Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Foster City, California
Finding the right financial advisor who meets your needs often means doing extensive research. If you're looking for an advisor in Foster City, California, we've created this list of the top firms in the city to make your search a little easier. Below, you'll find key info about each firm, including their minimum account requirements, client bases, types of advisory services and more. If you still find yourself looking for an advisor, consider using SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool. It will connect you with advisors who serve your area.
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We match more than 50,000 people with financial advisors per month. Get connected to an advisor that serves your area today.| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IEQ Capital, LLC  Find an Advisor | $17,791,397,748 | $10,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$10,000,000Financial Services
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| 2 | Bailard Wealth Management  Find an Advisor | $4,996,638,490 | $2,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$2,000,000Financial Services
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| 3 | Summitry, LLC  Find an Advisor | $2,382,307,908 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
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| 4 | Neumann Capital Management, LLC  Find an Advisor | $515,435,206 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
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| 5 | Knuff & Company, LLC  Find an Advisor | $359,161,178 | $2,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$2,000,000Financial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Foster City, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services, those that don't serve primarily individual clients and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
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AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
IEQ Capital, LLC
IEQ Capital, LLC. works primarily with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as charitable organizations. The firm says it also works with families, trusts, foundations, endowments, non-profits and businesses.
As a fee-only firm, it does not collect commissions on trades or the sale of certain products.
IEQ generally requires a minimum account of $10 million to invest. However, the firm may accept clients with assets beneath that threshold.
Annual management fees at IEQ usually range up to 2% of a client's assets under management (AUM). Fees are charged on a quarterly basis, in advance, via a direct debit from the client's account.
IEQ Capital Background
Headquartered in Foster City, California, IEQ was founded in 2019. The firm’s founders include co-CEOs Alan Zafran, Eric Harrison and Robert J. Skinner II, as well as Frank McFarland and Jeff Westsmith. IEQ Holdings, LLC is the majority owner of the firm. Skinner and Zafran were listed on Forbes' list of America's Top Wealth Advisors.
The advisor team includes three chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and one chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA).
IEQ Capital Strategy
IEQ manages and evaluates portfolios based on client investment goals and objectives. The firm primarily uses separately managed accounts to manage client assets and it may also take advantage of third-party sub advisors to help with these services.
Qualified clients may have the opportunity to invest in private pooled investment vehicles. The vast majority of the firm's assets are managed on a discretionary basis.
Services include:
- Investment planning
- Financial planning
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Tax planning
- Advisor selection
Bailard Wealth Management
Bailard Wealth Management provides services to a wide range of individual and instituional clients. While its client base is mainly made up of high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, other clients include investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charities, government entities, soverign wealth funds and businesses.
The firm offers investment management and financial planning services. To become a client of the firm, you'll need at least $2 million in investable assets.
Bailard is a fee-only firm, only receiving fees from clients. That's different from a fee-based firm, whose advisors can also receive third-party commissions in addition to client-paid fees.
Bailard Wealth Management Background
Bailard Wealth Management was founded in 1969, making it the oldest firm on our list. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of BB&K Holdings, Inc. The firm is 68% employee owned, with the other 32% owned by former employees and other investors. Peter M. Hill leads the firm as CEO, and the average time an employee spends working at Bailard is about 20 years.
Bailard's primary offering is its sustainable, responsible and impact investing service. This service is essentially investment management, just with a socially reponsible investing (SRI) angle. This service may include financial planning as is requested by the client.
Bailard Wealth Management Investing Strategy
Investment strategies at Bailard Wealth Management all focus around SRI and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. The firm also, of course, looks to help clients meet their individual investment goals. Advisors at Bailard design client portfolios to optimize for risk management and asset allocation. Advisors take into account the stated goals and objectives of each client and also try to consider their personal tax situation.
Portfolios are typically constructed using U.S. and international stocks, bonds, tactical assets, small-cap value stocks, growth stocks, real estate and alternative investments. Advisors typically take a long-term approach to investing, blending high- and low-volatility investments to drive returns.
Summitry, LLC
Summitry, LLC. works primarily with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.
The advisor team includes 10 (CFPs), seven chartered financial analysts (CFAs), two financial paraplanner qualified professionals (FPQPs) and one enrollment agent (EA).
As a fee-only firm, Summitry does not collect commissions on trades or the sale of certain products.
Summitry generally works with clients who have a minimum account of $1 million to invest. The firm also accepts separately managed accounts with a minimum of $250,000.
Summitry Background
Headquartered in Foster City, California, the firm was founded originally as Golub Group in 2003. It changed its name to Summitry in 2020. President Colin Higgins and chief strategy officer Kurt Hoefer are the principal owners.
Services include:
- Financial planning
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Investment planning
- Asset management
Summitry Strategy
The firm manages and evaluates portfolios based on client goals and objectives. Its investment philosophy is based on a long-term growth strategy that focuses on risk management.
Neumann Capital Management, LLC
Neumann Capital Management, LLC is the next firm on our list. This firm provides both portfolio management and financial planning services primarily to its individual client base. Depending on the type of services requested by the cleint, the minimum investment requirement can range from $5,000 all the way up to $1 million.
Neumann Capital Management is a fee-only firm. This means that it only receives advisory fees directly from clients.
The firm employs three CFAs and four certified financial planners (CFPs).
Neumann Capital Management Background
Founded in 1990, Neumann Capital Management is currently owned by Daniel J. Neumann and David Richardson. Neumann is the firm's chief compliance officer, and he is a chartered financial analyst (CFA). Richardson serves as the firm's chief financial officer and corporate secretary.
Neumann Capital Management provides clients with two program options. The first is the Comprehensive Wealth Management Program, which rolls both portfolio management and financial planning into a single, holistic service. The Essential Wealth Management Program only provides portfolio management services.
Neumann Capital Management Investing Strategy
Neumann Capital Management's investment strategies are personalized based on the financial and investment objectives of the client. Advisors begin each client relationship by sitting down with them to determine their specific needs, risk tolerance and time horizon. From there, they work to develop asset allocation strategies that are suited to help them meet their goals.
The firm constantly monitors and rebalances client portfolios as necessary. It also makes sure to share any and all investment information with clients in a timely manner. Advisors use a variety of information services, both proprietary and from outside sources, to help develop investment strategies. The firm typically invests in equities, bonds, exchange-traded funds and alternative investments. Generally, it takes a long-term approach in an effort to minimize portfolio turnover.
Knuff & Company, LLC
The last firm on our list is Knuff & Company, LLC. Its team of advisors provides both financial planning and investment management services. The majority of the client base is comprised of high-net-worth individuals. It also works with one pooled investment vehicle.
There is a $2 million investment minimum to work with this firm, making it quite exclusive. Knuff & Company is a fee-only firm, meaning its sole form of compensation is the advisory fees paid by clients.
Knuff & Company Background
Knuff & Company was founded in 2018, making it the youngest firm on our list. Penny and Will Knuff are the founders and managing partners of the firm, in addition to being its only on-staff advisors. Penny Knuff also serves as the firm's chief investment officer, and she holds a chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation. Will Knuff is the firm's head of research, chief compliance officer and portfolio manager of the firm's fund.
Knuff & Company provides clients with both financial planning and investment management services on a discretionary basis. Clients are typically use a unified managed account (UMA). The firm also provides investment management services to its Event Value Fund, a pooled investment vehicle.
Knuff & Company Investment Strategy
Knuff & Company tailors its investment strategies to the individual needs and goals of its clients. Advisors guide clients through several steps in creating a viable investment plan, including asset allocation, portfolio construction, securities selection and socially responsible investing (SRI). The firm's asset allocation strategy is mainly goal-driven. Asset classes typically include cash and cash equivalents, income and preservation assets and growth and appreciation assets.
Advisors at this firm primarily use behavioral economics to inform investment decisions, while taking a long-term approach to investing. The firm describes its overarching investment strategy as value-oriented, with its primary investments being equities and fixed-income securities.
