I had been searching for a financial planner for some time -- specifically a fee-only Certified…read moreFinancial Planner. They don't have anything to sell, other than their advice, thereby avoiding having various things thrown at you that are really designed to make them as much money as possible. Through an odd circumstance, I came across Symphony Financial Planning. All I can say is, WOW! This is how financial planning should be. First off, it's not some corporate building with lots of granite and glass -- it's a very inviting environment that's in what appears to be a small home. You'll feel comfortable right away -- not like a corporate prisoner. The most important part of course are the people. A better group you will never meet. They are super nice, especially Taylor, who worked with me. She made me feel completely comfortable, and explained things in a non-condescending manner. She never made me feel stupid, which is something I can't say about other people I've talked to. In the end, she gave me some great ideas about how to maximize my retirement savings, and sold me nothing in the process. Perfect! And because they are fee-only, you only pay for the time you need -- they won't latch onto your accounts and start pulling out commissions or other fees. They don't even have access to your accounts -- all they can do it give you advice about how to manage what you've got, to meet your goals. If you are looking for financial planning and are anywhere in the vicinity of Davis, you owe it to yourself to give Symphony a try. You won't be disappointed!

From the owner: Pure Financial Advisors, LLC is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor providing comprehensive,…read morestrategic retirement planning services and low-cost, tax-optimized investment management, with a fiduciary duty to act in our clients' best interests. All our advisors are non-commissioned, experienced financial professionals. Pure Financial does not sell products, earn commissions or receive referral fees from any source. Our specialty is retirement and pre-retirement financial planning, retirement income, and asset management with an emphasis on tax reduction. Whether you're nearing retirement, in retirement, had a life-altering event or need investment advice, our fee-only fiduciary financial advisor team will help craft an investment strategy and retirement plan based on the best interest of your financial goals.

I am an estate and probate lawyer and trust Beth and her team completely. They are reliable, caring…read moreand highly competent. I would not work with or refer to them otherwise!

From the owner: At Elizabeth Dean Fiduciary Services, we help you or your loved ones with the burden of managing…read morepersonal daily care, finances, housing, medical needs, paying bills, and handling trusts. We are held to the highest ethical standards in the care of and loyalty to our clients.

I have met with Christine Teh three times now. As a math teacher and professional, I have always…read morefelt a bit of shame and embarrassment about not being able to get a handle on taxes and finances. Christine was so encouraging. She took the mystery out of all the mess and gave me the confidence to take ownership of my finances. I always felt safe to ask any question, and she always answered in a way I could understand. This coaching experience has been life-changing! I cannot speak highly enough of Christine Teh and the invaluable financial guidance she has provided.

Christine is unlike anyone I've ever worked with. I'm 71…read moreyears old and have worked with many financial professionals throughout my life--including tax professionals, advisors, and planners--but Christine is truly in a league of her own. Her level of knowledge is unmatched, but what stands out even more is the heart she brings into every interaction. You can feel her care. She's not just doing a job--she's devoted. Devoted to your clarity, your security, your peace of mind. With Christine, I feel both grounded and supported. She holds a rare blend of precision, presence, and genuine dedication to your well-being. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking more than just financial expertise. With Christine, you're not just hiring a professional--you're inviting in someone who truly cares about you. Thank you, Christine, for always showing up with such love, compassion, and integrity.

AVOID ROBERT HOBEDY. He is unprofessional, inept, rude, arrogant, unhelpful, caused many problems…read morewith my account, personally froze me out of my account. His errors cost me lots of money while the market was volatile, significantly added to my legal costs, made a very bad situation for me. Once everything is resolved we will likely transfer to Fidelity. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hobdy-8912b51b

Paul at the Davis branch of Charles Schwab is great! He has over 20 years of experience and has…read moreearned the titile of CFP (Certified Financial Planner). He listens well and can help put together an investment plan for you. Please note, he has hundreds of clients, so call the main number for Schwab to make an appointment. As one of his clients, I can tell you that when I email a question to him I do get a great response. The key word here is "appointment". He is not able to help with small accounts. Anyone at the main number can help small time investors get started started online, and the online investment research materials are very helpful.

I am totally grateful for Impact's presence in my life. Investment planning can be confusing and…read morecomplicated. They make it less intimidating and tailor plans to the individual. Thank you Paul.

Impact Financial Advisors has been nothing but great to us. My wife and I have known we need some…read morehelp/ guidance with our retirement plan full finical stability as well as create a working path for generation wealth. What works for everyone is different and everyone's plan is very unique to them and their situation. We have been and will continue to work with Thomas, he is very detailed and communitive. He has and continues to be a great asset for us, and our ever changing road map of life. Have recommended and will again, to anyone looking for help.

Jen is the nicest! She and Michael Clark worked together and now she has her own office. My mom and…read moreI and my husband all love her as our Edward Jones go-to gal. She is warm, friendly, and very smart. I knew nothing about investing when I met Jen and that was OK. She made it easy to understand and didn't judge me for my lack of knowledge. What a nice lady. Trust Jen with all your Edward Jones financial needs!

From the owner: During these uncertain times, we're here for you - ready to listen, support and navigate this…read moretogether. We care about your physical health and your financial health. Please reach out and see how we can help you. Edward Jones is an investment firm that believes your financial goals deserve a face to face conversation. We can help you prepare for retirement, save for education and be a tax-smart investor.

I had some tax questions, and even though I ended up filing on my own the conversation that I had…read morewas incredibly helpful and reassuring. Richard was very knowledgeable and kind, and didn't pressure me in to using their services instead reassuring me that I would be fine doing it on my own. I know I will use their services if I do get in a situation where it's needed, and highly recommend them to others. Trustworthy and competent.

Rich and his staff were a pleasure to work with, saved me a ton on taxes and thoroughly understood…read morethe unique tax laws that apply to my side-business. I came in with a ton of questions, all of which he answered. Well-worth his reasonable fee! Will be using him from here on out!

Just got notified that a company they work with, Marquis Software Solutions, had a data breach. Why…read moredid Marquis, who describe themselves as a "digital and physical marketing and communications vendor" need my social security number? When I queried BluPeak, they said it was to create a unique identifier. Um, I've worked in marketing and I know there are many ways to do this that do not involve SSNs. This is a cheap way out for them, and puts their customers at risk. This is only the latest in a series of problems I've had with them.

I received a thank you card from Ester W in this Davis branch thanking me for visiting the branch…read moreand asking me to give them a 10 star rating on a survey that I would receive. The problem is that I was never in that branch and I live in San Diego. I tried to send a secure message but BluPeak never responded. After much time on line holding for customer service ( up to 52 minutes) I finally talked to Marlene (supervisor) and found that the card was the result of a phone transaction about a month ago. Financial institutions don't send thank you card like this. To have it happen over the holidays caused stress and major concern as I have considerable funds in this CU. All BluPeak has to do is hire people so that they are adequately staffed with competent employees. Now I need to find a better institution and but that should not be hard.