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Find a Financial Advisor in Los Angeles, CA
Connect with a financial advisor who works with Angelenos on planning, wealth management, retirement income, life insurance and investments. Your first conversation is free, by phone or video, with no obligation.
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- Advisors who serve the Los Angeles area
Updated October 2026. Local figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Talk to a Los Angeles financial advisor
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A Los Angeles financial advisor can help you plan around what makes money in this city unusual: one of the steepest state income taxes in the country, home prices far above the national median, Prop 13 property tax rules, creative and freelance income that can swing from year to year, and real wildfire and earthquake exposure. Most people start with a free call, interview two or three fiduciary advisors, and get every fee in writing.
Key takeaways for Los Angeles
- California taxes wages, pensions, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals and capital gains as ordinary income, but it does not tax Social Security benefits.
- Under Prop 13, a home is generally assessed near its purchase price with limited yearly increases, which shapes decisions to sell, move or downsize.
- Freelancers, gig workers and creative professionals often need a cash buffer, quarterly tax payments and a self-employed retirement plan.
- California is a community property state, which matters for policy ownership, beneficiary choices and how a surviving spouse inherits.
- Before hiring anyone, look them up on the SEC and FINRA databases and ask for a written breakdown of every fee.
Financial planning in Los Angeles at a glance
Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, with roughly 3.9 million people across about 470 square miles. It runs from the beaches of Venice and the Palisades through Hollywood and Downtown to the San Fernando Valley and the harbor at San Pedro. Its economy blends film, television, music and streaming with the Port of Los Angeles, which together with neighboring Long Beach forms the busiest container port complex in the country, plus aerospace, Westside tech, major hospital systems, tourism and countless small businesses.
That variety shows up in the money questions Angelenos ask. A writer or editor may earn most of a year’s income in a few months. A tech employee in Playa Vista may hold restricted stock worth more than all of their savings. A nurse or city employee may be weighing a pension against a lump sum. And with Census estimates showing only about 36 percent of households in the city own their home, many people are deciding whether to keep renting or stretch to buy.
| Local factor | How it shapes a plan |
|---|---|
| High, progressive state income tax | Timing of income, Roth conversions and stock sales matters at both the state and federal level |
| No California tax on Social Security | Benefits are taxed only federally, which can change when to claim versus when to draw from IRAs |
| Prop 13 property tax rules | Long-time owners often pay far less than new buyers, which affects decisions to move or downsize |
| Mostly renters, expensive housing | Saving for a down payment competes with retirement saving for many households |
| Wildfire and earthquake risk | Insurance costs, coverage gaps and emergency savings deserve extra attention |
| Community property state | Earnings and assets acquired during marriage are generally owned equally by both spouses |
Financial advisors in Los Angeles: services and costs
Think of a financial advisor as the person who helps you connect the pieces: cash flow, debt, taxes, investments, insurance and the timeline for big goals like buying a home or retiring. Many also coordinate with your tax preparer and estate attorney.
Los Angeles has large brokerage and bank offices in Century City and Downtown, independent fee-only planners, boutique firms for entertainment clients and advisors who work entirely online. Whatever the firm, ask first how the advisor is paid. Typical arrangements:
| Payment model | What it often costs | Who it tends to suit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee on assets managed | Commonly near 1 percent a year for smaller portfolios, falling as balances grow | People who want continuous investment management plus planning |
| Fixed fee for a written plan | Often 1,000 to 3,000 dollars or more, based on complexity | Anyone wanting a one-time roadmap or a fresh look at an existing plan |
| Hourly consulting | Often 150 to 400 dollars an hour | Focused questions, like evaluating a job offer that includes equity |
| Subscription or retainer | Varies by firm | Early-career earners who want regular check-ins without a large portfolio |
| Product commissions | Included in the price of the product | Insurance or annuity purchases, with attention to conflicts of interest |
Fee-only advisors are paid solely by their clients. Fee-based advisors can combine client fees with commissions on products they sell. Either can work, as long as you know every way your advisor is paid.
Tell us about your goals and we will introduce you to a financial advisor who serves Los Angeles. Your first conversation is free.
Wealth management in Los Angeles
Wealth management goes beyond picking investments. A wealth management firm typically pulls together portfolio management, tax strategy, estate planning coordination, philanthropy and, for owners, business succession. Many firms require several hundred thousand dollars or more in investable assets.
Los Angeles supports a deep wealth management market, and some situations come up far more often here than in most cities:
- Irregular creative income. Actors, writers, directors, musicians and producers can earn a large sum one year and very little the next. A good wealth manager helps smooth spending, set aside taxes and build reserves for slow seasons, and works alongside a business manager when there is one.
- Equity compensation. Employees at tech, media and gaming companies often receive stock grants or options. A plan for selling, holding and paying tax on vesting shares can keep one employer from dominating your net worth.
- Real estate heavy balance sheets. Many long-time owners hold most of their wealth in a home or rentals, and selling, gifting to children or holding for life carries large tax consequences under Prop 13 and the federal step-up in basis.
When comparing firms, ask who your day-to-day contact will be, your total cost including fund expenses, and whether the firm acts as a fiduciary on every account.
Financial planners in Los Angeles
A financial planner turns your goals into a written plan, often the right first step if you do not yet need full wealth management or want an objective second look. Planners who hold the Certified Financial Planner designation have met education, exam and experience requirements and commit to acting as fiduciaries when they give financial advice.
Questions Los Angeles planners hear often include:
- Rent or buy? With the median home value in the city near 880,000 dollars, a planner can compare the true cost of owning, including insurance and upkeep, with renting and investing the difference.
- Freelance and gig work. Self-employed residents usually owe quarterly estimated payments to both the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board, and a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA can help them save for retirement.
- College savings. California’s ScholarShare 529 plan offers tax-free growth for qualified education costs, though the state does not give a deduction for contributions.
Standard homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover earthquake damage. Separate earthquake coverage is available through the California Earthquake Authority and private insurers, and the deductible is often a percentage of the dwelling coverage, so a planner can help you weigh it against your emergency fund.
A financial planner who serves Los Angeles can review your budget, savings, taxes and goals with you, free and without obligation.
Retirement planning in Los Angeles
California splits the difference for retirees. The state does not tax Social Security benefits at all, but it fully taxes most other retirement income, including pensions, annuity payments and withdrawals from traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans, at the same graduated rates that apply to wages. Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income too, and California does not follow the federal tax break for health savings accounts. On the plus side, California has no estate tax and no inheritance tax.
That makes tax planning central. Roth conversions are taxed by California as well as the IRS, so timing and size matter. Federal law generally prevents a state from taxing pension and retirement plan income received by people who no longer live there, which is one reason some retirees time conversions and withdrawals around a planned move out of state.
Housing is the other half of the picture. Under Prop 13, a home is generally assessed at its purchase price, the assessed value can rise by no more than 2 percent a year while you own it, and the base tax rate is about 1 percent plus voter-approved local charges. Proposition 19 lets homeowners who are 55 or older, severely disabled, or victims of a wildfire or other disaster transfer their tax base to a replacement home elsewhere in California, within limits, and it narrowed the old rule that let parents pass a low assessed value to their children. Confirm details with the Los Angeles County Assessor.
Public pensions are common here. Teachers in Los Angeles Unified and other districts belong to CalSTRS, many state and local employees belong to CalPERS, and city and county workers have their own systems, including LACERS and LACERA. Many California teachers do not pay into Social Security through their district jobs. The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, so anyone with a pension from non-covered work, or a spouse with one, should have their benefit estimates updated.
A Los Angeles retirement plan usually covers:
- Expected spending, including rent or property tax, home and earthquake insurance, and healthcare before Medicare starts at 65.
- Reliable income from Social Security, pensions and any annuities, and the right age to claim.
- A withdrawal and conversion strategy that manages California and federal taxes year by year.
- Whether to stay, downsize under Prop 19 or relocate, plus long-term care costs and current beneficiary designations.
Speak with a financial advisor who helps Los Angeles retirees and pre-retirees plan income and taxes. Free, confidential and no obligation.
Life insurance in Los Angeles
Life insurance replaces income your family relies on and can pay off a mortgage or fund a child’s education. Term insurance covers a fixed number of years and is usually the cheapest way to buy a large death benefit. Whole life and universal life last a lifetime and build cash value, at a much higher premium.
California rules and Los Angeles living costs shape how much and what type to buy:
- Community property. When premiums are paid with earnings during marriage, both spouses may have an ownership interest in the policy, whatever name is on it. This can matter in a divorce and when naming a beneficiary other than your spouse.
- High housing costs. A large mortgage or high rent usually calls for a larger death benefit to keep a surviving family in the same home and schools.
- Self-employed and contract workers. Many creative and gig workers have no group coverage, or benefits that depend on hours worked, so an individual policy fills the gap.
Insurers and agents are licensed by the California Department of Insurance, which offers a consumer hotline and license lookup. A fee-only advisor can review a policy you already own without selling you a replacement.
Investment advisors in Los Angeles
Investment advisors manage portfolios, either by recommending trades or by making decisions on your behalf with your consent. Firms paid to give investment advice are registered investment advisers. Smaller firms generally register with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and larger ones register with the SEC. Either way, registered investment advisers owe clients a fiduciary duty to put the client’s interests first.
Brokers are overseen by FINRA. Use the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website and FINRA BrokerCheck to review any advisor’s registrations, employment history and disciplinary record, and ask for the firm’s Form ADV Part 2 brochure, which explains services, fees and conflicts in plain language.
Topics worth raising with a Los Angeles investment advisor:
- Tax location. Because California taxes interest, dividends and gains as ordinary income, where you hold each investment can make a noticeable difference. Interest on California municipal bonds is generally exempt from both federal and California income tax for residents.
- Concentration. Stock grants from one employer, or a net worth tied up in local real estate, may call for deliberate diversification.
How to choose a financial advisor in Los Angeles
The right advisor combines trust, relevant experience and clear pricing:
- Write down what you want help with, such as a plan, investment management, retirement income, insurance, equity compensation or full wealth management.
- Ask each advisor whether they act as a fiduciary at all times, and get the answer in writing.
- Request a written estimate of total yearly cost, including advisory fees and fund expenses.
- Check registrations and any disciplinary history on the SEC and FINRA sites.
- Ask about their typical client. An advisor who regularly works with entertainment professionals, public employees or small business owners may understand your situation faster.
- Interview at least two or three advisors before you commit.
Given Los Angeles traffic, many residents meet advisors by video.
Areas we serve around Los Angeles
We help people throughout the city of Los Angeles connect with financial advisors by phone or video, including Downtown, Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Koreatown, Hancock Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Venice, Playa Vista, Westchester, Century City, Eagle Rock, Highland Park and San Pedro, and in the Valley, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills and Northridge. We also serve the wider Los Angeles County area.
Nearby communities include Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Burbank, Torrance, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Inglewood, Santa Clarita, Downey and Malibu.
Nearby areas we also serve: See all of California
Los Angeles financial planning guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does a financial advisor cost in Los Angeles?
It depends on the payment model. Asset-based fees often run near 1 percent a year on smaller portfolios and less on larger ones, a one-time plan often costs 1,000 to 3,000 dollars or more, and hourly advice often runs 150 to 400 dollars.
Does California tax retirement income?
California does not tax Social Security benefits. It does tax pensions, annuities and withdrawals from traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans as ordinary income, and it taxes capital gains the same way. California has no estate tax or inheritance tax.
How does Prop 13 affect retirees who want to downsize in Los Angeles?
Prop 13 generally keeps a home’s assessed value close to its purchase price, with limited yearly increases. Selling and buying another home normally resets the assessment, but Proposition 19 lets homeowners 55 and older transfer their tax base to a replacement home in California, within limits. Confirm the details with the county assessor.
I work in entertainment and my income is uneven. How can a financial advisor help?
An advisor can help you set aside money for taxes, build a reserve for slow periods, choose a retirement plan such as a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA, and coordinate with your business manager or accountant.
Do I need extra insurance because of wildfire risk in Los Angeles?
Fire is generally covered by standard homeowners policies, but finding and keeping coverage has become harder in some neighborhoods, and some owners rely on the California FAIR Plan for fire coverage alongside a separate policy for other risks. Review your dwelling limits, contents coverage and additional living expenses with an agent, and keep a larger emergency fund.
How can I verify a financial advisor in Los Angeles?
Look up the advisor and firm on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site and FINRA BrokerCheck to see registrations, work history and any disciplinary actions. Insurance agents can be checked with the California Department of Insurance.
Learn before you talk to an advisor
Retirement Planning
How much you may need, where to save it, and how to turn savings into income.
Read the guide →
Investing Basics
Stocks, bonds, funds, risk and diversification, explained without the jargon.
Read the guide →
Life Insurance
Term vs. permanent coverage, how much you might need, and who it protects.
Read the guide →Ready to talk with a financial advisor in Los Angeles?
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