Financial advisors for estate planning in San Diego, California
Which financial advisor should I talk to about estate planning in San Diego?
For estate planning in San Diego, 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 Jacob Greenberg of Pure Financial Advisors, LLC, Emily Nilsson of Brava Financial, LLC and Matthew Showley of Creative Capital Management Investments LLC.
Where to start
Chosen from what each record shows: credentials that fit this work and fees on file, one advisor per firm.
- Jacob Greenberg Pure Financial Advisors, LLC, San Diego City Holds the CFP and JD. Fees on file: percentage of assets, one-time planning fee.
- Emily Nilsson Brava Financial, LLC, San Diego City Holds the CFP and JD. Fees on file: one-time planning fee, hourly.
- Matthew Showley Creative Capital Management Investments LLC, San Diego City Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly.
- Andrew Russell Dean Roland Russell Family Wealth Management, San Diego City Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets.
- Jackson Miller Fiduciary Benefits Group, San Diego City Holds the CFP. Fees on file: flat fee or retainer.
- Taylor Schulte Define Financial, San Diego City Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, flat fee or retainer.
How many fee-only financial advisors in San Diego work on estate planning?
The Wellspent public graph lists 100 fee-only advisors for estate planning in San Diego, at 46 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of October 2026.
How do fee-only advisors for estate planning in San Diego charge?
The most common fee among fee-only advisors for estate planning in San Diego is a percentage of assets, used by 77% of the 100 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 47% charge by the hour and 42% charge fixed fees.
How much do fee-only financial advisors charge in San Diego?
Fee-only financial advisors in San Diego charge a median of $5,500 a year for ongoing planning. We found this across the published prices of 14 San Diego firms.
How much does a one-time financial plan cost in San Diego?
A one-time financial plan from a fee-only firm in San Diego has a median price of $1,950. We found this across the published prices of 11 San Diego firms.
What credentials should a financial advisor for estate planning have?
For estate planning, look for the CFP, JD and CPA. In San Diego, 56% of the 100 advisors listed hold the CFP.
- CFP56% in San Diego
- The CFP includes estate planning and keeps it tied to the whole plan.
- JD2% in San Diego
- A law degree helps a planner read trusts and documents closely.
- CPA1% in San Diego
- CPAs help with estate and gift tax filings.
How do San Diego advisors for estate planning compare with the rest of the US?
77% of fee-only advisors for estate planning in San Diego charge a percentage of assets, compared with 91% 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 San Diego. 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 San Diego?
- 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 San Diego?
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 100 advisors
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| David Lyon | Lyon Wealth Advisory | San Deigo | CFP, EA, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Showley | Creative Capital Management Investments LLC | San Diego | CFP, MBA, BFA, CeFT | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Niergarth | Retirement Roadmap Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, 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 |
| Shannon Grey | InvestEdge Planning | San Diego | CFP, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jacob Greenberg | Pure Financial Advisors, LLC | San Diego | AIF, CFP, ChFC, MPH | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Jake Taylor | Astra Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jose Armenta | Create Your Path | San Diego | CFP, ChFC, EA, MSBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| 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 |
| Michael Randall | Oak Summit Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA, EA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Danny Michael | Satori Wealth Management Inc. | San Diego | CFP, RLP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Leslie Merrithew | Merrithew & Thorsten | San Diego | CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Taylor Schulte Tax-smart retirement planning for investors with a $2MM+ nest egg. | Define Financial | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Christian Litscher | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christine Papelian | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christine Skoczek | Vistica Wealth Advisors | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| David Kim | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Gawick | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Victor Gersten | Cross Border Wealth Advisors | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Zachary Benton | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Cadena | Cadena Financial Planning & Tax Services | San Diego | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Andrew Drennan | D'Arcy Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Chenet | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Giovanna Leyva | Tidemark Financial Partners | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Jeremy Kovacevich | Kaiyo Wealth | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jodi Vleck | Beta Wealth Group | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Joshua Simpson | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Krysta Kelly | D'Arcy Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Cobas | Kaiyo Wealth | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Rielle Sanidad | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stone Churby | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stuart Schiffman | Compound Wealth Advisors | San Diego | CFP, ChFC | One-time planning fee |
| Tyler Abney | Tidemark Financial Partners | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Russell | Dean Roland Russell Family Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Angel Brown | asendo wealth | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Barbara Norman | Sage Path Solutions | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chaz Fahrner | Sierra Wealth Strategies | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Andrews | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Gibbs | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Marc Roland | Dean Roland Russell Family Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Gibbs | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Todd Wiersum | Encompass Financial Services | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Allen Trim | Blue Summit Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Benjamin Rinkey | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Bradley Johnston | Fiduciary Benefits Group | San Diego | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer |
| Christopher D'Arcy | D'Arcy Capital Management | San Diego | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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