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Financial Planners in Novato, CA: 2026 rankings

152 financial planners ranked by RFA ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest RFA Score in Novato: Community First Credit Union, RFA Score 73/100; 4.9★ from 76 Google reviews.

  2. 6

    Most-reviewed: Forge Trust, 179 Google reviews at 4.2★, the most of 152 ranked; ranked #6.

Rankings can't be bought. Financial advisors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

152 Novato financial planners are ranked here by RFA Score, from eight published factors. 31 open Saturdays and 3 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.3★ across 152 rated firms.

Top 10 financial planners in Novato at a glance

Ranked by RFA Score from public data such as Google reviews, not by investment performance; sponsored listings are paid, shown separately and never change rank.

Top 10 financial planners in Novato at a glance
RankBusinessRFA ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1Community First Credit Union734.9★ (76)Novato—Top score
2Fiduciary Financial Group695.0★ (54)San Rafael, 10 mi away——
3Redwood Credit Union674.1★ (48)NovatoSat—
4Valley Oak Wealth Management675.0★ (22)Novato——
5Redwood Credit Union664.4★ (57)Petaluma, 11 mi awaySat—
6Forge Trust664.2★ (179)San Francisco, 24 mi away—Most reviews
7Liberty Group665.0★ (33)Larkspur, 12 mi away——
8Wealth Protection Lady, LLC655.0★ (26)San Rafael, 9 mi away——
9Redwood Credit Union654.3★ (44)San Rafael, 10 mi awaySat—
10Redwood Credit Union654.3★ (69)Rohnert Park, 18 mi awaySat—

All 152 financial planners in Novato, in rank order

Ordered by RFA Score, a 0–100 score from eight published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by RFA Score from public data such as Google reviews, not by investment performance; sponsored listings are paid, shown separately and never change rank.

Scores below: based on 6 of 8 factors; registration and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  3. #3 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in Novato

    67/100RFA Score

    Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.1★ from 48 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.1★ from 48 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    1010 Grant Ave, Novato, CA 94945
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(800) 479-7928

  5. #5 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in Petaluma, 11 mi away

    66/100RFA Score

    Ranked #5 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.4★ from 57 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.4★ from 57 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    301 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma, CA 94954
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(800) 479-7928

  6. #6 Forge Trust

    Based in San Francisco, 24 mi away

    66/100RFA Score

    Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.2★ from 179 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.2★ from 179 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 6 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    4 Embarcadero Ctr Fl 15, San Francisco, CA 94111
    View profile for Forge Trust(800) 248-8447

  7. #7 Liberty Group

    Based in Larkspur, 12 mi away

    66/100RFA Score

    Ranked #7 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 33 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 33 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    485 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, CA 94939
    View profile for Liberty Group(415) 229-9002

  9. #9 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in San Rafael, 10 mi away

    65/100RFA Score

    Ranked #9 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.3★ from 44 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.3★ from 44 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    209 3rd St, San Rafael, CA 94901
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(800) 479-7928

  10. #10 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in Rohnert Park, 18 mi away

    65/100RFA Score

    Ranked #10 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.3★ from 69 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.3★ from 69 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    250 Rohnert Park Expy, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(707) 545-4000

  12. #12 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in Napa, 20 mi away

    65/100RFA Score

    Ranked #12 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.6★ from 55 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.6★ from 55 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    1705 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(707) 545-4000

  13. #13 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in San Francisco, 24 mi away

    64/100RFA Score

    Ranked #13 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.3★ from 90 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.3★ from 90 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1390 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(800) 479-7928

  14. #14 Monroe Wealth Management

    Based in San Francisco, 23 mi away

    64/100RFA Score

    Ranked #14 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1160 Battery St suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94111
    View profile for Monroe Wealth Management(510) 990-1803

  16. #16 B.O.L. Global, Inc.

    Based in San Francisco, 23 mi away

    63/100RFA Score

    Ranked #16 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.5★ from 52 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.5★ from 52 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 10 AM–6 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    2830 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118
    View profile for B.O.L. Global, Inc.(415) 409-0010

  17. #17 ForUsAll

    Based in San Francisco, 25 mi away

    62/100RFA Score

    Ranked #17 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.1★ from 77 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.1★ from 77 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 7 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    665 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
    View profile for ForUsAll(844) 401-2253

  19. #19 Financial Zen

    Based in San Francisco, 24 mi away

    62/100RFA Score

    Ranked #19 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 29 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 29 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–6 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    600 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108
    View profile for Financial Zen(415) 792-0345

  21. #21 Redwood Credit Union

    Based in Santa Rosa, 25 mi away

    61/100RFA Score

    Ranked #21 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.4★ from 42 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.4★ from 42 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    2763 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
    View profile for Redwood Credit Union(707) 545-4000

  22. #22 True Root Financial

    Based in San Francisco, 22 mi away

    61/100RFA Score

    Ranked #22 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 24 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 24 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–6:30 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    3445 Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94123
    View profile for True Root Financial(415) 323-6602

Financial planners ranked #26 to #50

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #50, in RFA Score order; each links to its profile. We publish the top 50 of 152 ranked financial planners here; the rest are on their profiles.

financial planners in Novato, ranks 26 to 50
RankBusinessRFA ScoreGoogle ratingDistance
26Mutual of Omaha Reverse Mortgage605.0★ (4)In Novato
27Bank of America Financial Center603.8★ (34)18 mi
28Marin Wealth Advisors LLC604.5★ (8)7 mi
29Margarita's Financial Dynasty, LLC604.6★ (16)17 mi
30Moraes & Cassidy Group605.0★ (6)6 mi
31BMO Bank N.A Branches603.4★ (5)In Novato
32Fidelity Investments604.3★ (11)12 mi
33Alpha Wealth Management and Planning605.0★ (3)In Novato
34Bank of America Financial Center593.8★ (41)23 mi
35Citrine Capital595.0★ (17)24 mi
36Simon Chew, CIC / eHealth-Plans Inc. / Amazing Wealth594.6★ (22)25 mi
37Bank of America Financial Center593.4★ (47)20 mi
38Bank of America Financial Center593.2★ (114)23 mi
39Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management - Jeff Y. Wong, Financial Advisor595.0★ (16)23 mi
40KB FINANCIAL ADVISORS594.8★ (18)24 mi
41Wealthspire594.8★ (5)6 mi
42Redwood Credit Union593.5★ (31)18 mi
43Veasna Duong | Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO)595.0★ (11)18 mi
44Bank of America Financial Center593.2★ (60)19 mi
45Decker Retirement Planning595.0★ (9)15 mi
46John C Blecka CPA595.0★ (7)12 mi
47Bank of America (Lobby Service Only)593.6★ (16)14 mi
48Paladin Fiduciary Services LLC594.8★ (16)23 mi
49Abacus Wealth Partners595.0★ (15)25 mi
50Emily S. Chan - Private Wealth Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC585.0★ (5)10 mi

Also serving Novato

20 more financial planners within 25 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a specialty we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.

Unranked financial planners serving Novato
BusinessGoogle ratingDistance
1Broker Insurance Services5.0★ (4)In Novato
Alders Financial Solutions5.0★ (4)In Novato
Barbara Burke - Prudential FinancialIn Novato
Burdell Properties5.0★ (1)In Novato
Charles Schwab2.9★ (8)In Novato
Edward JonesIn Novato
Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: John J Tornes, CFP®|CEPA®In Novato
Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Pat Giamanco, CEPA®In Novato
Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Robert D Schulman, AAMS®3.0★ (2)In Novato
Gregory Nikolaieff - Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLCIn Novato
Hennessy Advisors, Inc.In Novato
Hennessy Funds5.0★ (2)In Novato
John Patrick Heaton - Prudential FinancialIn Novato
Ketron Financial LLC5.0★ (2)In Novato
LFA Private Wealth Management5.0★ (1)In Novato
Lifeguard WealthIn Novato
MCM WealthIn Novato
New Aspect Financial Services, LLC3.0★ (2)In Novato
Opposite of Work5.0★ (14)In Novato
Seacrest Wealth Management1.0★ (1)In Novato

How we ranked Novato financial planners

We scored 152 Novato financial planners on eight factors, weighted as shown. A firm is ranked when its specialty is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Sponsored businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

RFA Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Novato data
Reputation30%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it (client experience, not investment results)Measured
Registration20%Active SEC, state or Canadian securities registration matched in public records (not yet measured)Not yet collected
Review volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the listMeasured
Recency5%Share of reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Specialty focus15%How clearly the firm offers this specialty (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity5%Based in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Ranked Financial Advisors profile (free or paid earn the same)Measured
Partnered5%The firm links to Ranked Financial Advisors from its own website with our badge, checked periodicallyMeasured

How to choose a financial planner

  1. Confirm the financial planner and the firm are registered: Investor.gov and FINRA BrokerCheck in the US, the CSA National Registration Search in Canada. Read any disclosure events.
  2. Ask whether they act as a fiduciary on your account at all times, and get the answer in writing.
  3. Ask how they are paid: a percentage of assets, flat or hourly fees, a retainer, commissions, or a mix. Each creates different conflicts of interest.
  4. Read the firm’s Form CRS and Form ADV Part 2A brochure (fees, services, conflicts, disciplinary history) before you sign.
  5. Check designations with the body that grants them, such as the CFP Board for CFP® professionals.
  6. Ask about account minimums and who holds your money: your assets should sit with an independent custodian in your name.
  7. Compare at least two or three firms, and be wary of anyone who promises returns or pushes you to decide quickly.

Questions to ask a financial planner

  • Are you a fiduciary for all of the advice you give me, and will you put that in writing?
  • How are you paid, in total dollars per year for an account like mine? Do you earn commissions or other payments from product providers?
  • Which registrations and designations do you hold, and where can I verify them?
  • Who will hold my assets, and how will I see statements directly from that custodian?
  • What services are included in your fee, and what would cost extra with you as my financial planner?
  • Do you have a minimum account size or minimum fee?
  • Have you or your firm had any complaints or disciplinary actions? Where would I see them?
  • How often will we meet, and who will I work with day to day?
  • What happens to my plan or accounts if you retire or leave the firm?

Terms explained

Fiduciary
Someone legally required to act in a client’s interest. In the US, registered investment advisers owe their clients a fiduciary duty of care and loyalty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Registered investment adviser (RIA)
A firm registered with the SEC or a state securities regulator to give investment advice for pay. Most firms managing $100 million or more register with the SEC; smaller firms usually register with their state.
Investment adviser representative (IAR)
A person who gives advice on behalf of a registered investment adviser, usually registered with the states where they work.
Broker-dealer
A firm that buys and sells securities for customers. US broker-dealers are members of FINRA; their registered representatives typically earn commissions.
Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI)
The SEC rule, in force since June 30, 2020, requiring broker-dealers to act in a retail customer’s best interest when recommending a security or account type.
Form ADV
The registration form every investment adviser files. Part 1 holds facts about the firm; Part 2A, the brochure, describes services, fees, conflicts of interest and disciplinary history in plain English.
Form CRS
A short relationship summary that advisers and broker-dealers give retail investors, covering services, fees, conflicts, standard of conduct and disciplinary history.
CRD number
The Central Registration Depository number FINRA and the SEC assign to each firm and registered person; use it to look them up on Investor.gov or BrokerCheck.
Assets under management (AUM) fee
A yearly fee set as a percentage of the money an advisor manages for you. Advisor surveys have put the median around 1% on accounts up to $1 million, lower on larger accounts.
Fee-only
An advisor paid only by clients, with no commissions or other payments from product providers.
Fee-based
An advisor who charges client fees and may also earn commissions on some products. It is not the same as fee-only.
CFP® professional
A person certified by the CFP Board after meeting education, exam, experience and ethics requirements. The CFP Board requires them to act as a fiduciary when giving financial advice.

Financial planners in Novato: frequently asked questions

Which financial planner has the highest RFA Score in Novato?

By RFA Score, the highest-ranked financial planner in Novato, CA is Community First Credit Union with an RFA Score of 73/100. It has 4.9★ from 76 Google reviews. Fiduciary Financial Group (#2) and Redwood Credit Union (#3) follow. We ranked 152 financial planners on eight factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many financial planners are there in Novato?

RankedFinancialAdvisors ranks 152 financial planners serving Novato, CA. 8 of them are based in Novato; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.

Which financial planners in Novato work on weekends?

31 of 152 ranked financial planners post Saturday hours and 3 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Redwood Credit Union (#3), Redwood Credit Union (#5) and Redwood Credit Union (#9). Many advisors meet by appointment, including evenings or by video, outside their posted office hours.

What Google rating do Novato financial planners have?

The median Google rating among 152 rated financial planners in Novato is 4.3★, with a median of 15 reviews. Forge Trust has the most, 179 reviews, and ranks #6. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does RankedFinancialAdvisors rank financial planners?

Each financial planner gets a 0–100 RFA Score from eight published factors, led by reputation (30%), specialty focus (15%), review volume (10%) and claimed profile (10%). A firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only firms with a confirmed specialty and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do financial planners outside Novato count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Novato city center, our service radius for financial planners. Each listing shows where the firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the RFA Score, so a nearby firm gets a small edge.

Can financial planners pay to rank higher on RankedFinancialAdvisors?

No. The RFA Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured firms may appear above the list, labelled Sponsored and showing their honest rank.

What does a financial planner do?

Financial planners build a written plan across a client’s goals: cash flow, savings, investments, insurance needs, taxes, retirement and estate. Many charge a flat or hourly fee for the plan, an ongoing retainer, or a share of the assets they manage.

How are financial planners in Novato ranked?

By RFA Score: public signals such as the Google rating and review count, how clearly the firm offers financial planning and how close it is. Paid placements never change the order, and the score does not measure investment performance.

How do I check a financial planner’s registration and record?

Search the person and the firm on Investor.gov (the SEC’s adviser search) and on FINRA BrokerCheck. A firm’s Form ADV and any disciplinary history are public there.

Is every financial planner in Novato a fiduciary?

Not necessarily. Investment adviser representatives owe a fiduciary duty on advisory accounts; broker-dealer representatives follow Regulation Best Interest when they recommend a security. Ask which applies to your account and read the firm’s Form CRS.

How much do financial planners charge?

Fees depend on the firm and the service: a percentage of assets managed each year, a flat or hourly planning fee, a retainer, or commissions. Ask for the fee schedule in writing and read the firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure or, in Canada, its relationship disclosure.

Update log for Novato

  1. November 2026: RFA Scores recalculated for 152 financial planners serving Novato.

More financial planners and Novato pages