FIRST FOUNDATION ADVISORS

RIASEC RegisteredEst. 1990

Total AUM

$5.1B

Discretionary

$5B

98% of AUM

Avg account

$1.5M

Accounts

3,373

Employees

Advisory reps

Firm details

Headquarters: IRVINE, California
CRD number: 106075
Registered since: February 28, 1990
Website: www.firstfoundationinc.com
Custodians: CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC.
Fee structure: Percentage of AUM, Hourly Charges, Fixed Fees, Performance Based Fees
Client types: HNWI69.02%
Banking / Thrift Institutions9.54%
Corporations / Businesses6.81%
Charitable Organizations6.22%
Individuals4.63%
Services: Financial PlanningPortfolio Management for IndividualsPortfolio Management for Investment CompaniesSelection of Other Advisers

Firm profile

FINTRX

Overview

First Foundation Advisors is an independent registered investment adviser that combines fiduciary wealth management for individuals and families with institutional advisory capabilities. The firm acts as a capital allocator and as a selector of outside managers, offering financial planning and portfolio management across individual/small-business and investment company mandates. Its service mix also includes insurance brokerage and other financial product sales. First Foundation Advisors reports using a variety of fee arrangements — percentage of AUM, fixed and hourly fees, and performance-based fees — which aligns with serving both retail and institutional relationships. The firm flags itself as an active ESG investor, and it lists industry affiliations with a banking/thrift institution and an insurance company. First Foundation Advisors has been recognized in multiple industry rankings, including repeated Top 100 RIA/financial advisory firm placements from Barron’s and CNBC in 2021–2024.