Top Financial Advisors in Santa Monica, CA

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Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management works with both high-net-worth clients and non-high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients also include pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations and foreign investors. 

The firm's staff includes those who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), certified public accountant (CPA), certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) and accredited domestic partnership advisor (ADPA) designations. 

Gerber Kawasaki doesn’t impose a minimum account size. However, it reserves the right to terminate an account if it becomes too small to manage effectively. It also charges a financial planning services flat fee based on an hourly rate of $350, which generally ranges from $250 to $3,500.

Gerber Kawasaki is a fee-based firm, meaning some of its advisors earn money through commissions from insurance products and security sales. While this can create the potential for a conflict of interest, the firm is still obligated by its fiduciary duty to always act in the best interests of its clients.

The firm has four primary advisory offerings: wealth management, financial planning, pension consulting and the selection of other advisors. 

When constructing client portfolios, Gerber Kawasaki's advisors generally use a range of no-load mutual funds, though they may also invest client assets in individual stocks, bonds and other investments as needed. When analyzing potential securities, the firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis involves examining key factors of a company or fund to gauge whether it's properly valued by the market. Technical analysis involves analyzing historical trends to predict future price movements.

This firm is heavily focused on building a customized asset allocation for each client. To do this, the firm will determine your risk tolerance and time horizon to figure out how much of each security type your portfolio should hold. Your advisor will then diversify your assets across a range of market sectors to ensure that your portfolio isn't too concentrated in a single industry or market sector.

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Angeles Wealth Management works exclusively with high-net-worth individuals and corporations that maintain a $5 million minimum account size (this requirement can be negotiated in some circumstances). 

As a fee-only firm, Angeles Wealth does not collect commissions on trades or the sale of products. The advisor staff holds multiple certifications, including chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA).

Angeles charges fees on a tiered basis, ranging generally from 0.5% to 1%, and a minimum fee of $50,000.

The flagship service offering at Angeles Wealth is discretionary portfolio management. This may include portfolio structure analysis, independent manager selection and routine performance evaluation. The firm may consult with Angeles Investment Advisors for model portfolios or other services. Financial planning services include estate planning, wealth planning, philanthropic gift planning and more.

For each client portfolio, Angeles Wealth Management will generally use one of the following strategies to guide the investment process:

• Fixed-Income - focuses primarily on fixed-income securities and cash reserves, though it may also include some equities or alternative investments
• Ultra Conservative Balanced - invests in equities, fixed-income and cash. Stocks generally make up between 10% and 30% of the portfolio
• Conservative Balanced - invests in equities, fixed-income and cash. Equities occupy 30% to 50% of the portfolio
• Balanced - invests in equities, fixed income and cash. Equities make up between 50% and 70% of the portfolio.
• Aggressive Balanced - invests almost fully in equities, with some fixed-income and cash. Equities comprise between 70% and 90% of the portfolio.
• Equity - focuses mostly on equities and cash reserves, though it may also include some fixed-income instruments

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Westside Investment Management, Inc. is a financial advisory firm whose team includes those holding the chartered financial consultant (ChFC) designation. The firm works exclusively with individual clients. 

While there is no minimum requirement listed, Westside charges an annual management fee that is based on a percentage of the client's assets. This percentage is a maximum of 2%.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Westside earn sales commissions or transaction-based fees. While this poses a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients’ best interests.

The firm provides investment management services on a discretionary basis. Investment management clients can choose from either the managed account program or the mutual fund allocation program. Westside will then assist them in determining the optimal strategy for their situation. Third-party firm SEI Investment Management Corporation manages the money then.

The firm also offers financial planning, like retirement planning, education planning, estate planning, risk management, tax minimization, legacy planning and more.

Westside Investment Management employs a long-term time horizon when it creates clients' portfolios. To support this approach, the firm institutes strong diversification and risk management principles. Your advisor will work with you to determine your risk tolerance so that an accurate asset allocation can be built for you.

When analyzing potential investments and asset allocations, Westside employs a number of methods. These include charting, technical analysis, fundamental analysis and cyclical analysis. Through these methods of analysis, the firm seeks to gauge a security's intrinsic value to determine whether it's a good investment for your financial situation.

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Quantum Financial Advisors, LLC works with individuals, families, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, limited liability companies and other business entities. The firm does not impose a specific minimum account size for opening or maintaining accounts, though it may apply additional fees if a client’s annual advisory fee is below $10,000.

Advisory fees for Comprehensive Portfolio Management range from 1.00% for accounts up to $3 million to as low as 0.25% for assets above $15 million. The firm may also charge flat or retainer fees for specialized financial planning, up to $36,000 annually, and up to 1.00% for retirement plan consulting. SMAs may involve additional manager fees, though Quantum does not receive a portion of these charges.

Quantum and its representatives do not earn commissions for selling securities or other investment products, making it fee-only. While the use of external managers and custodial relationships with Schwab may create potential conflicts of interest, Quantum discloses these arrangements and remains bound by fiduciary duty to act in its clients’ best interests.

Quantum employs a fundamentally driven investment approach combined with asset class diversification. Portfolios are designed to emphasize factors such as company size, value orientation and profitability, while maintaining broad diversification across asset classes and industries. The firm also provides access to ESG and socially responsible investment options when appropriate.

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Serenus Wealth Advisors works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates and charitable organizations. The firm generally requires a minimum account size of $1,000,000 for its Comprehensive Portfolio Management service, though this may be waived at the advisor’s discretion based on factors such as the complexity of services or overall relationship.

Serenus charges an annual advisory fee of up to 2% for Comprehensive Portfolio Management, depending on the complexity of the services and the level of assets managed. Clients are generally subject to a minimum annual fee of $10,000. Financial planning and consulting services are billed on a flat-fee basis, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on the scope of the engagement.

Serenus does not sell securities or investment products for commissions, making it fee-only. While Serenus may recommend third-party managers whose fees are in addition to its own, it discloses these arrangements and remains bound by fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its clients at all times.

Serenus provides standalone financial planning and consulting on a flat-fee basis. These services may cover retirement planning, estate planning, charitable giving, education funding, tax planning, real estate analysis, debt and mortgage strategies, and other business or personal financial matters. Plans typically include written recommendations, while consulting engagements may be less formal and summarized verbally.

When constructing and managing portfolios, Serenus employs a wide range of investment methods, including fundamental, technical, quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as sector, cyclical and chart-based approaches. The firm applies asset allocation strategies that may be strategic, dynamic, tactical or core-satellite in nature, and portfolios are broadly diversified across asset classes. Serenus also provides access to alternative investments, options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds where appropriate.

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Sierra Investment Management, LLC works with a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and not-for-profit entities. The firm also manages assets within private placement variable annuities (PPVAs) through Axcelus Financial Life Insurance Company.

The firm charges asset-based fees under both wrap and non-wrap arrangements. The standard annual advisory fee is 1.8% on assets up to $500,000, 1.2% on assets between $500,000 and $1 million, and 1.0% on assets above $1 million. For PPVA accounts, Sierra charges a flat 1% advisory fee. Clients may also bear additional fund expenses and custodian-related costs. Sierra offsets its advisory fee when affiliated mutual funds are used in portfolios, ensuring clients are not double-charged for management.

Sierra does not earn commissions for selling securities or other investment products. While the use of affiliated funds creates potential conflicts of interest, the firm discloses these conflicts and applies fee offsets to mitigate them. Sierra is bound by fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its clients.

The firm’s primary services include discretionary investment management, offered through a series of programs that range from conservative allocation strategies to growth-focused and tactical bond portfolios. On a limited basis, Sierra also provides financial planning services, such as cash-flow or retirement analysis, though comprehensive financial planning is not a core offering.

Sierra uses a rules-based, tactical investment philosophy designed to manage downside risk and smooth client returns over time. Its process relies on quantitative analysis and trend-following signals to identify when to buy, sell or hold securities. When constructing client portfolios, the firm primarily invests in registered mutual funds, both affiliated and unaffiliated, and may also allocate to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), municipal bonds, corporate bonds, Treasuries and cash equivalents.

Matrix Planning, Inc. serves a relatively small client base of high-net-worth individuals and a single pooled investment vehicle (a real estate fund).

While there is no stated account minimum for this firm according to its Form ADV, it should be noted that there are no non-high-net-worth individual clients. Therefore, it may be difficult for you to become a client if you have a lower net worth. Matrix Planning is a fee-only firm, so all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees. Matrix Planning does not have a website.

The firm offers both individual portfolio management and financial planning services to its clients. The latter can cover a range of topics, such as: tax minimization, cash flow planning, investment planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, death and disability planning and estate planning. 

Matrix Planning determines the asset allocation of each client portfolio based on the client's risk tolerance and income needs. Based on these characteristics, the firm seeks to diversify portfolios across asset classes, striking a balance between stocks, fixed-income, cash, real estate, oil and gas and venture capital.

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Victus Capital Wealth is a fee-only firm offering portfolio management and retirement plan consulting services. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and other business entities. As a fee-only firm, it doesn't receive any commissions for the sale of certain securities. 

Victus Capital Wealth does not have a required account minimum.

At least one team member holds the certified investment management analyst (CIMA) designation. 

Victus Capital Wealth aims for transparency and simplicity in its investment approach. The firm approaches each client's portfolio with an individual strategy that starts with a variety of types of analyses on the market. Every client has their own individual goals and the analysis is done to find an asset allocation that will help achieve those goals. 

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Light Capital LLC works with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, private funds and institutional clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities.

The firm charges asset-based fees of up to 1.50% annually, assessed quarterly, and may also charge fixed fees for family office services. In some cases, the firm charges performance-based fees alongside reduced asset-based fees. As a fee-only firm, Light Capital does not accept commissions. This structure helps minimize conflicts of interest, though the firm is also bound by its fiduciary duty to act in its clients’ best interests.

When analyzing investments, Light Capital’s advisors primarily rely on fundamental, bottom-up research. This includes reviewing public filings, earnings transcripts and third-party research to evaluate companies’ market position, financial strength and management’s ability to allocate capital effectively. The firm typically recommends broad diversification across asset classes, styles, market caps and geographies, while also building concentrated positions in select opportunities when appropriate.

The firm provides investment management, family office services, donor advised fund management, administrative services and assistance with digital asset accounts. Light Capital emphasizes customized portfolio strategies designed around clients’ risk profiles, financial objectives and time horizons. Portfolios may include equities, fixed income, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, structured products, private funds and digital assets.