Financial advisors for estate planning in California
Which financial advisor should I talk to about estate planning in California?
For estate planning in California, talk to a fee-only planner who coordinates with your attorney. The planner works out what you want to happen and how accounts and beneficiaries line up with it, and the attorney drafts the documents. Records to start with include Gina Hagen of Full Circle Financial Planning, Steve Heinemann of Recalibrating Wealth and Jacob Greenberg of Pure Financial Advisors, LLC.
Where to start
Chosen from what each record shows: credentials that fit this work and fees on file, one advisor per firm.
- Gina Hagen Full Circle Financial Planning, Topanga Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: hourly, percentage of assets.
- Steve Heinemann Recalibrating Wealth, Fountain Valley Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, flat fee or retainer.
- Jacob Greenberg Pure Financial Advisors, LLC, San Diego Holds the CFP and JD. Fees on file: percentage of assets, one-time planning fee.
- Emily Nilsson Brava Financial, LLC, San Diego Holds the CFP and JD. Fees on file: one-time planning fee, hourly.
- Colleen Soares Soares Financial, Inc., Napa Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: hourly, flat fee or retainer.
- Matthew Showley Creative Capital Management Investments LLC, San Diego Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly.
How many fee-only financial advisors in California work on estate planning?
The Wellspent public graph lists 714 fee-only advisors for estate planning in California, at 296 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of November 2026.
Where are fee-only advisors for estate planning in California located?
Of the 714 fee-only advisors for estate planning in California, 99 are in San Diego, followed by 36 in San Francisco and 31 in Los Angeles.
Plus 494 in other cities.
How do fee-only advisors for estate planning in California charge?
The most common fee among fee-only advisors for estate planning in California is a percentage of assets, used by 89% of the 714 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 52% charge fixed fees and 44% 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 estate planning have?
For estate planning, look for the CFP and CPA. In California, 49% of the 714 advisors listed hold the CFP.
- CFP49% in California
- The CFP includes estate planning and keeps it tied to the whole plan.
- CPA1% in California
- CPAs help with estate and gift tax filings.
How do California advisors for estate planning compare with the rest of the US?
49% of fee-only advisors for estate planning in California hold the CFP, compared with 44% of the 6,172 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 estate planning.
Does California have an estate or inheritance tax?
No. California has no state estate or inheritance tax, so the federal rules are the main ones to plan around.
Is California a community property state?
Yes. California is a community property state, which shapes how married couples title assets and what happens to cost basis at death.
What should I ask a financial advisor about estate planning in California?
- Do you review my beneficiary designations and account titling?
- Which estate attorneys do you work with, and how do you split the work?
- How would you plan around the state rules that apply to me?
- How often will we revisit the plan?
- If I own property in another state, could its estate tax apply?
- How would community property rules change how we title our assets?
How current is this list of fee-only advisors for estate planning 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 714 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 |
| Emily Nilsson Hourly, project or ongoing planning that centers the person, helping clients build a healthier, more personal relationship with money. | Brava Financial, LLC | San Diego | CDFA, CFP, JD | 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 Halper Flat-fee fiduciary planning for individuals and families, covering retirement, taxes, investments, stock options and digital assets. | Strateon Intelligent Wealth | Simi Valley | 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 |
| Shannon Fleener Bilingual, values-based planning for first-generation wealth builders and progressive clients who want their money to do good too. | Sage Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Austin Lee | Lee Financial Group LLC | Ladera Ranch | CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| 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 |
| Charles Stermetz | Equity For The Win (EquityFTW) | San Jose | CEP, CFP | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| Christina Empedocles | Insight Personal Finance | San Francisco | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Stroup | Silicon Beach Financial | Santa Monica | CFP, MBA, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Lyon | Lyon Wealth Advisory | San Deigo | CFP, EA, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gerardo Garcia Jr | Confianza Wealth Management | Vista | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Glen Monroe | Monroe Wealth Management | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Greg Gorski | Owl & Ore Wealth Planning | Pleasant Hill | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jirayr Kembikian | Citrine Capital | San Francisco | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| John Boyd | MDRN Wealth | Venice | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kathleen Connors Dowdy | EP Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFP, EA, CLU, MS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Showley | Creative Capital Management Investments LLC | San Diego | CFP, MBA, BFA, CeFT | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patrick Dinan | Impact Fiduciary | Pasadena | CFP, Chartered SRI Counselor | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick Yaghoobians | Noor Financial Services | Los Angeles | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sheila McGinn | Brightview Financial Solutions, LLC | Redwood City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Nelson | Birchwood Capital LLC | Carlsbad | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tommy Lopez | Coffeehouse Capital LLC | Financial Planning and Wealth Management | Fresno | CFP, CRPC | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| AJ Flores | Portfolio Advisors, Inc. | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Alan Nelson | Measured Money Maneuvers LLC | Solana Beach | CFP, ChFC, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Alex Caswell | Wealth Script Advisors | San Francisco | CFP, CFA, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Alex Caswell-Yatsenko | Wealth Script Advisors | San Francisco | CFA, CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Angela Dorsey | Dorsey Wealth Management | Torrance | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Niergarth | Retirement Roadmap Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ethan Pepper | Orchard City Wealth Management, LLC | Los Gatos | CFP, EA, RLP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gabriel Anderson | Crafted Wealth Management, LLC | Los Angeles | CFP, ChFC, CLU | Percentage of assets, Ongoing 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 |
| Laryssa Freeman | Meritage Wealth Management LLC | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| 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 |
| Rosario Chacón | Wealth-Source Financial | Oakland | CFP, CSLP, CDFA, EA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Said Israilov | Israilov Financial | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Shannon Grey | InvestEdge Planning | San Diego | CFP, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Sridhar Krishnan | Encover Personal Finance LLC | Fremont | BS, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tina Mistry | Portfolio Advisors, Inc | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Aaron Brickley | Brickley Wealth Management | San Mateo | CFP, CPWA | Percentage of assets |
| Anandi Krishnamurthy | AKrish Financial Advisory | Cupertino | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Brandon Amaral | Amaral Financial Planning, LLC | San Jose | CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Brian Canning | Brave New Wealth | Westlake Village | AIFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Deirdre Hegarty | Branch & Bloom Financial Planning, LLC | Menlo Park | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Don Martini | Envision Financial Planning | San Francisco | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Evor Vattuone | Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. | Cupertino | CFP, CFS | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Gina Hagen | Full Circle Financial Planning | Topanga | CFP, CPA | Hourly, Percentage of assets |
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