# Financial Alternatives, Inc.

> Financial Alternatives, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in La Jolla, CA, registered since 2000, reporting $500 million to $1 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 13, 2026.

- CRD: 108245
- Filed as: FINANCIAL ALTERNATIVES, INC.
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: La Jolla, CA
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: March 13, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/108245
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/financial-alternatives-inc-la-jolla-ca-108245

## Quick answers

**How is Financial Alternatives, Inc. compensated?**
On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), Financial Alternatives, Inc. reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; hourly charges; fixed fees (other than subscription fees).

**How much does Financial Alternatives, Inc. charge?**
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 13, 2026 states: Asset-based fee: 0.5% to 1% a year (a range, as the brochure states it); Hourly rate: $300 an hour (wealth advisory and consulting fees). Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable; the brochure is the complete statement.

**Where is Financial Alternatives, Inc. located?**
Financial Alternatives, Inc.'s principal office is in La Jolla, CA, according to its Form ADV; the April 2026 filing also lists 1 other office (Schedule D, Section 1.F).

**Is Financial Alternatives, Inc. registered with the SEC or a state?**
Financial Alternatives, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2000. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 108245.

**How much does Financial Alternatives, Inc. manage?**
Financial Alternatives, Inc. reports $614,784,199 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 13, 2026 (99% discretionary).

**How have Financial Alternatives, Inc.'s assets and staff changed since 2021?**
In the Form ADV data for Financial Alternatives, Inc.: Regulatory assets under management: $274,533,512 in the October 2021 data and $614,784,199 in the October 2026 data, up 124%. Total employees: 11 in October 2021 and 13 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going.

**What types of clients does Financial Alternatives, Inc. serve?**
By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: high net worth individuals (148); individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (121); charitable organizations (2).

**Which custodians does Financial Alternatives, Inc. use?**
Financial Alternatives, Inc.'s most recent Form ADV filing (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)) lists Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and National Financial Services LLC as custodians holding 10% or more of its separately managed account assets.

**Does Financial Alternatives, Inc. report any disciplinary disclosures?**
Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11. The detail of any item is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/108245

**What changed in Financial Alternatives, Inc.'s recent Form ADV filings?**
In the April 2026 filing data: Changed its office addresses in La Jolla, CA.

## From the Form ADV filing

### Compensation (Item 5.E)
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)

### Fees and minimums (Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 13, 2026)

- Asset-based fee: 0.5% to 1% a year (a range, as the brochure states it)

> Fees based solely on AUM typically range from 1.00% to 0.50% on a flat or tiered rate schedule, but may be higher or lower in some cases.

- Hourly rate: $300 an hour (wealth advisory and consulting fees)

> Registrant’s wealth advisory and consulting fees are negotiable, but generally are assessed at a $300 hourly rate or flat fee basis, depending upon the complexity, level, and scope of the service(s) required

As stated in the firm's brochure. Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable.

### Custodians (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3))
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
- National Financial Services LLC

Custodians holding 10% or more of the firm's separately managed account assets, as filed on Form ADV (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)). A custodian holds client assets; it does not endorse or supervise the firm. AdvisorCensus has no relationship with any custodian.

### Regulatory assets under management (Item 5.F)
- Total: $614,784,199
- Discretionary: $607,444,178
- Non-discretionary: $7,340,021

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individuals (other than high net worth individuals) | 121 | $54,505,294 |
| High net worth individuals | 148 | $559,701,716 |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 0 | $0 |
| Investment companies | 0 | $0 |
| Business development companies | 0 | $0 |
| Pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies and business development companies) | 0 | $0 |
| Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) | 0 | $0 |
| Charitable organizations | 2 | $577,189 |
| State or municipal government entities (including government pension plans) | 0 | $0 |
| Other investment advisers | 0 | $0 |
| Insurance companies | 0 | $0 |
| Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions | 0 | $0 |
| Corporations or other businesses not listed above | 0 | $0 |
| Other | 0 | $0 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- Financial planning services
- Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses
- Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)

### Firm details
- Registered since: 2000 (26 years)
- Employees: 13 total, 7 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: No
- States registered or notice-filed: AZ, CA, CO, NY, TX, WA
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F), as of the April 2026 filing
- La Jolla, CA

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- [essentialplanners.com](https://essentialplanners.com)
- [financialalternatives.com](https://financialalternatives.com)
- [haswealth.com](https://haswealth.com)
- Facebook @FINANCIALALTERNATIVES
- LinkedIn @FINANCIAL-ALTERNATIVES-INC-
- X @FALTERNATIVES

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $274,533,512 | 11 | August 3, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $458,547,924 | 14 | March 23, 2022 |
| October 2023 | $458,983,612 | 12 | August 24, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $507,074,427 | 12 | March 28, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $547,779,015 | 12 | March 24, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $614,784,199 | 13 | March 13, 2026 |

Regulatory assets under management: $274,533,512 in the October 2021 data and $614,784,199 in the October 2026 data, up 124%.
Total employees: 11 in October 2021 and 13 in October 2026.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### April 2026
- Changed its office addresses in La Jolla, CA.

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. Financial Alternatives, Inc. (CRD 108245): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.