Find the Best Financial Advisors in San Diego, California

Living in San Diego, CA, can be a dream, but without a financial advisor in San Diego looking after your finances, you may have a rude awakening. Whether saving for a large expenditure or retirement planning, San Diego residents can benefit from hiring a local financial advisor in California. But how do you find the right financial advisors? San Diego has scores of fiduciary professionals and that's where we come in. Indyfin helps you find the best financial advisors in San Diego. Whether they prefer to work with large firms or independent financial advisors, San Diego residents can turn to us for help locating their best option.

Best Financial Advisors in San Diego

Top Financial Firms

Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
1 MERCER GLOBAL ADVISORS INC. $30,942,348,833.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
19,400 66 No Minimum
Financial Services
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Estate planning
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Tax planning
  • Insurance solutions and business retirement plans
  • Foundations
  • Endowments
  • Corporate trustees
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
2 PURE FINANCIAL ADVISORS, LLC $4,058,891,846.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
3425 88 No Minimum
Financial Services
  • Cash flow analysis
  • Estate planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Risk management consulting
  • Tax planning
  • Investment planning and investment management
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
3 INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC $6,438,021,221.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
20,818 49 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Mutual funds
  • Annuities and insurance
  • Equities
  • Fixed income strategies
  • Alternative investments
  • ETF and mutual fund money managers
  • Stock and bond money managers
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
4 LIFEPRO ASSET MANAGEMENT $417,881,238.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
1,420 35 No Minimum
Financial Services
  • Retirement planning
  • Estate planning and asset management
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
5 IPG INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC $2,857,212,772.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
1,187 49 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Notary services
  • Property management
  • Real estate brokerage
  • Legal services
  • Estate planning
  • Investment management
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
6 PRIVATE ASSET MANAGEMENT INC $922,227,473.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
605 47 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Financial planning services
  • Bill pay services
  • Tax planning for individuals and businesses
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
7 DOWLING & YAHNKE, LLC $5,744,564,099.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
1,349 56 $1,000,000
Financial Services
  • Comprehensive wealth management services
  • Employee benefits
  • Risk management
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
8 CENTURA WEALTH ADVISORY $415,224,175.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
345 31 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Asset management
  • Investment management
  • Estate planning
  • Tax planning
  • Real estate asset management and charitable giving
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
9 CHRISTOPHER WEIL & CO INC $721,997,558.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
472 52 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Life
  • Disability and LTC
  • Real estate advise
  • Estate planning
  • Philanthropy
  • Alternative investments
Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed
10 HOYLECOHEN, LLC $3,011,076,802.00
Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
1,388 73 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Financial and life planning
  • Investment management
  • Tax planning
  • Estate planning
  • Insurance
  • Onheritance
  • Charitable giving

Top Financial Firms

Rank
1
Financial Advisor
MERCER GLOBAL ADVISORS INC.
Assets Managed Total Clients
$30,942,348,833.00 19,400
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
66 No Minimum
Financial Services
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Estate planning
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Tax planning
  • Insurance solutions and business retirement plans
  • Foundations
  • Endowments
  • Corporate trustees
Rank
2
Financial Advisor
PURE FINANCIAL ADVISORS, LLC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$4,058,891,846.00 3425
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
88 No Minimum
Financial Services
  • Cash flow analysis
  • Estate planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Risk management consulting
  • Tax planning
  • Investment planning and investment management
Rank
3
Financial Advisor
INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$6,438,021,221.00 20,818
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
49 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Mutual funds
  • Annuities and insurance
  • Equities
  • Fixed income strategies
  • Alternative investments
  • ETF and mutual fund money managers
  • Stock and bond money managers
Rank
4
Financial Advisor
LIFEPRO ASSET MANAGEMENT
Assets Managed Total Clients
$417,881,238.00 1,420
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
35 No Minimum
Financial Services
  • Retirement planning
  • Estate planning and asset management
Rank
5
Financial Advisor
IPG INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$2,857,212,772.00 1,187
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
49 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Notary services
  • Property management
  • Real estate brokerage
  • Legal services
  • Estate planning
  • Investment management
Rank
6
Financial Advisor
PRIVATE ASSET MANAGEMENT INC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$922,227,473.00 605
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
47 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Financial planning services
  • Bill pay services
  • Tax planning for individuals and businesses
Rank
7
Financial Advisor
DOWLING & YAHNKE, LLC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$5,744,564,099.00 1,349
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
56 $1,000,000
Financial Services
  • Comprehensive wealth management services
  • Employee benefits
  • Risk management
Rank
8
Financial Advisor
CENTURA WEALTH ADVISORY
Assets Managed Total Clients
$415,224,175.00 345
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
31 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Asset management
  • Investment management
  • Estate planning
  • Tax planning
  • Real estate asset management and charitable giving
Rank
9
Financial Advisor
CHRISTOPHER WEIL & CO INC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$721,997,558.00 472
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
52 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Life
  • Disability and LTC
  • Real estate advise
  • Estate planning
  • Philanthropy
  • Alternative investments
Rank
10
Financial Advisor
HOYLECOHEN, LLC
Assets Managed Total Clients
$3,011,076,802.00 1,388
Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets
73 Not Mentioned
Financial Services
  • Financial and life planning
  • Investment management
  • Tax planning
  • Estate planning
  • Insurance
  • Onheritance
  • Charitable giving

Top Financial Firms

Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed Total Clients Clients Per Advisor Minumum Assets Financial Services
1 MERCER GLOBAL ADVISORS INC. $30,942,348,833.00 19,400 66 No Minimum
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Estate planning
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Tax planning
  • Insurance solutions and business retirement plans
  • Foundations
  • Endowments
  • Corporate trustees
2 PURE FINANCIAL ADVISORS, LLC $4,058,891,846.00 3425 88 No Minimum
  • Cash flow analysis
  • Estate planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Risk management consulting
  • Tax planning
  • Investment planning and investment management
3 INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC $6,438,021,221.00 20,818 49 Not Mentioned
  • Mutual funds
  • Annuities and insurance
  • Equities
  • Fixed income strategies
  • Alternative investments
  • ETF and mutual fund money managers
  • Stock and bond money managers
4 LIFEPRO ASSET MANAGEMENT $417,881,238.00 1,420 35 No Minimum
  • Retirement planning
  • Estate planning and asset management
5 IPG INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC $2,857,212,772.00 1,187 49 Not Mentioned
  • Notary services
  • Property management
  • Real estate brokerage
  • Legal services
  • Estate planning
  • Investment management
6 PRIVATE ASSET MANAGEMENT INC $922,227,473.00 605 47 Not Mentioned
  • Financial planning services
  • Bill pay services
  • Tax planning for individuals and businesses
7 DOWLING & YAHNKE, LLC $5,744,564,099.00 1,349 56 $1,000,000
  • Comprehensive wealth management services
  • Employee benefits
  • Risk management
8 CENTURA WEALTH ADVISORY $415,224,175.00 345 31 Not Mentioned
  • Asset management
  • Investment management
  • Estate planning
  • Tax planning
  • Real estate asset management and charitable giving
9 CHRISTOPHER WEIL & CO INC $721,997,558.00 472 52 Not Mentioned
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Life
  • Disability and LTC
  • Real estate advise
  • Estate planning
  • Philanthropy
  • Alternative investments
10 HOYLECOHEN, LLC $3,011,076,802.00 1,388 73 Not Mentioned
  • Financial and life planning
  • Investment management
  • Tax planning
  • Estate planning
  • Insurance
  • Onheritance
  • Charitable giving

Top Financial Firms

  • Mercer Global Advisors, Inc.

    Mercer Advisors, originally a law practice focused on estate planning, grew from a client need for comprehensive wealth management. Mercer specializes in wills, trusts and estate planning. With a focus on helping clients achieve economic freedom, they also offer financial planning, investment management, tax planning, insurance solutions, and business retirement plans. Mercer Advisors is also a financial firm capable of working with foundations, endowments, and corporate trustees.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Yes
    • Hourly Planning Rate: $250 per hour
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: No Minimum
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: $6,000
    • Asset Management Fee:
    • Assets Under Management Asset Management Fee
      First 1,000,000 1.10%
      Next 1,000,000 1.00%
      Next 3,000,000 0.90%
      Next 5,000,000 0.75%
      10,000,000 and over 0.50%
    • Overall Rank

      100%

    • AUM

      $30,942,348,833.00

    • Total Clients

      19,400

    • Clients per Advisor

      66

  • Pure Financial Advisors, LLC

    Pure Financial Advisors is a firm focused on providing financial education and a transparent advisory process. With no required asset minimum, their goal is to help everyone reach their financial goals.They frequently offer retirement workshops and educational events aimed at improving financial literacy for all. Pure Financial Advisors offers a wide range of wealth management services: cash flow analysis, estate planning, retirement planning, risk management consulting, tax planning, investment planning, and investment management.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Yes
    • Hourly Planning Rate: $275 per hour
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: No Minimum
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee:
    • Assets Under Management Asset Management Fee
      0 - 350,000 1.60%
      350,001 - 500,000 1.25%
      500,001 - 650,000 1.00%
      650,001 - 800,000 .80%
      800,001 - 1,100,000 .70%
      2,000,001 - 10,000,000 .50%
      10,000,001 and higher .40%
    • Overall Rank

      99%

    • AUM

      $4,058,891,846.00

    • Total Clients

      3425

    • Clients per Advisor

      88

  • Independent Financial Group, LLC

    Independent Financial Group is anchored in three core values: integrity, balance, and independence. Working with financial advisors, independent investors, and institutional investors, Independent Financial Group offers many investment opportunities. They have agreements with an extensive range of service providers in the following areas: mutual funds, annuities and insurance, equities, fixed income strategies, alternative investments, ETF and mutual fund money managers, stock and bond money managers.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Yes
    • Hourly Planning Fee: $100-300 per hour
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee: Negotiated percentage of assets under management
    • Overall Rank

      99%

    • AUM

      $6,438,021,221.00

    • Total Clients

      20,818

    • Clients per Advisor

      49

  • LifePro Asset Management

    LifePro Asset Management centers their financial planning around volatility. They maximize tax efficient tools for principal protection and invest the surplus savings to increase potential returns. This strategy of protecting a portion of savings helps provide income security in retirement. LifePro is focused on retirement, estate planning, and asset management for those already retired.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Not Mentioned
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: No Minimum
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee: Negotiated as a percent of assets under management
    • Overall Rank

      98%

    • AUM

      $417,881,238.00

    • Total Clients

      1420

    • Clients per Advisor

      35

  • IPG Investment Advisors

    IPG Investment Advisors offers a comprehensive family office approach while working with individuals, families and institutions. They have a long history of experience with generational wealth preservation and institutional investment services.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Not Mentioned
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee: Negotiated on a client by client basis
    • Overall Rank

      97%

    • AUM

      $2,857,212,772.00

    • Total Clients

      1187

    • Clients per Advisor

      49

  • Private Asset Management Inc

    Private Asset Management offers a wide range of fee based management services. Aside from asset management services, they also provide: financial planning services, bill pay services, tax planning for individuals and businesses.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Not Mentioned
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee: Negotiated as a fixed fee or a percentage of assets under management.
    • Overall Rank

      96%

    • AUM

      $922,227,473.00

    • Total Clients

      605

    • Clients per Advisor

      47

  • Dowling & Yahnke, LLC

    Dowling & Yahnke is a community oriented firm with active charitable and volunteer contributions to the San Diego community. They offer customized services for retirement, women, executives, sudden wealth events, and surviving spouses. Regardless of the situation you find yourself in, you’ll have access to their extensive services: investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, charitable giving, executive compensation, and college savings.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Yes
    • Hourly Planning Rate: $250-500 per hour
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: $1,000,000 for investment management
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: $8,500 annually
    • Maximum Annual Fee: exclude point if not mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee:
    • Assets Under Management Asset Management Fee
      First 2,000,000 .85%
      Next 1,000,000 .70%
      Next 7,000,000 .50%
      Above 10,000,000 .40%
    • Overall Rank

      96%

    • AUM

      $5,744,564,099.00

    • Total Clients

      1349

    • Clients per Advisor

      56

  • Centura Wealth Advisory

    Centura Wealth Advisory has developed a five step liberated wealth process for asset management: uncover, unlock, design, liberate, and steward. They focus on guiding clients through the full process of identifying goals for their wealth and personal future before developing a plan to reach those goals. Centura offers comprehensive wealth management services: asset management, investment management, estate planning, tax planning, real estate asset management, and charitable giving.

    Fee Structure
    • Hourly Planning Available: Yes
    • Hourly Planning Rate: $95-750 per hour
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee: Negotiated as a percentage of assets under management ranging from .40% - 1.25%
    • Overall Rank

      95%

    • AUM

      $415,224,175.00

    • Total Clients

      345

    • Clients per Advisor

      31

  • Christopher Weil & Co Inc

    Christopher Weil & Co advises clients on all aspects of their financial lives: customized liquid portfolios composed mostly of publicly-traded mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, alternative investments, and illiquid legacy real estate and private equity assets. This firm specializes in helping clients prepare their estates for transition, and assisting heirs in that transition at the appropriate time.

    Fee Structure
    • Minimum Planning Fee: $250
    • Hourly Planning Available: No
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: Not Mentioned
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee: Negotiated as a percentage of assets under management
    • Overall Rank

      95%

    • AUM

      $721,997,558.00

    • Total Clients

      472

    • Clients per Advisor

      52

  • HoyleCohen, LLC

    HoyleCohen is a wealth management firm that goes beyond planning and investments. Their services include: financial and life planning, robust investment options, tax planning, estate planning, insurance, inheritance, charitable giving. Also of note is The Women’s Practice – a specific wealth advisory for women, by women.

    Fee Structure
    • Minimum Planning Fee: $3,500
    • Hourly Planning Available: Not Mentioned
    • Flat Fee Financial Planning: Yes
    • Minimum Asset Requirement: No Minimum
    • Minimum Asset Management Fee: Not Mentioned
    • Asset Management Fee:
    • Assets Under Management Asset Management Fee
      First 500,000 1.50%
      Next 2,500,000 1.00%
      Next 2,000,000 .80%
      Over 5,000,000 .60%
    • Overall Rank

      94%

    • AUM

      $3,011,076,802.00

    • Total Clients

      1388

    • Clients per Advisor

      73

Our Methodology

We performed this analysis using the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database. To be considered for this list, we analyzed all investment advisory firms with headquarters in San Diego, CA with at least one retail client for whom the firm provided financial planning or investment management services in the previous year. We then ranked each of the firms based on total assets under management for retail clients, total retail clients, and total number of clients per employee that perform investment advisory functions (1). Thereafter, we ranked all of the firms based on their average rankings using these criteria. Firms listed below ranked in the top ten percent of such 145 firms.

(1) Per section 5B(1), 5C(1), 5D(a), and 5D(b) of ADV filings

FAQs That Californians Should Ask
  • California financial advisors can assist their clients in a wide variety of wealth management-related ways. They can help plan out financial goals, such as retirement or saving up for a large purchase, like a house. They can also help you anticipate market changes, so you can be better prepared and make informed adjustments to your portfolio based on your unique needs.

  • The right time to hire a financial advisor is dependent on each individual's circumstances. In general, investors who are able to save roughly 20% of their income should consider hiring a local financial advisor. However, those who just inherited money, are going through a divorce, or have just lost a spouse may also want to find a financial advisor to help them navigate those life events from a financial perspective.

  • Yes. You should always call ahead to book an appointment with a financial advisor to ensure that you'll have enough time to go over everything you need to discuss.

  • For help locating the best advisors who work virtually, turn to Indyfin! Finding financial advisors who work virtually isn't the challenge it once was. More and more advisors are beginning to offer this in-demand service with each passing year.

  • Financial advisors typically charge up to 1% of the amount that they manage for you, though some charge a flat annual, hourly, or per-plan fee. Annual fees may range from $2,000 to $8,000, while hourly rates are usually $200 to $400.

  • When hiring a financial advisor, ask questions about their credentials, their fiduciary status, how they plan to work with you, and their fee structure. Don’t hesitate to ask them to explain something again if you didn't understand.

  • When you review a fiduciary professional, you should cover their fee structure and transparency, the services they offer, and their qualifications/background. You should also be sure to mention your level of satisfaction.

  • San Diego, CA, financial advisors need several licenses to work within the city and state, including a series 3 (national commodities futures examination) license, a series 6 (securities) license, a series 7 (general securities) license, a series 63 license that allows them to work in the state, and a series 65 license if they plan to charge based on fees instead of commission.