What are the top financial planners in the Southern Ca area(or if need
be, surrounding areas) that specialize in self-employed/business
owners who's starting net worth is below 500k but above 200k?

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Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 12 Sep 2003 15:41 PDT

Hello -
 
There's not much out there in terms of "formal ranking" of financial
advisers, especially with the specific qualities you're looking for. 
I've been able to track down a particular financial resource's listing
of financial advisors/planners that are considered at the top of their
field based on a number of criteria.  The list is sorted by state, and
there are 36 in California.

The criteria are as follows:

"Candidates are asked to complete an extensive survey detailing their
backgrounds, professional designations, client-retention rates, and
average portfolio returns.  We also ask candidates for their best
ideas about wealth mangement and study them carefully.  Advisers in
the running must submit a sample financial plan and two letters of
recommendation.  Registered investment advisers must also supply their
Form ADVs, which describe their services, fee structures, and
disciplinary histories (this is a document that any prospective client
should review).  We verify credentials wkth industry associations and
check backgrounds using the Lexis legal database to search court
records.
   Most advisers on our list carry the certified financial planner, or
CFP, designation (see story for details), but its by no means a
requirement.  A certified public accountant, or CPA, who is also a
personal financial specialist, or PFS, should also be equipped to
provide broad-based advice on investments, taxes, and other wealth
management issues.  Prospective clients, depending on their needs, may
want to shop for more specialized credentials.  The designations of
chartered financial analyst, or CFA, and certified investment
mangement analyst, or CIMA, both suggest expertise in investing and
portfolio mangement."

The list includes phone numbers, cities and average client net worth.

Would this be of interest?

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Clarification of Question by nitram-ga on 13 Sep 2003 07:52 PDT

Yes that would be great. Thank you.

Hello -

Important note: If you choose to rate this answer, please ask for any
necessary clarification or additional information before doing so. 
Thanks for your understanding.

TOP FINANCIAL ADVISERS IN CALIFORNIA
=====================================
The information takes the following format:
<advisers name> <credentials>
<firm>
<city>
<telephone>
<average client net worth (USD)>

Additional information/legend:
Planners work under fee-only arrangements except where noted with
asterisks:
* fee and commission
** fee-only for new clients
Credentials: CFA, chartered financial analyst; CFP, certified
financial planner; ChFC, chartered financial consultant; CIMA,
certified investment management analyst; CLU, chartered life
underwriter; CPA, certified public accountant; JD, doctor of law; MBA,
master of business administration; MFS, master of financial services;
MST, master of taxation; PFS, personal financial specialist; PhD,
doctorate.

---

Blankinship, John T. (CFP) 
Blankinship & Foster 
Del Mar 
858-755-5166 
3 million

Bolton, Percy (CFP) 
Percy E. Bolton Associates 
Pasadena 
626-577-0667 
1.5 million

Boone, Norman (CFP, MBA) 
Boone Financial Advisors 
San Francisco 
415-788-1952 
2.5 million

Brisco, Leonard, Jr. (CFP) 
Merrill Lynch 
Los Angeles 
310-407-3941 
15 million

Cabaniss, Peggy (CFP) 
HC Financial Advisors 
Orinda 
925-254-1023 
1 million

Carter, Steven (CFP, MBA) **
Cader Financial 
La Jolla 
858-678-0579 
850,000

Collins, Victoria (CFP Ph.D)
Keller Group Investment Management 
Irvine 
949-476-0300 
3 million

Dean, Mary Katherine (CFR, CPA, MBA, PFS) 
Dean Consulting & Associates 
San Diego 
858-485-8547 
850,000

Duckworth, Michael (CPA, PFS) 
D&M Capital Management 
Orange 
714-939-8592 
7 million

Foster, Charles E., II (CFA, CFR, MBA) 
Blankinship & Foster 
Del Mar 
858-755-5166 
3.25 million

Framson, Joel H. (CFR CPA, PFS) 
Glowacki Framson Financial Advisors 
Los Angeles 
310-473-0100 
1.5 million

Freedman, Mitchell (CPA, PFS) 
Mitchell Freedman Accountancy 
Sherman Oaks 
818-905-0321 
1 million

Freeman, Jim (CFP) 
Financial Alternatives 
La Jolla 
858-459-8289 
1 million

Goodfriend, Karen (CFP CPA, PFS) 
GoldsteinEnright Financial Advisers 
Menlo Park 
650-833-5900 
3.75 million

Hallock, Meloni (CPA, MBA, PFS) 
Ernst & Young Los Angeles 
213-977-3596 
50 million

Humphreys, Henrietta (CFP, MBA) 
The Henrietta Humphreys Group 
San Francisco 
415-928-0401
5 million

Jorgensen, Debra (CFP) * 
Merrill Lynch 
San Francisco 
415-955-3782 
10 million

Kessel, Brenton W. (CFP) 
Abacus Wealth Management 
Santa Monica 
310-899-1080 
3.3 million

King, James (CFR MBA) * 
J.R King & Associates 
Walnut Creek 
925-935-1555 
1.5 million

Kochis, Tim (CFR JD, MBA) 
Kochis Fitz 
San Francisco 
415-394-6670 
10 million

Moran, Richard (CFP) **
Financial Network investment 
Rolling Hills Estates 
800-998-3642 
1.5 million

Mullen, Margie (CFP) 
Mullen Advisory 
Los Angeles 
323-469-0919 
1 million

Myers, Thomas C. (CFR CIMA, CPA, MBA) 
Bessemer Trust 
San Francisco 
415-291-1810 
50 million

Panaccione, Carlo (CFP) *
Navigation Group 
Redwood Shores 
650-632-4399 
3 million

Rojeck, Richard (CFP) *
Sagemark Consulting 
La Jolla 
858-550-2838 
10 million

Rowling, Sheryl (CPA, MBA, PFS) 
Rowling, Dold & Associates 
San Diego 
619-294-4800 
1 million

Saccacio, Jeff (ChFC, CPA, PFS) 
MyCFO 
Irvine 
949-453-3807 
50 million

Tarbox, Laura (CFP)
Tarbox Equity 
Newport Beach 
800-482-7269 
3 million

Taylor, Carolyn R 
Weatherly Asset Management 
Del Mar 
800-967-9354 
2.5 million

Tilles, Michael (CFP) *
American Express Financial Advisors 
Walnut Creek 
925-937-0500 
1.25 million

Tracy, Thomas (CFA, CFP, MBA) 
Kochis Fitz San 
Francisco 
415-394-6670 
10 million

Wacker, Robert (CFP) R.E. 
Wacker Associates 
San Luis Obispo 
805-541-1308 
2 million

Wall, Ginita (CFP, CPA) 
Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP 
San Diego 
858-792-0524 
1.2 million

Wheaton, Christopher (CFR CPA) 
Litman/Gregory & Co. 
Larkspur 
415-461-8999 
5 million

Wheeler, Peter (CFR ChFC, CLU) 
Wheeler/Frost Associates 
San Diego 
619-491-0225 
2 million

Woodman, Wayne 
GKM Advisers 
Los Angeles 
310-268-2654
3 million

Data is courtesy of Worth Magazine, July/August 2002.

This individual is "a fee-only planner with offices in La Jolla and
Los Angeles. 2/3 of my clients own their own business.  I do not
charge for a 'get-to-know-you' appointment."

Christopher P. Van Slyke
CAPITAL FINANCIAL ADVISORS, LLC
Christopher P. Van Slyke, CFP
(800) 620-4232
christopher@capitalfinancialadvisors.com 
www.capitalfinancialadvisors.com