# First Foundation Advisors

> 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.

- CRD: 106075
- Filed as: FIRST FOUNDATION ADVISORS
- Also doing business as: FIRSTSUN ADVISORS, SUNFLOWER WEALTH ADVISORS
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: Irvine, CA
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: July 29, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/106075
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/first-foundation-advisors-irvine-ca-106075

## Quick answers

**How is First Foundation Advisors compensated?**
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.

**Where is First Foundation Advisors located?**
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).

**Is First Foundation Advisors registered with the SEC or a state?**
First Foundation Advisors is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 1990. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 106075.

**How much does First Foundation Advisors manage?**
First Foundation Advisors reports $5,063,713,129 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated July 29, 2026 (98% discretionary).

**How have First Foundation Advisors' assets and staff changed since 2021?**
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.

**What types of clients does First Foundation Advisors serve?**
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).

**Which custodians does First Foundation Advisors use?**
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.

**Does First Foundation Advisors 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/106075

**Does First Foundation Advisors state an account minimum?**
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."

**What changed in First Foundation Advisors' recent Form ADV filings?**
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.

## From the Form ADV filing

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

### Fees and minimums (Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated July 15, 2026)

- Account minimum: $500,000

> The Registrant generally requires a minimum asset base of $500,000 for investment advisory services.

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.

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: $5,063,713,129
- Discretionary: $4,982,355,218
- Non-discretionary: $81,357,911

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individuals (other than high net worth individuals) | 430 | $234,699,826 |
| High net worth individuals | 623 | $3,495,124,098 |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 157 | $483,258,029 |
| Investment companies | 1 | $143,736,116 |
| Charitable organizations | 30 | $314,755,558 |
| Corporations or other businesses not listed above | 57 | $345,037,381 |
| Other | 18 | $47,102,121 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- 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)

### Firm details
- Registered since: 1990 (36 years)
- Employees: 57 total, 28 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: No
- States registered or notice-filed: 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
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Other offices (Schedule D, Section 1.F), as of the August 2026 filing
- Denver, CO
- Honolulu, HI
- Indian Wells, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Naples, FL
- Oakland, CA
- Palos Verdes Estates, CA
- Pasadena, CA
- Rolling Hills Estates, CA
- San Diego, CA

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- ff-inc.com
- LinkedIn @first-foundation-inc.

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $4,926,790,498 | 63 | April 6, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $5,680,605,805 | 66 | April 6, 2022 |
| October 2023 | $4,985,277,444 | 69 | July 5, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $5,249,948,140 | 67 | March 28, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $5,445,880,088 | 62 | June 16, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $5,063,713,129 | 57 | July 29, 2026 |

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.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### August 2026
- 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.

### May 2026
- Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A).

### April 2026
- Employees performing advisory functions went from 33 to 25.

### March 2026
- Registered or notice-filed in KS.

### December 2025
- Updated its list of owners and control persons (Schedule A).

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. First Foundation Advisors (CRD 106075): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.