Financial advisors for early-career professionals in California
Which financial advisor should I talk to early in your career in California?
For early-career professionals in California, talk to a fee-only planner who charges flat or hourly fees and has no asset minimum. You need decisions more than portfolio management, so a one-time plan or a low subscription is often enough. Records to start with include Evon Mendrin of Optometry Wealth Advisors LLC, Catherine Hawley of Hawley Personal Finance and Mary Van Nostrand of Van Nostrand Wealth Management.
Where to start
Chosen from what each record shows: credentials that fit this work and fees on file, one advisor per firm.
- Evon Mendrin Optometry Wealth Advisors LLC, Madera Holds the CFP and Certified Student Loan Professional. Fees on file: flat fee or retainer, hourly.
- Catherine Hawley Hawley Personal Finance, Los Angeles Holds the CFP. Fees on file: hourly, flat fee or retainer.
- Mary Van Nostrand Van Nostrand Wealth Management, San Diego Holds the CFP. Fees on file: flat fee or retainer.
- Steven Evensen Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, Santa Monica Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly.
- Michael Rodriguez Equanimity Wealth, Glendale Holds the CFP. Fees on file: subscription, one-time planning fee.
- Said Israilov Israilov Financial, San Francisco Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, one-time planning fee.
How many fee-only financial advisors in California work with early-career professionals?
The Wellspent public graph lists 80 fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California, at 58 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of November 2026.
Where are fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California located?
Of the 80 fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California, 11 are in San Diego, followed by 8 in San Francisco and 6 in Los Angeles.
Plus 44 in other cities.
How do fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California charge?
The most common fee among fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California is an hourly rate, used by 61% of the 80 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 57% charge a percentage of assets and 35% charge a one-time planning fee.
How much do fee-only financial advisors charge in California?
Fee-only financial advisors in California charge a median of $6,000 a year for ongoing planning. We found this across the published prices of 112 California firms.
How much does a one-time financial plan cost in California?
A one-time financial plan from a fee-only firm in California has a median price of $2,500. We found this across the published prices of 111 California firms.
What credentials should a financial advisor for early-career professionals have?
For early-career professionals, look for the CFP and Certified Student Loan Professional. In California, 56% of the 80 advisors listed hold the CFP.
- CFP56% in California
- The CFP covers debt, saving, and insurance together.
- Certified Student Loan Professional1% in California
- This credential helps if loans are a big part of your plan.
How do California advisors for early-career professionals compare with the rest of the US?
61% of fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California charge by the hour, compared with 38% of the 759 listed across the US. That's the largest difference in the Wellspent public graph between the two groups.
Dark bars are California. Light bars are all US advisors for early-career professionals.
What should I ask a financial advisor early in your career in California?
- Do you have an asset minimum?
- What would a one-time plan cost, and what would I get?
- Should I pay down debt or invest first?
- How much house can I actually afford?
How current is this list of fee-only advisors for early-career professionals in California?
Wellspent last checked these records against SEC records in October 2026 and firm websites in October 2026. Each advisor's page shows the date for that record.
All 80 advisors
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Faber Collaborative, do-it-with-you hourly or flat-fee planning for people who want to stay in control, with no product sales or ongoing fees. | DIWY Financial Planning | Los Angeles | CFP, ChFC, CLU, MBA | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Evon Mendrin We help optometrists nationwide build thriving practices and lasting wealth through tailored financial planning and investment management. | Optometry Wealth Advisors LLC | Madera | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Michael Rodriguez Flat-fee, advice-only planning for first-generation wealth builders and young families buying homes, merging finances and raising kids. | Equanimity Wealth | Glendale | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Michal Skowronski Comprehensive Wealth Planning for High-Income Professionals and Retirees | Skylark Wealth, LLC | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Carmetta Joyner Practical, lecture-free planning that helps first-generation professionals organize their finances and put a custom plan into action. | Joyner Financial Planning LLC | San Francisco | CFP | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Patrick Yaghoobians | Noor Financial Services | Los Angeles | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Praveen Krishnamurthy Advice-only planning for tech professionals on equity compensation, taxes and diversification, from a former Google engineering leader. | Empower Financial | Fremont | CFP | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Tommy Lopez | Coffeehouse Capital LLC | Financial Planning and Wealth Management | Fresno | CFP, CRPC | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Jackson Xu | X AND Y ADVISORS, INC. | El Segundo | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Josue Luque De Julio | Next Gen Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nate Nieri | Modern Money Management | San Diego | CFP, MSBA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rafael Melendez | Next Gen Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Said Israilov | Israilov Financial | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Sridhar Krishnan | Encover Personal Finance LLC | Fremont | BS, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Cynthia Jabr | Brand New Day Wealth Planning | Los Angeles | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| John Pak | Otium Advisory Group | El Segundo | BA, CFP, EA, MST | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Steven Fox Next Gen founder now building AdviceOnly to help advisors give advice instead of sales pitches; takes occasional small hourly projects. | AdviceOnly | San Diego | CFP, EA, BFA, MS | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Catherine Hawley | Hawley Personal Finance | Los Angeles | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Charles Edson | Wealth Being Advisors | Hermosa Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Galen Herbst de Cortina | Buff Your Finances, LLC | Newbury Park | CFP, MBA | One-time planning fee |
| James McDougal Project-based, advice-only equity compensation planning for professionals who want plain-English analysis while staying in control of their decisions. | HiFi Planning | Long Beach | CFP, ECA | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Marcus Holzberg | Holzberg Wealth Management | Corte Madera | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Barnett | Barnett Financial Planning | Riverside | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Uchechi Kalu | Greenlight Financial Planning | Los Angeles | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Andy Moran Ad Astra Financial Planning specializes in helping tech professionals navigate RSUs, stock options, tender offers, IPOs, and financial independence. We are a flat-fee, fee-only, fiduciary firm - we don't receive commissions or kickbacks or charge based on a percentage of your assets. | Ad Astra Financial Planning | Santa Rosa | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Subscription |
| Mark Astrinos | Libra Wealth LLC | Los Gatos | CFP, CPA/PFS, RLP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Matthew Etzler Etzler Financial Advisors is a fee-only fiduciary firm providing comprehensive, conflict-free financial planning on a time-based model, helping clients make informed decisions and achieve peace of mind without sales or asset-based fees. | Etzler Financial Advisors, LLC | Red Bluff | CFP | Hourly, Subscription |
| Ryan Hughes You work hard for your money. We’ll work hard to help you capitalize on what you’ve earned. Bull Oak is a full-service financial advisory firm. We provide investment management, financial planning, tax strategy, tax preparation and filing, and estate planning. Our all-inclusive service frees up your time and gives you an optimal wealth management experience with harmony between all aspects of your financial life. | Bull Oak | Rancho Santa Fe | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Paul Crosbie Straightforward, tax-informed plans for do-it-yourselfers who want sound advice they can understand and carry out on their own. | WealthMap Planning | San Luis Obispo | CPA/PFS | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Bridget Harkins | Wheels Up Wealth, Inc. | Benicia | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Kenneth Butler | Butler Financial Services | Westlake Village | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Lauren Williams Guiding your family’s wealth | ProsperPlan Wealth | Gold River | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Steven Evensen Gerber Kawasaki is a forward-thinking wealth and investment management firm based in Santa Monica that helps individuals and families build, grow, and protect their wealth through personalized financial planning, investment strategies, and equity-compensation expertise. | Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management | Santa Monica | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tyrone Ross The right now adviser for the next-gen investor. | 401 Financial | San Diego | CFP | Hourly, Subscription |
| Charles Angle | Rssic | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chaz Fahrner | Sierra Wealth Strategies | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cody Beaumont | HFG Trust | Gilroy | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gloria Garcia Cisneros Empowering the Next Gen and First Gen to Build Wealth & Their Dream Lives | LourdMurray | Los Angeles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jefferson Rotherham | Sierra Wealth Strategies | Coronado | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Mayo | Sierra Wealth Strategies | El Cajon | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Louis Guajardo | Moonshot Planning | Montclair | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Troxell Financial planning for folks with stock options and RSUs | Modern Financial Planning | Oakland | CPA | Hourly, Percentage of assets |
| Riley Adams We offer tax, accounting, financial planning, and investment advisory services for small-to-midsize businesses, wealth advisory clients, and high-net worth individuals. | Daniel M Kavanaugh CPA Inc | Pleasanton | CPA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Thomas Manetta I take great pride in having built a business that truly honors my clients best interests without interference from anything. This allows me to help my clients, without hurting them. | Manetta Wealth Management | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| 5T Wealth Management Financial advisory firm in Napa with a focus on clients needing comprehensive financial planning and sophisticated investment solutions. | 5T Wealth Management | Napa | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Emily Bushong | Kaizen Financial Advisors | Canyon Lake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kameron Barzegar | RJ Patterson Group | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Apolinar Financial planner for Christians | Behavior Shift | Murrieta | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Subscription |
| Malek Hage Hassan | RJ Patterson Group | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mary Van Nostrand | Van Nostrand Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
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