Top 7 Financial Advisors in Petaluma, CA

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Enso Wealth Management, first on our list, oversees more than $1 billion in assets under management (AUM). It focuses on delivering customized investment portfolio advice to a range of clients and also offers advice to corporate sponsors of 401(k) plans.  

At the moment, the firm doesn’t require investment minimums for its services, but certain fixed income and equity strategies may not be adequately implemented with under $100,000. Enso Wealth Management works with a client base composed mostly of individuals, but it also serves charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans.

The firm's staff includes three accredited asset management specialists (AAMS), eight certified financial planners (CFPs) and one retirement management advisor (RMA). Some advisors are registered insurance agents who earn commissions when recommending certain products to clients. As a result, Enso Wealth Management is considered a fee-based firm. Despite the potential conflict of interest that commission-based compensation can create, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients' best interests. 

Enso Wealth Management Background 

Enso Wealth Management has been offering investment advisory services since the founding of its predecessor firm in 2004. Enso was established as a limited liability company 10 years later.

The firm is owned by 11 employees: James DeCota, Noah Jacobson, William DeMar, Taylor Greenleaf, Andrew Thompson, Josep Stern, David Jones, Joanna Aiken, Toussaint Bailey, Mark Clure and Stephen Sear. The firm's advisory team can deliver guidance on the following topics: 

• Retirement savings
• Estate planning
• Charitable giving
• Corporate and personal tax planning
• Insurance policy review 

Enso Wealth Management Investment Strategy 

Before designing its portfolios, Enso Wealth holds at least one meeting with its clients to gather relevant information such as risk tolerance and financial goals. It then uses this information to create an investment portfolio. The firm may recommend mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and individual securities. But it may also utilize other investments such as unregistered securities if it deems them appropriate.

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With the second most assets under management, Burleson & Company is the No. 2 financial advisory firm in Petaluma. Burleson & Company, which requires a $2 million minimum investment, works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm also has charitable organizations, corporations, business entities and one pooled investment vehicle as clients. 

As a fee-only firm, Burleson & Company and its advisors do not collect commissions for selling or recommending third-party products, like securities from a broker-dealer. Instead, the company makes its money solely from the fees that it charges clients. 

The team at Burleson & Company does not feature any accredited professionals, like certified financial planners or chartered financial analysts. 

Burleson & Company Background

Founded in 2004, Burleson & Company remains under the majority ownership of managing partner James Burleson.

In addition to investment management, Burleson’s firm offers risk management, tax planning, family governance solutions, real estate management and personal concierge services. Its clients include corporate executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, multigenerational families endowments, nonprofits, and institutions.

Burleson & Company Investment Strategy

Burleson & Company tailors its investment strategies to the needs of its clients, taking into account a client’s financial situation, existing resources, financial goals and risk tolerance. The firm generally provides investment advice based in Modern Portfolio Theory, which seeks to balance risk with reward through diversification.

The firm may propose investing in ETFs, mutual funds, individual stocks or bonds. Client assets may also be invested in warrants, commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs), options contracts, futures contracts and interests in partnerships.  

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Creekside Partners, a fee-only firm, works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as charitable organizations and businesses. While Creekside does not have an account mininum, the firm charges a minimum quarterly fee of $875.

The firm's advisory team, which includes three certified financial planners (CFPs), collectively has nearly 80 years of experience in the financial services industry. 

Creekside Partners Background 

Creekside Partners became a registered investment advisor (RIA) in 2003. Today, Andrew Hempeck and Teresa Coleman are the firm's principal owners. 

As noted earlier, the advisory team has collectively spent almost eight decades in the industry. Creekside advisors specialize in helping clients with the following topics:

• Tax planning
• Trust and estate planning
• Retirement planning
• Mortgage and debt management
• Investment management 
• Philanthropic giving

Creekside Partners Investment Strategy 

Creekside primarily invests client assets across mutual funds, ETFs and individual securities like stocks and bonds in accordance with the client’s investment policy statement. The firm constructs this document following in-depth meetings with the client. These sessions typically revolve around collecting relevant information such as the client’s risk appetite and long-term investment objectives.

The firm primarily uses a value-driven investment approach with a secondary focus on economic cycle analysis. "We attempt to move money into asset classes that we perceive as cheap (relative to fair value), and move money away from asset classes that we perceive as expensive," the firm states in its Form ADV brochure. 

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FPC Investment Advisory, a fee-only firm, is No. 4 on our list of the top advisors in Petaluma. To open and maintain an account, you generally need to keep a minimum balance of $500,000, though FPC may waive this requirement at its discretion.

FPC's advisory team includes two certified financial planners (CFPs). The firm currently works exclusively with individuals with and without a high net worth, although it's open to providing advice to trusts, estates, charitable organization, retirement plans and businesses.  

FPC Investment Advisory Background 

Founded in 1994, FPC is principally owned by CEO Bijan Golkar and CIO Tyler Schalch. The firm delivers investment advice and financial planning services in such areas as:

• Budgeting and cash flow
• Retirement analysis
• Education funding
• Income tax planning
• Insurance planning
• Investment planning
• Estate planning
• Employee benefits
• Business planning

FPC Investment Advisory Investment Strategy 

When building portfolios for clients and evaluating securities, the firm engages in what it calls cyclical tactical asset allocation. This involves: 

• Analyzing global economic conditions
• Reviewing and evaluating the stock and bond markets globally
• Developing and revising five asset allocation models that are implemented with no-load mutual funds, ETFs and index funds
• Monitoring portfolios on an ongoing basis and rebalancing to maintain the target allocation with an emphasis on a long-term investment horizon

Using the cyclical approach to tactical asset allocation, FPC monitors  the economic environment for patterns and trends in both the stock and bond markets. "FPC reviews this economic research along with market valuations to identify asset classes that are anticipated to outperform or underperform their long-term expectations, and then to develop different asset allocation models according to a client’s risk profile and objectives," the firm explains in its Form ADV brochure.

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Next on the list is Breen Wealth Management, which requires $500,000 in order to open an account. The firm works with nearly twice as many high-net-worth individuals as those without a high net worth and also advises pension and profit-sharing plans.

The Breen Wealth Management team features one certified financial planner (CFP) and one chartered mutual fund counselor (CMFC). As a fee-only firm, its advisors do not earn commissions for selling third-party products. Instead, the firm makes money solely from the asset-based advisory fees that clients pay, as well as fixed fees that are outlined in the firm's Form ADV brochure.

Breen Wealth Management Background 

Brian J. Breen, a CFP, has owned Breen Wealth Management since 2009. His team, which includes another advisor and a client concierge, has more than 40 years of financial services experience. 

They provide a diverse offering of financial planning services. When you work with Breen Wealth Management, you can receive advice on: 

• Investment planning
• Retirement savings
• Estate planning
• Charitable giving
• Education planning
• Corporate and personal tax planning
• Cost segregation study
• Corporate structure
• Real estate analysis
• Mortgage and other debt analysis
• Insurance analysis
• Lines of credit evaluation

Breen Wealth Management Investing Strategy

The firm generally builds investment portfolios with low-cost ETFs and institutional mutual funds only. Breen Wealth Management's recommendations are designed for investors with longer time horizons. 

When it evaluates securities, the practice generally engages in fundamental and technical analysis. As part of its technical strategy, Breen Wealth Management attempts to predict price movements by considering past performance. It also aims to gauge the intrinsic value of a security by researching different financial factors like industry conditions and overall economic climate.

Dobson Asset Management, the sixth highest-rated firm in Petaluma, focuses on providing retirement planning and investment advisory services to individuals who are approaching their golden years — or are already there.

The fee-only firm works mainly with clients who have net worths between $1 million and $10 million. According to SEC records, most new clients are individuals seeking investment advice for portfolios greater than $500,000, which is the firm's account minimum. 

The investment advisory team at Dobson Asset Management serves a current client base composed almost entirely of individuals and high-net-worth individuals. 

Dobson Asset Management Background 

Christopher Dobson started the firm in 1994. Two years later, Merilee Maystrovich, his former colleague at American Express Financial Advisors, joined the firm and became a partner.

Dobson Asset Management specializes in designing investment portfolios that can help clients meet their retirement goals. However, the team also extends its investment advisory services to small pension plans and individuals who are not nearing retirement. 

Dobson Asset Management Investment Strategy 

Dobson Asset Management starts its retirement and investment planning process by holding two or three 90-minute sessions with each of its clients. The firm takes this time to gather key information such as risk tolerance and retirement goals. 

From there, the firm’s advisors design portfolios or provide advice on existing portfolios in a way they believe may help clients meet these objectives. Dobson Asset Management generally recommends open- and closed-end mutual funds, ETFs, and separate account managers. The firm evaluates securities by turning to various sources including research provided by third parties.

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Sequoia Wealth Management Group, the seventh and final firm on our list, has a client base made up of individuals who are both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. The firm typically requires a minimum account size of $500,000 for new clients. 

Sequoia is considered a fee-only firm whose revenue comes from asset-based fees, hourly charges and fixed fees. 

Sequoia Wealth Management Group Background

Matt Schafer founded Sequoia in 2010 after 14 years years in the financial services industry. Schafter remains the company’s principal owner and sole financial advisor. 

Sequoia offers investment management services, financial planning and consulting. The firm can work with clients on a variety of financial needs, including business planning, retirement planning, estate and trust planning, as well as assistance with life and disability insurance. 

Sequoia Wealth Management Group Investment Strategy

The firm tailors its investment management services to a client’s goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Sequoia considers 10-year rolling periods when evaluating different investments, strategies and asset allocations. The firm typically tries to limit tactical moves and other short-term activity that conflict with its longer-term planning approach.

Meanwhile, the firm will hold cash positions to meet liquidity needs that are both expected and unplanned. “Cash positions reduce the need to sell holdings at inopportune times and allow portfolios to weather market downturns,” the firm states in its Form ADV brochure.