alto. Its team focuses on creating tailored portfolios to help individuals, families, and charitable foundations manage their financial assets and grow their wealth. It offers investment vehicles that offer stability and yield returns over time. Before joining Cornerstone Capital, the company’s partner, Brad Dinsmore, worked at another investment firm, where he handled macro-level economic research, sector allocation, and stock selection.

  • Private Wealth Advisor

855 El Camino Real #311 Building 5, Palo Alto, CA 94301

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Why choose this provider?

Roberts Wealth Advisors is a financial planning firm that caters to clients in Palo Alto and nearby communities. Its founder, Brian Roberts, is a certified financial advisor who has been in the industry for over 26 years, providing asset and wealth management solutions to high-net-worth families and individuals. Roberts analyzes the client's financial profile by scheduling personal meetings to discuss their liabilities, expenses, assets, and income to understand their monetary goals. He serves as a member of the CFA Institute.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

530 Lytton Ave FL 2, Palo Alto, CA 94301
WebsiteLicense: 5425119

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Alison Wealth Management helps the residents of Palo Alto improve their finances. The firm provides holistic solutions to deliver coordinated investment management, financial planning, and estate planning services. Its professionals assist clients who are approaching retirement in planning Social Security benefits and individuals who have high net worths in growing wealth. Alison Wealth Management is headed by Dave Alison, a CFP and EA. He is a member of The Forum 400 and the National Ethics Association.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Retirement Planning

530 Lytton Ave 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Beck Investment Management LLC serves Palo Alto residents who need financial counsel. The firm provides advice for constructing clients' investment portfolios, taking steps to reduce transaction costs and the taxes payable on earnings and transfers. It measures the risks associated with particular investment products and their volatility in order to mitigate the impact of shifting market conditions. The company has been featured in news publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Associated Press.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Private Wealth Advisor

530 Lytton Ave, 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Appreciate Finance has been serving clients in Palo Alto and the surrounding areas since 2015. It helps individuals and families achieve their objectives and goals through investment management and financial planning. Its founder, Ariadne Horstman, is a Registered Life Planner with the Kinder Institute and has been practicing as a Certified Financial Planner since 2008. Appreciate Finance works with clients possessing assets in multiple countries and those who are moving in or out of the country.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

530 Lytton Ave 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301

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Why choose this provider?

Litman Gregory Wealth Management has been serving clients in Palo Alto and nearby areas since 1987. It offers a wide range of services, from asset management and global asset allocation to tax planning and legacy planning. It also conducts investment research and manages portfolios. Its clientele includes individuals, families, foundations, and nonprofits. Two of its wealth advisors, Gretchen Hollstein and Monica Muñoz, have been included in Forbes' list of America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State for 2022.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

530 Lytton Ave. 2nd Floor, Suite 224, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Cognizant Wealth Advisors is an independent fiduciary financial planning and investment firm Palo Alto residents attain their monetary goals through its advisory services. The firm provides personalized guidance to help clients achieve financial independence and retirement peace of mind. Its advisors build financial roadmaps that include tax, retirement, education, stock option, and estate planning as well as risk management. Cognizant Wealth Advisors is led by Artie Green and Sheetal Bagde. They are CFPs who hold a NASAA Series 65 license for investment advisors.

  • Estate Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Compare our Top Financial Advisors

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Meyers Wealth Management
441 California Ave, Suite 7, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Maya Advisors
530 Lytton Avenue, Floor 2 Suite 224, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Parkworth
2100 Geng Road, Suite 210, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Westridge Wealth Strategies
228 Hamilton Avenue Suite 300, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Sand Hill
245 Lytton Avenue, Suite 300, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Cornerstone Capital
200 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Roberts Wealth Advisors
855 El Camino Real #311 Building 5, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Alison Wealth Management
530 Lytton Ave FL 2, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Beck Investment Management LLC
530 Lytton Ave 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Appreciate Finance
530 Lytton Ave, 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Litman Gregory Wealth Management
530 Lytton Ave 2nd Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Cognizant Wealth Advisors
530 Lytton Ave. 2nd Floor, Suite 224, Palo Alto, CA 94301

FAQs

  • Introduction

    There are many titles for financial professionals, so it's challenging to track what each one means. A financial advisor is probably the term you've heard most often. Financial advisor is a broad term for a professional who helps individuals or companies manage their finances, including investment choices. There are over 100 certifications that financial advisors can obtain.

    • Financial planners, wealth managers, and investment advisors are all financial advisors with different focus areas.
    • A financial planner helps an individual or a company make a plan to achieve long-term financial goals.
    • A wealth manager helps individuals maintain their wealth through various disciplines and services, such as taxes, estate planning, and investment advice.
    • An investment advisor offers investment advice and recommendations to individuals or organizations.
    There’s a misconception that you have to be extremely wealthy to use a financial advisor. In reality, they can be beneficial for people from any income level. Keep reading to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about financial advisors, so you know which type can fit your specific needs.

  • What are the major elements of a financial plan in Palo Alto?

    To develop a complete financial plan in Palo Alto, individuals must take into account their financial statements, education savings and funding, cash flow management and spending strategies, and tax planning and tax reduction techniques. They should also set objectives regarding risk assessment, insurance coverages, portfolio development, estate planning, and charitable planning. It is recommended that individuals consult with a financial professional to help them develop strategies and assess their goals.

  • What are the drawbacks of sector investing in Palo Alto?

    Investors in Palo Alto must be cautious of following a sector investing strategy because it tends to be more unpredictable compared to a diversified investment strategy that encompasses various companies and sectors. Sector investing has a narrow focus and is subject to the additional risks associated with each particular industry, such as market, regulatory, political, and economic developments.

  • How can Palo Alto residents manage their debt safely?

    Palo Alto residents need to avoid borrowing money to purchase non-appreciating assets such as cars, clothing, furniture, and electronics. These types of items decline in value because of better-performing or lower-priced substitutes in the future. Borrowing money to purchase depreciating assets means the person won't be able to utilize the asset to help pay for unexpected expenses. Individuals should also avoid borrowing money without having a plan to pay it back to avoid piling on debt.

  • Should individuals in Palo Alto avoid a Roth conversion?

    A Roth conversion can be seen as appealing for people in Palo Alto because it involves transferring money from a tax-deferred traditional IRA to a tax-free Roth IRA, but there are also situations where a Roth conversion is not advisable. It would not be preferable to do a Roth conversion for charitably inclined people, business owners, Medicare beneficiaries, or those in a tax bracket that is too high because it would negatively affect their long-term financial goals.

  • Should people in Palo Alto avoid emotional investing?

    Yes because investing based on strong emotions often has detrimental long-term effects on the assets of Palo Alto investors. In periods of volatility, individuals need to focus on their financial plans and consult with financial advisors to make rational decisions based on their goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Emotional investing typically leads to bad timing and decision-making, which results in their underperformance in the market.

  • Are financial advisors worth it?

    Whether or not a financial advisor is worth it depends on your personal situation. If your finances are fairly straightforward, then you may be better off handling it on your own. But if you have substantial assets or a complex investment portfolio, then hiring someone to handle it for you can be well worth the cost.