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Wealth Managers in Isla Vista, CA: 2026 rankings

7 wealth managers ranked by RFA ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest RFA Score in Isla Vista: Monarch Wealth Strategies - Santa Barbara, RFA Score 72/100; 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews.

  2. 2

    Most-reviewed: Mission Wealth, 15 Google reviews at 5.0★, the most of 7 ranked after Monarch Wealth Strategies - Santa Barbara; ranked #2.

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

7 Isla Vista wealth managers are ranked here by RFA Score, from eight published factors. The median Google rating is 5.0★ across 7 rated firms.

Top 7 wealth managers in Isla Vista 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 7 wealth managers in Isla Vista at a glance
RankBusinessRFA ScoreGoogle ratingBased inNotable for
1Monarch Wealth Strategies - Santa Barbara725.0★ (16)Santa Barbara, 9 mi awayTop score
2Mission Wealth715.0★ (15)Santa Barbara, 9 mi awayMost reviews
3Harbor Hills Wealth Management695.0★ (10)Santa Barbara, 13 mi away—
4Wealth Strategies & Personal Finance685.0★ (6)Goleta, 5 mi away—
5California Wealth Advisors663.7★ (6)Santa Barbara, 9 mi away—
6Powell Wealth Management655.0★ (3)Santa Barbara, 9 mi away—
7Integrity Wealth Advisors624.3★ (6)Ventura, 34 mi away—

All 7 wealth managers in Isla Vista, 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.

  2. #2 Mission Wealth

    Based in Santa Barbara, 9 mi away

    71/100RFA Score

    Ranked #2 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial advisor”.

    • 5.0★ from 15 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    1111 Chapala St 3rd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    View profile for Mission Wealth(805) 882-2360

  6. #6 Powell Wealth Management

    Based in Santa Barbara, 9 mi away

    65/100RFA Score

    Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–4 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    111 W Micheltorena St Ste 220, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    View profile for Powell Wealth Management(805) 695-4830

How we ranked Isla Vista wealth managers

We scored 7 Isla Vista wealth managers 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 Isla Vista 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 wealth manager

  1. Confirm the wealth manager 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 wealth manager

  • 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 wealth manager?
  • 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.

Wealth managers in Isla Vista: frequently asked questions

Which wealth manager has the highest RFA Score in Isla Vista?

By RFA Score, the highest-ranked wealth manager in Isla Vista, CA is Monarch Wealth Strategies - Santa Barbara with an RFA Score of 72/100. It has 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews. Mission Wealth (#2) and Harbor Hills Wealth Management (#3) follow. We ranked 7 wealth managers on eight factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many wealth managers are there in Isla Vista?

RankedFinancialAdvisors ranks 7 wealth managers serving Isla Vista, CA. Counts are as of November 2026.

What Google rating do Isla Vista wealth managers have?

The median Google rating among 7 rated wealth managers in Isla Vista is 5.0★, with a median of 6 reviews. Monarch Wealth Strategies - Santa Barbara has the most, 16 reviews, and ranks #1. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does RankedFinancialAdvisors rank wealth managers?

Each wealth manager 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 wealth managers outside Isla Vista count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 40 mi of the Isla Vista city center, our service radius for wealth managers. 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 wealth managers 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 wealth manager do?

Wealth managers combine investment management with planning, tax and estate coordination, usually for households with larger portfolios. Most charge a yearly percentage of the assets they manage and many set an account minimum.

How are wealth managers in Isla Vista ranked?

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

How do I check a wealth manager’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 wealth manager in Isla Vista 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 wealth managers 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 Isla Vista

  1. November 2026: RFA Scores recalculated for 7 wealth managers serving Isla Vista.
  2. November 2026: 1 duplicate listing merged.

More wealth managers and Isla Vista pages