San Francisco Wealth Management for Ultra-High-Net-Worth Investors

2. We Have a Culture You Can Align With

A meaningful wealth management relationship goes beyond financial performance—it’s built on shared values and mutual understanding.

Private wealth managers often take the time to learn about your business, your lifestyle, and your personal and financial goals. But not all firms approach wealth management the same way. That’s why it’s important to assess whether their culture, communication style, and investment philosophy align with your priorities.

Does the firm emphasize long-term preservation or short-term performance? Do they offer highly personalized service, or is their process more standardized? The right fit will feel like a strategic partner—someone who sees wealth not just as numbers, but as a means to help you live the life you’ve envisioned.

If you’re seeking a relationship-driven partner who aligns with your values and goals, [Explore Wealth Management Options].

3. We Develop Customized Investment Plans

Effective wealth management begins with understanding you—not just your net worth. A tailored investment strategy should reflect your unique life circumstances, financial assets, risk tolerance, and long-term goals.

You don’t want a one-size-fits-all model or a pre-set menu of “risk profiles.” Even multiple models to choose from can fall short. What you need is a plan that accounts for your lifestyle preferences, legacy aspirations, philanthropic goals, and the potential for unexpected disruptions—whether personal or global.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years? How do you want your wealth to serve you, your family, and your community?

A truly personalized investment plan considers all of this—and more—to grow and protect your assets with purpose.

Why a Customized Plan Is Superior

A customized investment plan isn’t about comparing your returns to others. It’s about evaluating whether your financial strategy is helping you live the life you want—free from the burden of managing complex financial matters. If clients say their advisor helped them reach financial serenity and long-term peace of mind, that’s a sign of high-level performance.

Each client’s goals are different. One may need a 5% return to maintain their lifestyle, while another might require 10% to fund more ambitious objectives. What matters is how well the advisor understands those differences and delivers accordingly.

Another reliable metric? Client loyalty. Advisors with clients who’ve stayed for decades often provide exceptional service and consistently meet expectations.

In contrast, larger firms tend to use template-based models that may not account for the nuances of your personal circumstances. A customized approach ensures your strategy grows with you—not around a preset formula.

4. Private Wealth Advisors Won’t Pawn You Off

When you work with a smaller, private wealth management firm, you’re more likely to build a long-term relationship with the advisor who initially develops your plan.

It can be frustrating to go through the onboarding process, establish trust, and share your personal financial goals—only to be handed off to another associate a few weeks later. Unfortunately, this happens frequently at larger firms where clients are shuffled between departments or junior staff members.

At boutique firms, the advisor who takes the time to understand your full financial picture is often the same person who continues to work with you, year after year. This consistency strengthens communication, builds trust, and ensures your plan is executed with your original goals in mind.

And this leads directly into reason #5.

5. Private San Francisco Wealth Management Companies Cap Their Number of Clients

A wealth manager can only serve a limited number of high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals effectively. The level of detail, care, and attention required to manage complex financial lives simply doesn’t scale indefinitely. Unlike large firms that may expand their teams to accommodate growth, boutique wealth management companies often prioritize quality over quantity.

Instead of stretching resources thin, these firms maintain high service standards by limiting how many clients they take on. Once they reach capacity, they may stop accepting new clients to ensure that each one continues to receive personalized, in-depth attention.

This approach ensures that existing clients don’t experience declining service quality as the firm grows—something worth considering when evaluating your current financial advisor’s level of service.

6. Your Wealth Manager Should Be a Fiduciary

This point cannot be emphasized enough. Not every private wealth manager is a fiduciary, and it’s even less common among large, publicly traded firms.

A fiduciary wealth manager is legally obligated to act in the best interests of their client at all times. This includes offering objective financial advice and selecting investment solutions that prioritize the client’s goals—without being influenced by commissions or incentives tied to proprietary products.

Being a fiduciary means avoiding conflicts of interest, such as recommending financial products that primarily benefit the advisor or their firm. If any compensation or fee structures could impact their advice, a fiduciary is expected to disclose it clearly and justify how it still serves the client’s best interests.

One of the clearest indicators of a fiduciary approach is a transparent, fee-only compensation structure. This typically involves charging a percentage of assets under management, without additional commissions or hidden fees. Some may also offer flat or hourly fees, but the key is clarity, consistency, and alignment with your interests.

When evaluating a wealth manager, confirming their fiduciary status and understanding how they’re compensated are essential steps toward ensuring your financial goals remain the top priority.

7. We Actually Return Your Calls

One of the key benefits of working with a boutique wealth management firm is the ability to maintain strong, consistent communication. Limiting the number of clients allows wealth managers to provide the level of personal attention that high-net-worth individuals often expect—and deserve.

Rather than navigating automated systems or being passed from one representative to another, clients typically have direct access to their dedicated advisor. That means no need to reintroduce yourself or repeat your financial history each time you reach out.

The value of being known, recognized, and understood can’t be overstated—especially when timely decisions or urgent questions arise.

When choosing a wealth manager, it’s important to ask about communication practices. How accessible is your advisor? How quickly do they respond? Reliable, proactive communication is a hallmark of strong wealth management relationships—and a sign that your financial needs will be handled with the attention they require.

8. Private Wealth Advisors Deliver More Value

When evaluating wealth managers, it’s wise to focus less on price and more on value—especially since most fee-only advisors charge similar percentages based on assets under management. The real distinction lies in the scope and depth of the services provided.

Private wealth advisors often go beyond portfolio management. They aim to support all areas of your financial life to help you grow, preserve, and transition your wealth efficiently.

Depending on the firm, you may receive guidance in areas such as:

• Tax planning and strategy
• Retirement planning
• Estate and trust services
• Legal coordination
• Risk and insurance analysis
• Real estate advisory
• Philanthropic planning
• Business succession or M&A support
• Cash flow forecasting
• Overall financial planning

A wealth advisor offering comprehensive support across these areas can help you make more informed decisions, reduce complexity, and ensure your long-term goals stay on track—even as life circumstances change. When comparing firms, consider the full value of services, not just the fee structure.

If you require expertise beyond what your primary wealth advisor offers—such as in legal, real estate, or tax matters—they should be willing to coordinate with or refer you to qualified professionals. Many experienced advisors maintain strong networks of specialists in their local areas, particularly in established financial centers like the San Francisco Bay Area.

A comprehensive wealth management service often includes this coordination at no additional cost, especially under a flat, all-inclusive fee structure such as a 1% annual rate based on assets under management.

When comparing firms, it’s worth asking what’s included in the fee. A seemingly lower rate—say, 0.8%—might not include services like estate planning or tax coordination, potentially leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses over time. In such cases, what initially appears to be a lower cost may ultimately provide less value.

Evaluating wealth management based on the breadth and depth of service—not just the fee percentage—can help ensure you’re choosing a solution that’s built to support your long-term financial security across all aspects of life.

9. Private Wealth Managers Can Describe Their Ideal Client

Unlike larger firms that may focus on maximizing client volume, private wealth managers often prioritize quality over quantity. Their ideal client typically aligns with specific financial profiles, values, or planning needs that fit well with the advisor’s expertise and service model.

If a prospective client doesn’t match their focus—whether in terms of asset level, goals, or complexity—a private firm is more likely to communicate this clearly and may even suggest other professionals who are better suited. This selective approach helps ensure a strong advisor-client fit, which is essential for a successful long-term partnership.

For ultra-high net worth individuals—those with $10 million or more in liquid assets—this tailored approach can be especially beneficial, as their needs often require specialized planning, advanced risk strategies, and a deeper understanding of complex financial structures.

10. Private Managers Will Be More Experienced

In many cases, a private advisor working at a San Francisco wealth management firm brings extensive industry experience—often focused exclusively on high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. These professionals are accustomed to handling the complex financial needs that come with substantial assets and long-term planning goals.

It’s also common for private wealth management firms to set minimum investable asset thresholds before engaging with new clients. These thresholds help ensure the advisor can deliver a level of service tailored to clients with sophisticated financial profiles.

However, experience isn’t just about how many years someone has worked in the industry. True expertise shows in how well an advisor understands their clients’ unique needs and develops investment strategies that reflect those goals. Experienced wealth managers tend to offer more personalized, in-depth financial guidance—grounded in years of navigating market cycles, regulatory changes, and evolving client priorities.

A seasoned advisor will help you evaluate where you stand financially, identify areas of strength and risk, and recommend actions that align with your long-term security and financial aspirations.

Top Financial Advisors in San Francisco, CA

As of June 2022, SmartAsset.com ranked the following firms among the top financial advisors in San Francisco. These firms primarily offer financial planning services to individual clients and have no disclosures on record with the SEC. Rankings give preference to fee-only firms and those managing higher total assets under management (AUM).

1. Hall Capital Partners

Founded in 1994, Hall Capital Partners is a privately owned, fee-only advisory firm. The company is owned by its partners and employs a team of 29 advisors, some of whom hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. The firm manages over $55 billion in client assets.

Hall Capital Partners serves high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as institutions, pension plans, foundations, endowments, and other investment advisors. Its investment strategy includes building customized portfolios and utilizing funds of funds and alternative investments to enhance diversification. The firm also maintains an internal research group focused on evaluating investment opportunities across asset classes.

2. Jordan Park Group

Founded in 2017, Jordan Park Group is a multi-family office based in San Francisco with more than $17 billion in assets under management. The firm employs 57 advisors and is privately owned by its CEO. Jordan Park primarily serves ultra-high-net-worth clients, with many clients holding more than $100 million in investable assets.

In addition to individuals and families, the firm also provides services to businesses and charitable organizations. Clients can invest either through direct accounts or through access vehicles—commingled funds managed by the firm. Some of these vehicles may include performance-based fees. While the firm is a fiduciary, it discloses performance fee arrangements in those cases.

Each client works closely with an investment manager who aligns investment decisions with the client’s long-term goals and financial objectives.

3. Baker Street Advisors

Baker Street Advisors is a fee-only investment advisory firm founded in 2003. The firm manages over $14 billion in assets and has a team of 12 advisors. A minimum of $5 million in investable assets is required to open an account.

Baker Street serves individuals and families, as well as their trusts, estates, and retirement plans. Its offerings include investment management, wealth planning, and comprehensive family office services such as tax strategy, estate planning, and business succession planning.

The firm’s investment philosophy emphasizes asset diversification, cost efficiency, and the use of active management only when there is a compelling opportunity. Baker Street also relies on extensive investment research to construct customized portfolios that are designed to enhance long-term performance.

4. Parallel Advisors

Founded in 2006, Parallel Advisors is a fee-only investment advisory firm that serves a diverse client base, including individuals, businesses, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts and estates. The firm manages over $5 billion in assets and employs 36 advisors with a range of financial certifications.

Parallel offers a variety of services, including investment management, financial planning, retirement and estate planning, and philanthropic strategy development. Its investment approach emphasizes long-term growth, supplemented by short-term strategies where appropriate. The firm evaluates asset classes based on risk and diversification potential, using research and analytical tools to guide portfolio construction.

5. Wetherby Asset Management

Wetherby Asset Management was established in 1990 by Debra Wetherby. The firm currently has 57 advisors and more than $7 billion in assets under management. Ownership is shared among 21 employees, fostering a collaborative and client-focused culture.

Wetherby serves clients including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, foundations, trusts, and estates. The minimum account size for new clients is $10 million.

The firm constructs customized portfolios aligned with each client’s financial objectives. Equity allocations typically range between 60% and 70%, though client portfolios may vary from as low as 20% to as high as 90% in equities. Wetherby’s investment strategies often include a blend of active and passive mutual funds and ETFs, selected with the assistance of third-party managers to ensure diversification.

The firm also supports clients interested in impact investing, incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into portfolio design.

6. Seven Post Investment

Founded in 2011, Seven Post Investment is an independent, employee-owned, fee-only fiduciary firm. It advises over 50 families and institutions, with 13 advisors overseeing nearly $7 billion in assets under management.

The firm typically works with clients who have at least $100 million in investable assets.

Seven Post specializes in building globally diversified, multi-asset class portfolios that include exposure to real estate and private investments. Its strategies combine both passive instruments like ETFs and actively managed vehicles. Services are tailored based on a thorough initial assessment and regular client discussions, ensuring alignment with evolving needs and goals.

Seven Post emphasizes risk identification and ongoing research to uncover investment opportunities and safeguard long-term growth.

7. Osterweis Capital Management

Osterweis Capital Management is a fee-only investment firm founded in 1983. With over $7 billion in assets under management and 18 advisors, the firm remains privately owned by employees and two external directors.

Osterweis offers a range of account types, including mutual fund, IRA, and separately managed accounts. Its wealth management services are delivered through the Private Client group, and its mutual funds are accessible through most major brokerage platforms.

The firm’s investment strategy centers on long-term wealth building through focused portfolios, typically consisting of 30–40 carefully selected stocks and bonds. Advisors also maintain the flexibility to hold cash when appropriate, reflecting a conservative and opportunistic approach.

Osterweis has various strategy-specific account minimums, including $5 million, $25 million, and $250 million tiers. As a fee-only firm, its advisory fees are the sole source of revenue, helping to avoid conflicts of interest.

8. Perigon Wealth Management

Founded in 2004, Perigon Wealth Management is a fee-based investment advisory firm managing over $3 billion in assets. The firm employs 42 advisors and provides services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, corporations, and pension plans.

While its advisors may receive commissions, the firm operates as a fiduciary, meaning it is obligated to act in clients’ best interests.

Perigon offers both customized portfolios and proprietary model portfolios. Investment strategies may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, bonds, and options—tailored to meet each client’s risk tolerance and financial objectives.

9. Resolute Partners Group

Resolute Partners Group (RPG) is a fee-only wealth management firm founded in 2019. With over $4 billion in assets under management, the firm operates with a lean team of four advisors and two managing partners.

RPG maintains a minimum account size of $10 million in investable assets and works with a limited number of clients to ensure personalized service.

Each client’s portfolio is custom-built to reflect their goals, values, and financial priorities. The firm emphasizes long-term partnerships, with a collaborative approach designed to help clients make informed investment decisions and refine their overall financial strategy.

10. Asset Dedication

Founded in 2002, Asset Dedication is a fee-only investment firm managing over $2 billion in assets with a team of 10 advisors.

The firm provides turnkey asset management solutions for financial planners by aligning investment strategies directly with each client’s financial goals. Its proprietary approaches include Intelligent Laddering, Growth Time Targeting, Principal Protection, and Lifetime Investing—each designed to meet specific income needs, risk profiles, and time horizons.

In addition to portfolio strategies, Asset Dedication supports financial planners with comprehensive back-office services. These include performance reporting, daily account reconciliation, and fee calculation, helping advisors focus more on client engagement and less on administrative work.

To explore how a dedicated wealth manager can support your long-term goals, you can:

Each step can help you find the right fit for your ultra-high-net-worth needs.