The Bay Area’s proximity to Silicon Valley makes it one of the wealthiest – and most expensive – cities in America. There’s no shortage of top-rated financial advisers in San Francisco to provide guidance for all money matters. Benzinga’s here to help you whittle down your options and find the best fit for your needs.
Quick Look: Best Financial Adviser in San Francisco Near You
- Best for Investment Management: Schwab Wealth Advisory
- Best Robo-Adviser: M1 Finance
- Best for Integrated Financial Planning and Wealth Management: Cerity Partners, LLC
- Best for Career Coaching: Bell Investment Advisers
- Best Portfolio Analysis: Empower Advisory Group
- Best for Nontraditional Families: Financial Connections Group
Best Financial Adviser in San Francisco, California
1. Best for Investment Management: Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. (Formerly Schwab Private Client)
A subsidiary of Charles Schwab, a large bank and brokerage service, Schwab Wealth Advisory has provided investment management since 1999. Schwab counts retail investors, high-net-worth individuals, small businesses, estates, trusts and corporations among its clientele. As of December 2022, it boasted over $128 billion in assets under management (AUM).
Schwab’s services are fee-based, ranging from 0.40% to 1%+. Account minimums range from $0 to $500,000 depending on the services you require. While Schwab’s brokerage relationship with its parent company can present opportunities for conflicts of interest, it’s also bound by its fiduciary agreement to act in your best interests.
Schwab Wealth Advisory Client Services
- Investment advisory
- Retirement planning
- Portfolio management
- Wealth management
Schwab Wealth Advisory Client Investment Strategy
Schwab offers non-discretionary management, which means the client must sign off on money movements. The firm’s 800+ nationwide investment advisers focus on diversification within a client’s goals, whether they prefer income or growth tactics. Every portfolio is individualized based on your risk tolerance and growth/income needs. Strategies range from short-term to long-term and may include assets like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and options.
2. Best Robo-Adviser: M1 Finance
Brokerage products and services are offered by M1 Finance, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of M1 Holdings, Inc. ✝Your free trial (a $30 value) begins the date you enroll in the M1 Plus subscription, and ends 3 months after (“Free Trial”). Upon the expiry of the Free Trial, your account is automatically billed a monthly subscription fee of $10 unless you elect annual billing of $95 or cancel your subscription under your Membership details in the M1 Platform
Just because you’re looking for financial planning in San Francisco doesn’t mean your advisory has to be in SF (or even human). With M1 Finance’s robo-advisory service, you can open and manage your portfolio from anywhere.
M1 Finance is geared toward self-starting and experienced investors, offering a combination of robo-advisory and online brokerage services. Choose from over 80 expertly designed investment pies, design your own or mix-and-match slices.
M1 is also affordable, with no investment management fees and fractional share investing readily available. You can open a Basic account with a minimum $100 investment ($500 for retirement accounts). Upgrade to M1 Plus for $95 a year and get preferred trading windows and better rates on margin loans.
M1 Finance Services
- Self-direct trading
- Established Expert Portfolios
- High-yield savings accounts
- Margin loans
- Cashback rewards programs
- Retirement investing
M1 Finance Investment Strategy
M1’s self-directed trading pushes investors to do their own research before investing. Mimic an established portfolio, build your own or use a combination of the two. Use fractional stock and ETF shares for affordable trading or leverage margin loans for a greater risk-reward tradeoff. It’s your account – you get to design your strategy.
3. Best for Integrated Financial Planning and Wealth Management: Cerity Partners, LLC (Formerly Bingham Osborn & Scarborough Wealth Management)
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)
- Financial planning services
- Pension consulting services
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
- Publication of periodicals or newsletters
- Educational seminars/workshops
Address
345 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 1100 SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94104
Phone number
415-781-8535
In late 2021, Bingham Osborn & Scarborough Wealth Management merged with Cerity Partners to create a stronger and deeper firm. But its commitment to clients remains the same: to provide full-service wealth management to individuals, family offices, businesses and nonprofits.
Cerity promises diverse solutions for diverse financial needs and comprehensive financial advice and oversight. While the $2 million account minimum is a steep, it’s one of the best financial advisers in San Francisco as evidenced by its multiple awards, including ranking on multiple Barron’s Adviser Top 100 lists.
Cerity boasts over $52 billion in AUM, bias-free advisory services with no third-party commissions and a fee-only structure.
Cerity Services
- Financial planning
- Financial wellness coaching
- Retirement planning
- Investment advisory
- Investment management
- Estate and gift planning
- Tax planning
- Insurance planning
- Risk management
- Business planning
- Family office services
- CFO and accounting services
- Trust services
- Nonprofit services
Cerity Investment Strategy
Cerity Partners offers granular, personalized advice and strategies. It diversifies strategies based on your risk-return needs, with profiles ranging from conservative to aggressive. Your asset allocation may include cash, global equities and fixed-income assets, real return assets, hedge funds and private equity.
4. Best for Career Coaching: Bell Investment Advisers, Inc.
Bell Investment Advisers is a fee-only fiduciary and financial planner offering traditional financial planning and investment management services. With over 100 years of combined financial services experience, its goal is to make a good life happen.
Bell sets a minimum balance of $750,000 across clients’ accounts, and it boasts an impressive $577.5 million in AUM. The firm’s client base includes retail investors, trusts, estates, pensions, mutual funds, businesses and philanthropic entities.
Bell Investment stands out for its unique option of life and career coaching for clients. The firm offers several woman-focused events, including roundtable discussions focused on financial planning. It prioritizes philanthropy and service within the local community.
Bell Investment Services
- Financial planning
- Investment management
- Career coaching
Bell Investment Strategy
Bell’s investment strategy combines market research insights with a client-focused approach. Advisers work with you to determine your needs and goals, then design a strategy to get you from Point A to Point B.
Bell notes that it prefers no-load mutual funds and ETFs for their diversification benefits and lower costs. It does not use leverage (margin trading). It may buy individual stocks to fit client needs or engage in short-term trades for tax management purposes. But as a rule, this adviser prefers long-term strategies.
5. Best Portfolio Analysis: Empower Advisory Group
Empower Advisory Group, formerly Personal Capital, is an automated wealth manager and comprehensive financial planner. The firm rebranded in 2023, three years after retirement planning firm Empower acquired the service.
Today, Empower offers free money management tools to all investors, plus paid services to those who can meet its $100,000 account minimum. Investors enjoy perks like total financial oversight, portfolio analysis tools and a combination of human and robo advisory. The end result: human-led financial planning in San Francisco (and elsewhere), customized portfolios and ongoing investment management.
Empower Services
- Free financial planning
- Portfolio analysis
- Financial management tools
- Retirement planning
- Investment management
Empower Investment Strategy
After linking your accounts and highlighting your financial circumstances and goals, Empower’s automated tools devise a strategy to fit your needs. It typically takes a long-term view with assets like stocks, bonds, REITs, commodities and private equity. Empower’s Smart WeightingTM tech also aims to enhance returns and reduce risk.
6. Best for Nontraditional Families: Financial Connections Group, Inc.
San Francisco is renowned for its accepting attitude and celebrating diversity. Financial Connections Group incorporates these beliefs into its investment strategy, proudly serving:
- LGBTQ couples
- Unmarried clients
- Families with unique financial situations (adoption, divorce, combining wealth)
Financial Connections offers fee-only comprehensive planning and investment management for these and other clients. Its advisers work in teams of two to ensure that every client receives the experience and judgment of multiple experts.
FC clients can choose from two services. Its Customized Portfolios ioption sets a minimum balance requirement of $400,000 and charges 0.75% of AUM. Its digital robo-adviser option, FC Digital, is more affordable with a minimum investment of $10,000 and fees of 0.5% of AUM.
Financial Connections Services
- Financial planning
- Retirement planning
- Investment management
Financial Connections Investment Strategy
FC’s investment strategy focuses on fitting your strategy to your goals, timeframe and financial needs. Every client is different, so advisers work with you as a team to build a plan with multiple options and alternatives. Plans generally mix passive index-style investing with active stock and bond selection. FC also offers SRI and ESG strategies to fit individual needs, lifestyles and values.
Financial Planning in the Golden City
Managing your money can be hard work, with new challenges introduced with every life event and market movement. Choosing from among the best financial advisers in SF can make things easier.
Their expertise can guide you in setting and meeting goals, selecting an investment strategy, minimizing your tax obligations and preparing for retirement. Many San Francisco financial planners go even further by teaching the basics of finance, from handling debt to business investment advice.
Whether you’re looking to fund a major life event or plan for a comfortable retirement, a financial adviser can set you on the right path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are three questions you should ask your financial adviser?
You should ask your financial adviser:
- What services do you provide? (Wealth management, investment management, financial planning, etc.)
- Are you a fiduciary? (Legally obligated to act in their clients’ best interests.)
- What professional financial experience and certifications do you have? (CFP or ChFC certifications, fund management experience, etc.)
The answers to these questions will help you decide if prospective advisers have the experience and expertise to earn your trust – and money.
What to avoid in a financial adviser?
When do you need a financial adviser?
Anyone can benefit from a financial adviser, regardless of their income, net worth or goals. A financial adviser is there to work with you to build wealth and secure your financial future. Who doesn’t want that?