{
  "crd_number": 106075,
  "slug": "first-foundation-advisors-irvine-ca-106075",
  "primary_business_name": "FIRST FOUNDATION ADVISORS",
  "legal_name": "FIRST FOUNDATION ADVISORS",
  "dbas": [
    "FIRSTSUN ADVISORS",
    "SUNFLOWER WEALTH ADVISORS"
  ],
  "city": "Irvine",
  "state": "CA",
  "country": "United States",
  "cbsa_code": "31080",
  "metro": {
    "cbsa_code": "31080",
    "common_name": "Los Angeles",
    "msa_name": "Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA",
    "path": "/advisors/ca/los-angeles"
  },
  "registration_type": "sec",
  "registration_status": "Approved",
  "registration_date": "1990-02-28",
  "years_registered": 36,
  "period": "2026-10-01",
  "filing_date": "2026-07-29",
  "carried_forward": false,
  "raum_total": 5063713129.0,
  "raum_discretionary": 4982355218.0,
  "raum_non_discretionary": 81357911.0,
  "raum_band": "over_5b",
  "raum_band_label": "Over $5 billion",
  "total_employees": 57,
  "advisory_employees": 28,
  "client_count_bucket": null,
  "clients_by_type": {
    "other": {
      "raum": 47102121.0,
      "count": 18,
      "description": "UNASSIGNED CURRENTLY"
    },
    "charitable": {
      "raum": 314755558.0,
      "count": 30
    },
    "individuals": {
      "raum": 234699826.0,
      "count": 430
    },
    "banking_thrift": {
      "raum": 483258029.0,
      "count": 157
    },
    "investment_companies": {
      "raum": 143736116.0,
      "count": 1
    },
    "high_net_worth_individuals": {
      "raum": 3495124098.0,
      "count": 623
    },
    "corporations_other_businesses": {
      "raum": 345037381.0,
      "count": 57
    }
  },
  "compensation_types": [
    "fixed",
    "hourly",
    "percentage_of_aum",
    "performance_based"
  ],
  "advisory_activities": [
    "financial_planning",
    "pension_consulting",
    "portfolio_management_individuals",
    "portfolio_management_investment_companies",
    "selection_of_other_advisers"
  ],
  "wrap_fee_participant": false,
  "disclosure_yes_count": 0,
  "states_registered": [
    "AK",
    "AL",
    "AZ",
    "CA",
    "CO",
    "CT",
    "DC",
    "FL",
    "GA",
    "HI",
    "ID",
    "IL",
    "KS",
    "LA",
    "MA",
    "MD",
    "MN",
    "MO",
    "NC",
    "NE",
    "NH",
    "NJ",
    "NM",
    "NV",
    "NY",
    "OR",
    "PA",
    "SC",
    "TN",
    "TX",
    "UT",
    "VA",
    "WA"
  ],
  "websites": [
    "https://ff-inc.com",
    "https://linkedin.com/company/first-foundation-inc."
  ],
  "iapd_url": "https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/106075",
  "city_as_filed": "IRVINE",
  "url": "https://advisorcensus.com/firm/first-foundation-advisors-irvine-ca-106075",
  "display_name": "First Foundation Advisors",
  "summary": "First Foundation Advisors is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in Irvine, CA, registered since 1990, reporting over $5 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated July 29, 2026.",
  "citation": "AdvisorCensus. First Foundation Advisors (CRD 106075): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.",
  "registration_type_label": "SEC-registered investment adviser",
  "compensation_labels": [
    "A percentage of assets under your management",
    "Hourly charges",
    "Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)",
    "Performance-based fees"
  ],
  "advisory_activity_labels": [
    "Financial planning services",
    "Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses",
    "Portfolio management for investment companies (and business development companies)",
    "Pension consulting services",
    "Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)"
  ],
  "quick_answers": [
    {
      "q": "How is First Foundation Advisors compensated?",
      "a": "On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), First Foundation Advisors reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; hourly charges; fixed fees (other than subscription fees); performance-based fees."
    },
    {
      "q": "Where is First Foundation Advisors located?",
      "a": "First Foundation Advisors' principal office is in Irvine, CA, according to its Form ADV; the August 2026 filing also lists 11 other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is First Foundation Advisors registered with the SEC or a state?",
      "a": "First Foundation Advisors is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 1990. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 106075."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much does First Foundation Advisors manage?",
      "a": "First Foundation Advisors reports $5,063,713,129 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated July 29, 2026 (98% discretionary)."
    },
    {
      "q": "How have First Foundation Advisors' assets and staff changed since 2021?",
      "a": "In the Form ADV data for First Foundation Advisors: Regulatory assets under management: $4,926,790,498 in the October 2021 data and $5,063,713,129 in the October 2026 data, up 3%. Total employees: 63 in October 2021 and 57 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going."
    },
    {
      "q": "What types of clients does First Foundation Advisors serve?",
      "a": "By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: high net worth individuals (623); individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (430); banking or thrift institutions (157)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Which custodians does First Foundation Advisors use?",
      "a": "First Foundation Advisors' most recent Form ADV filing (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)) lists Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. as a custodian holding 10% or more of its separately managed account assets."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does First Foundation Advisors report any disciplinary disclosures?",
      "a": "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/106075"
    },
    {
      "q": "Does First Foundation Advisors state an account minimum?",
      "a": "Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated July 15, 2026 says: \"The Registrant generally requires a minimum asset base of $500,000 for investment advisory services.\""
    },
    {
      "q": "What changed in First Foundation Advisors' recent Form ADV filings?",
      "a": "In the August 2026 filing data: Added the business name Sunflower Wealth Advisors. Added the business name Firstsun Advisors. Employees performing advisory functions went from 25 to 28. Added an office in Denver, CO."
    }
  ],
  "filing_history": [
    {
      "period": "2021-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 4926790498.0,
      "total_employees": 63,
      "filing_date": "2021-04-06"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 5680605805.0,
      "total_employees": 66,
      "filing_date": "2022-04-06"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 4985277444.0,
      "total_employees": 69,
      "filing_date": "2023-07-05"
    },
    {
      "period": "2024-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 5249948140.0,
      "total_employees": 67,
      "filing_date": "2024-03-28"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 5445880088.0,
      "total_employees": 62,
      "filing_date": "2025-06-16"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 5063713129.0,
      "total_employees": 57,
      "filing_date": "2026-07-29"
    }
  ],
  "recent_changes": [
    {
      "period": "2026-08-01",
      "period_label": "August 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Added the business name Sunflower Wealth Advisors.",
        "Added the business name Firstsun Advisors.",
        "Employees performing advisory functions went from 25 to 28.",
        "Added an office in Denver, CO."
      ]
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-05-01",
      "period_label": "May 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A)."
      ]
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-04-01",
      "period_label": "April 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Employees performing advisory functions went from 33 to 25."
      ]
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-03-01",
      "period_label": "March 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Registered or notice-filed in KS."
      ]
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-12-01",
      "period_label": "December 2025",
      "notes": [
        "Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A)."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "fees_from_brochure": {
    "source": "Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated July 15, 2026",
    "tiers": [],
    "flat_rate": null,
    "stated_range": null,
    "stated_maximum": null,
    "account_minimum": "$500,000",
    "account_minimum_may_be_waived": false,
    "minimum_annual_fee": null,
    "figures": [
      {
        "label": "Account minimum",
        "statements": [
          "Account minimum: $500,000"
        ],
        "quotes": [
          "The Registrant generally requires a minimum asset base of $500,000 for investment advisory services."
        ]
      }
    ],
    "quotes": [
      "The Registrant generally requires a minimum asset base of $500,000 for investment advisory services."
    ],
    "note": "As stated in the firm's brochure; fees can differ by service and may be negotiable."
  },
  "custodians": [
    {
      "name": "Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.",
      "name_as_filed": "CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC.",
      "affiliated": false
    }
  ],
  "custodians_note": "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.",
  "markdown_url": "https://advisorcensus.com/firm/first-foundation-advisors-irvine-ca-106075.md",
  "clients": [
    {
      "type": "individuals",
      "label": "Individuals (other than high net worth individuals)",
      "count": 430,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 234699826.0
    },
    {
      "type": "high_net_worth_individuals",
      "label": "High net worth individuals",
      "count": 623,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 3495124098.0
    },
    {
      "type": "banking_thrift",
      "label": "Banking or thrift institutions",
      "count": 157,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 483258029.0
    },
    {
      "type": "investment_companies",
      "label": "Investment companies",
      "count": 1,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 143736116.0
    },
    {
      "type": "charitable",
      "label": "Charitable organizations",
      "count": 30,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 314755558.0
    },
    {
      "type": "corporations_other_businesses",
      "label": "Corporations or other businesses not listed above",
      "count": 57,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 345037381.0
    },
    {
      "type": "other",
      "label": "Other",
      "count": 18,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 47102121.0
    }
  ],
  "disclosure_line": "Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.",
  "disclosure_items": [],
  "indexable": true,
  "suppressed": false,
  "claimed": false,
  "enhanced": false,
  "provided_by_the_firm": null,
  "source": {
    "name": "Form ADV",
    "as_of": "2026-10-01",
    "iapd_url": "https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/106075",
    "operator": "BH Monitor Services, LLC",
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "credit": "AdvisorCensus (advisorcensus.com), from SEC Form ADV data"
  }
}