Financial advisors for mid-life transitions in California
Which financial advisor should I talk to during a mid-life transition in California?
For mid-life transitions in California, talk to a fee-only planner who slows you down before a big decision. A career change, a death, or a sudden inheritance rarely needs action in the first weeks, and a good planner will say so. Records to start with include Kimberly Helm of Quantum Financial Advisors, LLC, Thao Truong of Anora Wealth and Ulrich Keller of Ducere Wealth Management.
Where to start
Chosen from what each record shows: credentials that fit this work and fees on file, one advisor per firm.
- Kimberly Helm Quantum Financial Advisors, LLC, Pasadena Holds the CFP and CDFA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly.
- Thao Truong Anora Wealth, San Marcos Holds the CFP and CDFA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, fixed fees.
- Ulrich Keller Ducere Wealth Management, Newport Beach Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets.
- Jarrett Topel Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management, Berkeley Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, flat fee or retainer.
- Al Faber DIWY Financial Planning, Los Angeles Holds the CFP. Fees on file: one-time planning fee, hourly.
- Cathy Curtis Curtis Financial Planning, LLC, Oakland Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, flat fee or retainer.
How many fee-only financial advisors in California work with mid-life transitions?
The Wellspent public graph lists 82 fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions in California, at 47 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of October 2026.
Where are fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions in California located?
Of the 82 fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions in California, 16 are in Newport Beach, followed by 7 in Los Angeles and 6 in San Francisco.
Plus 43 in other cities.
How do fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions in California charge?
The most common fee among fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions in California is a percentage of assets, used by 88% of the 82 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 51% charge fixed fees and 50% charge by the hour.
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 mid-life transitions have?
For mid-life transitions, look for the CFP and CDFA. In California, 61% of the 82 advisors listed hold the CFP.
- CFP61% in California
- The CFP covers the whole picture while it's changing.
- CDFA2% in California
- The CDFA helps if divorce is part of the change.
How do California advisors for mid-life transitions compare with the rest of the US?
50% of fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions in California charge by the hour, compared with 41% of the 518 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 mid-life transitions.
What should I ask a financial advisor during a mid-life transition in California?
- What should I not do in the next six months?
- How would you test whether I can afford this change?
- How do you work with people going through a hard time?
- What can you do for a one-time fee?
How current is this list of fee-only advisors for mid-life transitions 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 82 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 |
| Matthew Showley | Creative Capital Management Investments LLC | San Diego | CFP, MBA, BFA, CeFT | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Laryssa Freeman | Meritage Wealth Management LLC | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cynthia Jabr | Brand New Day Wealth Planning | Los Angeles | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Evor Vattuone | Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. | Cupertino | CFP, CFS | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Nannette Belt | Inspiration Financial Planning LLC | Carlsbad | CFP, RICP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Neil Portus | Olivehurst Advisors LLC | Roseville | CFP, CFA, MBA, TPCP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steve Heinemann | Recalibrating Wealth | Fountain Valley | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Cathy Curtis | Curtis Financial Planning, LLC | Oakland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Gerald Gasber | Gasber Financial Advisors, Inc. | Folsom | CFP, CFS, CIMA, CIMC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Randall | Oak Summit Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA, EA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Sarah Maitre | Camriel Advisors | Mount Shasta | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Steven Medland | TABR Capital Management, LLC | Orange | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Uchechi Kalu | Greenlight Financial Planning | Los Angeles | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| David Carlson | Sound Investment Management, LLC | Newport Beach | CFP, ChFC, CKA, MBA | Percentage of assets |
| Kimberly Helm | Quantum Financial Advisors, LLC | Pasadena | CFP, CDFA, CFA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Stempel | Encore Wealth Advisors, LLC | Nevada City | CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Ginger Ames | Whisper Financial LLC | Cobb | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jack Stemper | Ducere Wealth Management | Newport Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jarrett Topel | Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Thao Truong | Anora Wealth | San Marcos | CFP, CDFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ulrich Keller | Ducere Wealth Management | Newport Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Zane Keller | Ducere Wealth Management | Newport Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Bridget Harkins | Wheels Up Wealth, Inc. | Benicia | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Lavina Nagar | Maya Advisors, Inc. | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Davis | Sherwood Financial Partners | Westlake Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Yvonne Darby | Sherwood Financial Partners | Westlake Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bradley Sayre | Shared Vision Wealth Group | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Breen | Breen Wealth Management | Petaluma | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Bryan Theall | Shared Vision Wealth Group | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carolina Ortiz | Shared Vision Wealth Group | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Hutchison | Triad Investment Management | Newport Beach | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| John Heldman | Triad Investment Management | Laguna Niguel | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Mary Storjohann | Allora Wealth | Chula Vista | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Bzovi | Ducere Wealth Management | Newport Beach | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Cherie Putman | Women's Wellness and Wealth | Torrance | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | Kaizen Financial Strategies | Pleasanton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Saadia Ahmed | Kaizen Financial Strategies | Pleasanton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brent Woolsey | Red Crane Wealth | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cody Columna | Ducere Wealth Management | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Danielle Miura | Spark Financials | Elk Grove | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gavin Distasi | Topel & DiStasi Wealth Management | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jeffrey Wu | Red Crane Wealth | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Harrington | Ducere Wealth Management | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Power | Power Investing | Danville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Melnyk | Manzanita Wealth Management | West Sacramento | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Taylor Bell | Aequitas Financial | Santa Ana | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kristian Blom | Blom Levy & Co | Santa Barbara | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lisa Sharp | Spectrum Asset Management | Newport Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Ottman | Spectrum Asset Management | Newport Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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