Top Financial Advisors in Sausalito, CA

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At the top of the list, Main Street Research (MSR) is the oldest of the four firms profiled here and has the most advisors on staff. MSR works with high-net-worth individuals, individuals without a high net worth, pensions, profit-sharing plans, as well as trusts, estates and charities. 

To receive investment advisory services from MSR, you generally need a minimum investment of $1 million. To be in the firm’s performance-based fee program, though, clients must have a minimum net worth of $2,210,000 or must already have at least $1 million under management by MSR. 

As a fee-only firm, MSR advisors do not work for commissions or sell third-party financial products. Instead, the firm earns money from only asset-based fees, hourly charges and performance-based fees. MSR has certified financial planners (CFPs) on staff, as well as accredited portfolio management advisors (APMAs) and more.

Main Street Research Background

James E. Demmert launched MSR in 1993. Prior to that, he worked at LF Rothschild and Lehman Brothers. He is the majority owner, while some employees have minor stakes.

The firm’s primary business is providing discretionary asset management services. It also offers financial planning and consulting that can cover:

• Cash-flow analysis and tax implications
• Insurance policy evaluation including health, life and long-term care
• Estate planning around living trusts, wills and more

Main Street Research Investment Strategy

MSR conducts meetings with clients to gather in-depth information about their financial life. The firm analyzes everything from income to investments and estate matters. The firm also considers personal factors like tolerance for risk and long-term investment goals. MSR uses this information to build diversified investment portfolios. 

The firm doesn’t limit investment recommendations to a particular asset class or product. That said, it typically doesn’t invest client assets in mutual funds, though it may offer advice about them if a client already owns them. Portfolios may consist of domestic and foreign stocks, bonds, exchange-traded real estate investment trusts, master limited partnerships and preferred stock.

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Karp Capital Management is the only firm on this list that does not work on a fee-only basis. Several of its advisors are registered brokers and licensed insurance agents, who can earn commissions on the sale of certain products. While the potential conflict of interest these products may cause qualifies Karp Capital as a fee-based firm, its advisors are bound by the fiduciary duty to always act in their clients best interests.  

To open an account, potential clients generally need a minimum investment of $1 million. Karp Capital mostly works with individuals, both with and without a high net worth. It also offers its services to pensions and profit-sharing plans, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations and insurance companies. There is one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) on staff, as well as two chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

Karp Capital Management Corporation Background 

Peter Karp founded his namesake firm in 2004. He and Leah Karp have controlling interests through a family trust.

Karp Capital offers discretionary investment advisory services, including a wrap-fee program that bundles a suite of services for a one fee. Financial planning is included as part of its services, and may cover insurance analysis, estate planning and individual retirement planning. The firm also provides services to corporate retirement plans such as 401(k)s and pensions. 

Karp Capital Management Corporation Investment Strategy

Taking into account such individual factors as risk tolerance and time horizon, Karp Capital devises asset allocations for each client’s portfolio. In implementing them, the firm considers all types of securities, though it emphasizes individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs and specialty mutual funds. The firm takes into account global and local market trends, as well as expectations for a variety of market variables when choosing investments and building portfolios.

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Abbrea Capital, the next firm on our Sausalito list, operates as a fee-only financial advisor. It does not list on-staff financial advisor certifications on its website.

Requiring a minimum of $5 million to open an account, it's no surprise that the firm primarily works with high-net-worth individuals. It also serves some non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as businesses, trusts, endowments and employee benefit plans. 

Abbrea Capital Background 

Abbrea has been in business since 2015. Steven Cutcliffe and William Osher are the current managing directors and primary portfolio managers at the firm.

The firm primarily offers customized portfolio management services through separately managed accounts. At the request of the client, the firm may also provide financial planning advice on such topics as debt management. Additionally, the firm may recommend third-party professionals such as accountants and insurance agents. 

Abbrea Capital Investment Strategy 

A follower of the modern portfolio theory, Abbrea seeks to reduce risk through diversification and disciplined management. It generally invests clients in equity and debt securities that are traded publicly in U.S. markets.

As a client, you will select the investment strategy that best suits your individual needs. Abbrea seeks to develop appropriate weights among asset classes, which may include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), cash and alternative investments.

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Last but not least is Verity Wealth Advisors. Evan Oliver is the fee-only firm's founder and one of its two advisors. He has an MBA and is a certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA).

While Verity primarily works with high-net-worth individuals, you don’t need a minimum investment to open an account. The firm also offers limited services to entities such as corporate retirement plans. 

Verity Wealth Advisors Background 

Oliver founded Verity Wealth Advisors in 2003 after working at Merrill Lynch and Salomon Brothers. The point of contact for clients is Ryan Beckler, who has more than 10 years of experience in the industry, including at Washington state behemoth Fisher Investments. 

The firm primarily provides customized investment management services on a discretionary basis, meaning clients give Verity full authority to manage their accounts. These services include financial planning, but can come without it. The practice also offers financial consulting at the client’s request.

Verity Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

As the firm states, it believes that "the single most important determinant of the risk of loss within a given client’s portfolio is the target percentage devoted to fixed-income.” As a result, the firm tends to allocate a significant portion of client assets among fixed income securities, depending on the client’s risk tolerance. (Generally speaking, the higher the client’s risk level, the more exposure to equity the portfolio will have.)

The firm typically relies on index or "index-like" securities, but will sometimes opt to execute a target allocation using other types of investments, including actively managed funds.