Top Financial Advisors in San Diego, CA

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Pure Financial Advisors leads off our list of the top financial advisors in San Diego. This fee-only practice has a large team of individual financial advisors, many of whom hold either the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA) or chartered financial analyst (CFA) designations. The firm also requires financial planners to become accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs).

Pure Financial Advisors does not require a set account minimum. The firm says that it serves mid- to high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. 

Founded in 2007, Pure Financial Advisors is based in San Diego but has branch offices throughout California in Brea, Davis, Irvine and Woodland Hills, as well as Greenwood Village, Colorado, Northbrook, Illinois, and Mercer Island, Washington. 

Pure Financial Advisors offers financial planning, portfolio management, transitional portfolio management, sub-advisory services, pension consulting and discretionary management of held-away accounts and managed variable annuities. Its services include both limited and ongoing planning engagements, asset allocation strategies and direct investment management tailored to client objectives, tax considerations and risk tolerance.

The firm uses globally diversified portfolios built around asset allocation strategies tailored to each client’s goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Portfolios may include exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds, and, where appropriate, options. The firm emphasizes tax efficiency, cost control, and risk management, incorporating rebalancing, asset location strategies, and retirement income planning.

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Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel (DAIC) is a fee-only wealth manageent firm that's been in business since 1985. DAIC offers advisory services through sub-advised mutual funds, wrap programs, separately managed accounts (SMAs) and investment consulting.

The firm works predominantly with individuals who do not have a high net worth. However, it also serves high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charities, corporations and other businesses. 

The firm sponsors proprietary mutual funds with performance-based fees, designs asset allocation models for its wrap programs, and provides tailored SMA portfolio management. It also offers non-discretionary portfolio reviews and consulting services by request, and financial advisors may offer planning through the Dunham Retirement Income Plan (DRIP).

DAIC's account minimums by service type. Dunham Funds start at $2,000 for tax-deferred and $5,000 for taxable accounts, with higher minimums for Class N shares. The Standard Wrap Program begins at $5,000, while the Custom Program starts at $25,000. SMAs require $500,000 to $1,000,000. Minimums may be waived.

From an investing standpoint, the firm focuses on spreading investments across different types of assets to balance risk and return. DAIC looks at broad economic trends and adjusts its overall mix of investments every quarter. Day-to-day decisions for individual funds are handled by outside managers chosen for their specific expertise.

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Kingswood Wealth Advisors is a fee-based firm that has a minimum account size of $100,000. As a fee-based firm, its advisors may receive commissions for the sale of securities, which represents a conflict of interest. However, the firm must put the needs of the client first and is bound by a fiduciary duty to do so. 

Founded in 2016, Kingswood has a large team of financial advisors that offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, as well as third-party and sub-advisory services, financial consulting and management of outside account assets. 

Kingswood Wealth Advisors employs long- and short-term investment strategies and may use margin transactions, short sales, derivatives, and emerging markets. The firm builds customized portfolios based on client objectives and may include equities, fixed income, commodities, real estate investment trusts (REITs), master limited partnerships (MLPs) and alternative investments. Structured as an open architecture platform, KWA also selects and monitors third-party managers and sub-advisors.

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Telos Capital Management primarily provides advisory services to individuals, though it also serves a number of high-net-worth investors. This fee-only firm has a set account minimum of $250,000. 

For a firm with a smaller staff of advisors, Telos Capital Management’s team has a decent spread of certifications. There are five Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), five chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) on staff. (Advisors may hold mulitple credentials.)

The firm was founded in 2003 as A&M Investment Management, and became Telos Capital Management in 2009. The firm's name, Telos, is derived from the Greek word meaning "ultimate purpose" or "goal." The firm says that its name reflects its belief that investment success can only be achieved if investors lay out clear goals and purposes. Telos subsequently invests its clients' assets with the objective of helping them to achieve their unique goals. 

The firm focuses primarily on investment management services, as well as limited-scope financial planning. The latter may include retirement planning, modeling and portfolio analysis. However, these financial planning services are not comprehensive. 

Telos Capital Management employs active, discretionary investment strategies grounded in long-term planning, diversification and fundamental analysis. The firm manages portfolios using equity, fixed income and blended strategies, as well as ETF-based approaches. Asset types include individual stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, REITs, MLPs, closed-end funds and cash equivalents.

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Fee-based firm Financial Sense Advisors serves over 1,000 non-high-net-worth individuals, individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations. Some of the qualifications among the firm’s team include Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered market technician (CMT), certified tax specialist (CTS) designations and more.

When it comes to advisory fees, the firm charges asset-based fees, hourly charges, fixed fees and commissions. The firm’s account minimum varies based on account type. Advisors earning commissions is a potential conflict of interest, but advisors still must act in the best interest of the client due to their fiduciary duty.

Financial Sense Advisors began its operations in 1985, making it one of the oldest firms on this list. This firm mainly offers portfolio management and financial planning services. The latter can cover tax optimization strategies, multi-generational planning, retirement planning and estate strategies. 

Financial Sense Advisors uses fundamental and technical analysis to guide investment decisions. Strategies include long-term and short-term purchases, trading, margin transactions and option writing. The firm offers various portfolio models—ranging from capital preservation to growth—each with distinct allocations to equities and fixed income based on client objectives and risk tolerance.

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Centura is a fee-based firm that works with clients with at least $2 million. The firm offers the services of investment management and financial planning consulting services. Financial consulting can consist of a variety of services ranging from retirement planning to tax planning, real estate planning, insurance services, or even cash flow forecasting. 

As a fee-based firm there is a potential conflict of interest related to advisors on staff who can receive compensation for the sale of insurance. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of its clients. 

Centura Wealth Advisory was founded in 2018. Today, the firm employs 18 advisors who have obtained a variety of certifications including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified private wealth advisor (CPWA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), among others. 

Centura builds investment portfolios using several approaches, including studying company fundamentals, market trends, and statistical models. It invests in a mix of assets such as mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, real estate, private funds, and options. Some accounts may include older investments or outside managers when it makes sense to do so.

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Wilsey Asset Management is a fee-only firm that offers services in investment management and financial planning. The firm offers services to individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, business entities, trusts and estates. As a fee-only firm there is no potential conflict of interest related to advisors selling securities for commissions. However, there is a minimum $100,000 account size to obtain the firm's services. 

Wilsey Asset Management was founded in 2009. The firm has two financial advisors today, and at least one has obtained his Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation. The firm manages more than $650 million in assets under management (AUM). 

The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, hourly consulting and retirement plan services. Its portfolio management focuses on individual equities, ETFs and bonds tailored to each client’s risk profile. Additional services include 401(k) management, ERISA plan consultation and custom financial plans developed by designated CFP professionals.

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Stolper & Company, Inc. (SCI) is a fee-only advisory practice founded by Michael Stolper in 1975, making it the oldest firm on this list. While Stolper retired in 2017, the firm continues to serve individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pensions and charities. 

SCI offers discretionary investment consulting, asset allocation services using third-party subadvisors, mutual fund portfolio management and financial planning under the name Solana Investment Solutions. Financial planning services cover budgeting, education, retirement, estate and gifting strategies, and are available only to clients who are or intend to become investment management clients.

The firm charges a minimum annual fee of $3,500 and has a minimum account size requirement of $500,000. SCI has a small three-person advisory team that does not appear to hold any specialized financial credentials like the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) or chartered financial analyst (CFA) designations.

SCI recommends external investment managers, mutual funds and commingled products after evaluating factors such as performance history, investment philosophy, fees and portfolio structure. The firm also provides discretionary mutual fund portfolio management and allocates client assets to subadvisors, retaining authority to adjust allocations and negotiate fees on the client’s behalf.

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Christopher Weil & Company is a fee-based firm that offers five types of advisory services: financial advisory, investment management, financial planning, estate transition and pension consulting. These services include discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, estate settlement support and plan-level investment consulting. Clients may select services individually or in combination, as outlined in formal agreements.

The firm has several advisors on staff who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation. However, the firm may receive sales commissions when certain advisors sell insurance policies to advisory clients. While this fee-based form of compensation is a conflict on interest—the firm has a financial incentive to recommend clients purchase insurance through their advisors—Christopher Weil & Company has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients best interests. 

While Christopher Weil & Company does not impose a minimum account size requirement, the firm does charge a minimum annual fee of $10,000. It's no surprise that a majority of clients are high-net-worth individuals, although the firm also works with individuals below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as retirement plans, charities and corporations. 

Christopher Weil & Company builds and manages investment portfolios based on each client’s goals. They may use a mix of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs (including some tied to cryptocurrency) and other types of investments. Depending on the client, they might also use strategies like hedging, borrowing to invest or taking short positions. 

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Torren Management is a fee-only advisory firm that works with a limited number of high-net-worth individuals. To become a client, you'll need at least $3 million in investable assets. Founded in 2023, Torren Management is the youngest firm on our list of the top advisors in San Diego. 

The firm offers discretionary investment advisory services, which may include financial planning and consulting. The firm also provides standalone planning services for a separate fee. Additionally, it may allocate assets to independent managers, sub-advisors, private funds or interval funds, depending on client objectives. 

Torren Management primarily allocates client assets among individual equities, fixed income securities, mutual funds, ETFs and independent managers based on each client’s objectives. It uses charting and fundamental analysis and employs strategies including long-term and short-term purchases, trading and options. Additionally, the firm treats cash as an asset class.