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Independent RIAs in California

As of October 2, 2026, 3,221 independent wealth management RIAs based in California reported $1.5 trillion in regulatory assets under management; the largest by assets was Edelman Financial Engines, with $326.3 billion.

Include wirehouses and broker-dealer firms

Independent wealth management RIAs
3,221
SEC-registered
1,081
State-registered
2,140
Regulatory assets under management
$1.5 trillion
Client accounts
9,761,460
Median firm size
$58.5 million
Broker-dealer affiliated firms, not included
110, with $122.9 billion

California requires IAR continuing education, in effect since 2024. Status from NASAA's IAR CE map, checked October 5, 2026. IAR CE in California.

Top firms in California

Largest independent RIAs by assets under management

Largest independent RIAs by assets under management in California, top 10
Rank Firm City RAUM
1 Edelman Financial Engines Santa Clara $326.3 billion
2 Ieq Capital, LLC Foster City $56.8 billion
3 Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC Newport Beach $54.9 billion
4 Wealthfront Advisers LLC Palo Alto $47.7 billion
5 EP Wealth Advisors Torrance $45.1 billion
6 Lido Los Angeles $42.5 billion
7 Allworth Financial, L.P. Folsom $33.6 billion
8 Jordan Park Group LLC San Francisco $23.3 billion
9 Seia Los Angeles $22.5 billion
10 Baker Street Advisors, LLC San Francisco $20.8 billion

Top 100 in California

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over one year

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over one year in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Salem Partners Wealth Management, LLC Los Angeles 262.2% $413.3 million
2 Elyxium Wealth LLC Beverly Hills 206.9% $452.7 million
3 Thepartners Wealth Management Carmel by the Sea 160.5% $454.5 million
4 Intellectus Partners, LLC San Francisco 132.9% $1.3 billion
5 Foundry Financial LLC Pasadena 122.2% $104.7 million
6 Alphacore Capital LLC La Jolla 113.8% $6.1 billion
7 Farther San Francisco 112.8% $7.5 billion
8 Torren Management, LLC San Diego 111.0% $177.0 million
9 Vistica Wealth Advisors, LLC Carlsbad 97.6% $131.6 million
10 Inflection Capital Management, LLC San Francisco 94.0% $188.5 million

Top 100 in California

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over three years

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over three years in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Concentric Walnut Creek 92.7% $1.9 billion
2 Alphacore Capital LLC La Jolla 77.3% $2.3 billion
3 Act Two Investors LLC Santa Cruz 73.8% $123.3 million
4 Salem Partners Wealth Management, LLC Los Angeles 65.4% $330.9 million
5 Alpha Solutions Investment Advisors South San Francisco 61.7% $110.2 million
6 Dew Point Capital Los Angeles 60.4% $124.5 million
7 Human Interest Advisors LLC San Francisco 56.7% $2.1 billion
8 Treehouse Wealth Advisors Walnut Creek 54.6% $161.7 million
9 Prosperitas Financial, LLC Valencia 54.2% $221.8 million
10 Perennial Financial Services Los Angeles 53.8% $686.4 million

Top 100 in California

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over five years

Fastest-growing independent RIAs over five years in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Alphacore Capital LLC La Jolla 65.5% $1.0 billion
2 Human Interest Advisors LLC San Francisco 49.5% $1.1 billion
3 Keystone Private Wealth Palm Desert 43.3% $142.3 million
4 Manhattan West Asset Management, LLC Los Angeles 41.6% $204.3 million
5 Lido Los Angeles 40.8% $7.7 billion
6 Salem Partners Wealth Management, LLC Los Angeles 39.6% $282.3 million
7 Fermata Advisors Sonoma 38.7% $196.6 million
8 Curated Wealth Partners, LLC El Segundo 38.2% $349.6 million
9 Ieq Capital, LLC Foster City 37.4% $11.6 billion
10 Dew Point Capital Los Angeles 37.0% $106.4 million

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the biggest asset gains over one year

Independent RIAs with the biggest asset gains over one year in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Increase
1 Edelman Financial Engines Santa Clara $33.4 billion
2 Ieq Capital, LLC Foster City $21.4 billion
3 Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC Newport Beach $15.0 billion
4 Lido Los Angeles $13.4 billion
5 Wealthfront Advisers LLC Palo Alto $11.8 billion
6 EP Wealth Advisors Torrance $9.6 billion
7 Farther San Francisco $8.5 billion
8 Allworth Financial, L.P. Folsom $8.5 billion
9 Mission Wealth Management, LP Santa Barbara $7.0 billion
10 Alphacore Capital LLC La Jolla $6.9 billion

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the most clients

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the fastest client growth over one year

Independent RIAs with the fastest client growth over one year in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Growth Starting value
1 Step Advisers, LLC San Mateo 260.9% 44,724
2 Boldin Advisors Mill Valley 194.7% 550
3 Global Predictions Inc Oakland 168.7% 431
4 Sierra Pacific Private Wealth, LLC Pleasanton 112.7% 142
5 Alphacore Capital LLC La Jolla 109.2% 1,943
6 Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC San Diego 104.8% 188
7 Nectarine San Diego 103.3% 3,158
8 True Wave Financial Planners Sacramento 94.3% 492
9 Farther San Francisco 88.2% 8,192
10 Schmitz Capital Partners, LLC Mill Valley 86.6% 239

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the most accounts

Independent RIAs with the most accounts in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Most accounts
1 Acorns Irvine 5,152,940
2 Edelman Financial Engines Santa Clara 1,517,156
3 Human Interest Advisors LLC San Francisco 762,032
4 Wealthfront Advisers LLC Palo Alto 687,493
5 Sigfig Wealth Management LLC San Francisco 106,361
6 Allworth Financial, L.P. Folsom 75,126
7 Bloom Investment Advisors, LLC San Francisco 71,486
8 Farther San Francisco 44,421
9 Lido Los Angeles 42,220
10 Insights Investments Palo Alto 33,896

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the most advisory staff

Independent RIAs with the most advisory staff in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Most advisory staff
1 Edelman Financial Engines Santa Clara 553
2 Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC Newport Beach 440
3 EP Wealth Advisors Torrance 320
4 Farther San Francisco 252
5 Lido Los Angeles 235
6 Ieq Capital, LLC Foster City 193
7 Allworth Financial, L.P. Folsom 165
8 Mission Wealth Management, LP Santa Barbara 135
9 Seia Los Angeles 128
10 Aspiriant, LLC Los Angeles 105

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the most high net worth clients

Independent RIAs with the most high net worth clients in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Most high net worth clients
1 Edelman Financial Engines Santa Clara 45,656
2 Wealthfront Advisers LLC Palo Alto 12,784
3 Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC Newport Beach 11,482
4 Lido Los Angeles 9,829
5 Allworth Financial, L.P. Folsom 9,283
6 Seia Los Angeles 4,920
7 Concentric Walnut Creek 4,380
8 Mission Wealth Management, LP Santa Barbara 3,633
9 Pure Financial Advisors, LLC San Diego 3,567
10 Farther San Francisco 3,463

Top 100 in California

Independent RIAs with the most CFP professionals

Top 100 in California

Newest independent RIAs

Newest independent RIAs in California, top 10
Rank Firm City Amount
1 Beacon Coast Partners, LLC San Francisco $2.3 billion
2 Stonebridge Financial Group San Rafael $896.0 million
3 Broadside Wealth San Francisco $874.5 million
4 Shah Wealth Advisors Chino Hills $606.2 million
5 Ocean Path Advisors, LLC Manhattan Beach $559.5 million
6 Jet Wealth Advisors La Jolla $546.5 million
7 Prosperity Financial Group, Inc. San Ramon $503.0 million
8 Pointone Family Office Manhattan Beach $327.1 million
9 Synchronous Wealth Advisors LLC Solvang $286.1 million
10 Certis Capital Management, Inc. Santa Barbara $255.9 million

Top 100 in California

Over time

From the SEC's yearly files: SEC-registered independent RIAs based in California, from October 2018, each snapshot classed from its own Form ADV answers.

FirmsSEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.Firms, SEC-registered independent RIAs in California, in each snapshot from October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
05001,0001,5002018202020212023202420261,081October 1, 2018: 748October 1, 2019: 774October 1, 2020: 818October 4, 2021: 879October 3, 2022: 899October 5, 2023: 879October 1, 2024: 915September 2, 2025: 925October 2, 2026: 1,081
Data table
Firms
As ofFirms
October 1, 2018748
October 1, 2019774
October 1, 2020818
October 4, 2021879
October 3, 2022899
October 5, 2023879
October 1, 2024915
September 2, 2025925
October 2, 20261,081
Regulatory assets under managementSEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.Regulatory assets under management, SEC-registered independent RIAs in California, in each snapshot from October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
$0$500B$1T$1.5T201820202021202320242026$1.5TOctober 1, 2018: $699.8 billionOctober 1, 2019: $692.3 billionOctober 1, 2020: $623.5 billionOctober 4, 2021: $716.3 billionOctober 3, 2022: $812.7 billionOctober 5, 2023: $706.2 billionOctober 1, 2024: $1.1 trillionSeptember 2, 2025: $1.2 trillionOctober 2, 2026: $1.5 trillion
Data table
Regulatory assets under management
As ofRegulatory assets under management
October 1, 2018$699.8 billion
October 1, 2019$692.3 billion
October 1, 2020$623.5 billion
October 4, 2021$716.3 billion
October 3, 2022$812.7 billion
October 5, 2023$706.2 billion
October 1, 2024$1.1 trillion
September 2, 2025$1.2 trillion
October 2, 2026$1.5 trillion
Client accountsSEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.Client accounts, SEC-registered independent RIAs in California, in each snapshot from October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
02.5M5M7.5M10M2018202020212023202420269.6MOctober 1, 2018: 2,616,071October 1, 2019: 2,798,324October 1, 2020: 4,493,385October 4, 2021: 6,700,332October 3, 2022: 6,369,028October 5, 2023: 7,737,752October 1, 2024: 9,681,565September 2, 2025: 9,119,588October 2, 2026: 9,626,569
Data table
Client accounts
As ofClient accounts
October 1, 20182,616,071
October 1, 20192,798,324
October 1, 20204,493,385
October 4, 20216,700,332
October 3, 20226,369,028
October 5, 20237,737,752
October 1, 20249,681,565
September 2, 20259,119,588
October 2, 20269,626,569
Median firm size (RAUM)SEC-registered independent RIAs. 9 snapshots, October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.Median firm size (RAUM), SEC-registered independent RIAs in California, in each snapshot from October 1, 2018 to October 2, 2026.
$0$100M$200M$300M$400M201820202021202320242026$300MOctober 1, 2018: $239.0 millionOctober 1, 2019: $221.7 millionOctober 1, 2020: $249.4 millionOctober 4, 2021: $272.3 millionOctober 3, 2022: $300.5 millionOctober 5, 2023: $259.0 millionOctober 1, 2024: $287.5 millionSeptember 2, 2025: $312.0 millionOctober 2, 2026: $300.2 million
Data table
Median firm size (RAUM)
As ofMedian firm size (RAUM)
October 1, 2018$239.0 million
October 1, 2019$221.7 million
October 1, 2020$249.4 million
October 4, 2021$272.3 million
October 3, 2022$300.5 million
October 5, 2023$259.0 million
October 1, 2024$287.5 million
September 2, 2025$312.0 million
October 2, 2026$300.2 million

The market in California now

Headline figures

Headline figures, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Firms3,2211,0812,140
Regulatory assets under management$1.5 trillion$1.5 trillion$52.6 billion
Accounts9,761,4609,626,569134,891
Clients12,416,82212,320,86095,962
Employees19,29016,1633,127
Advisory employees11,2068,5382,668
Investment adviser representatives11,7859,0352,750
Median RAUM$58.5 million$300.2 million$22.4 million
Average RAUM$574.7 million$1.4 billion$32.1 million

Firms by size

Advisers grouped by regulatory assets under management.

Firms by size, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Firms under $100 million1,635361,599
RAUM of firms under $100 million$48.5 billion$1.1 billion$47.4 billion
Firms $100 million to $250 million43940039
RAUM of firms $100 million to $250 million$70.8 billion$66.4 billion$4.4 billion
Firms $250 million to $500 million2742740
RAUM of firms $250 million to $500 million$95.6 billion$95.6 billion$0
Firms $500 million to $1 billion1601591
RAUM of firms $500 million to $1 billion$111.3 billion$110.5 billion$762.6 million
Firms $1 billion to $5 billion1421420
RAUM of firms $1 billion to $5 billion$284.3 billion$284.3 billion$0
Firms $5 billion to $10 billion14140
RAUM of firms $5 billion to $10 billion$105.0 billion$105.0 billion$0
Firms $10 billion and up21210
RAUM of firms $10 billion and up$827.4 billion$827.4 billion$0

Concentration

How much of the market the largest advisers hold.

Concentration: independent RIAsAs of October 2, 2026.
MeasureBarValue
Top 10 share of RAUM 43.6%
Top 100 share of RAUM 72.3%
Concentration, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Top 10 share of RAUM43.6%45.2%3.9%
Top 100 share of RAUM72.3%74.9%20.6%

How advisers are paid

Share of advisers reporting each form of compensation on Form ADV Item 5.E. A firm can report several.

How advisers are paid: independent RIAsAs of October 2, 2026.
MeasureBarValue
Charge a percentage of assets 89.9%
Charge hourly fees 51.6%
Charge subscription fees 1.7%
Charge fixed fees 57.6%
Receive commissions 1.7%
Charge performance-based fees 9.4%
Other compensation 8.0%
How advisers are paid, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Charge a percentage of assets89.9%96.3%86.7%
Charge hourly fees51.6%49.6%52.6%
Charge subscription fees1.7%1.4%1.9%
Charge fixed fees57.6%64.8%53.9%
Receive commissions1.7%1.6%1.8%
Charge performance-based fees9.4%9.7%9.2%
Other compensation8.0%8.1%7.9%

Custody

Advisers reporting custody of client cash or securities on Form ADV Item 9.

Custody, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Have custody22.3%52.2%7.2%

Broker-dealer and other affiliations

From Form ADV Items 6 and 7.

Broker-dealer and other affiliations, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Broker-dealer affiliated1.5%3.6%0.5%

New firms and successions

New registrations and firms reporting that they succeeded to another adviser's business (Form ADV Item 4).

New firms and successions, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
New registrations324129195
SuccessionsNo data0No data

Other measures

Other measures, as of October 2, 2026
MeasureIndependent RIAsSEC-registeredState-registered
Firms reporting RAUM2,6851,0461,639
Discretionary RAUM$1.4 trillion$1.4 trillion$42.8 billion
CFP professionals3,7723,031741
25th percentile RAUM$15.0 million$170.8 million$6.6 million
75th percentile RAUM$221.2 million$657.9 million$50.9 million
90th percentile RAUM$642.0 million$1.8 billion$78.0 million
Average account size$158,065$154,819$389,680
Offer financial planning72.9%81.4%68.6%
RAUM growth, one yearNo data22.0%No data

As of October 2, 2026. Definitions of every measure are on the methodology page.

Cities

Cities with at least five independent RIAs.

Data as of October 2, 2026, from Form ADV. Sources: SEC registered adviser data (ia100226.zip) and IAPD compilation reports. How the directory is built.