First Foundation Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for investment companies, pension consulting, and selecting other managers. Financial planning was provided to 11–25 clients last fiscal year.
First Foundation Advisors reports 1,316 clients. They include 623 high-net-worth individuals, 430 individual clients and 157 banking or thrift institutions. Of its assets, 98.4% ($4.98B across 3,347 accounts) are managed with discretion; $81.4M across 26 accounts are not.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 33% | 5% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 47% | 69% |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 12% | 10% |
| Investment companies | <1% | 3% |
| Charitable organizations | 2% | 6% |
| Other client typesCorporations and other businesses; Other | 6% | 8% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 430 | $235M | 4.6% | $546K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 623 | $3.5B | 69.0% | $5.61M |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 157 | $483M | 9.5% | $3.08M |
| Investment companies | 1 | $144M | 2.8% | $144M |
| Charitable organizations | 30 | $315M | 6.2% | $10.5M |
| Corporations and other businesses | 57 | $345M | 6.8% | $6.05M |
| Other | 18 | $47.1M | 0.9% | $2.62M |
| Total | 1,316 | $5.06B | 100% | $3.85M |
- Clients
- 430
- Regulatory AUM
- $235M
- AUM share
- 4.6%
- Avg. per client
- $546K
- Clients
- 623
- Regulatory AUM
- $3.5B
- AUM share
- 69.0%
- Avg. per client
- $5.61M
- Clients
- 157
- Regulatory AUM
- $483M
- AUM share
- 9.5%
- Avg. per client
- $3.08M
- Clients
- 1
- Regulatory AUM
- $144M
- AUM share
- 2.8%
- Avg. per client
- $144M
- Clients
- 30
- Regulatory AUM
- $315M
- AUM share
- 6.2%
- Avg. per client
- $10.5M
- Clients
- 57
- Regulatory AUM
- $345M
- AUM share
- 6.8%
- Avg. per client
- $6.05M
- Clients
- 18
- Regulatory AUM
- $47.1M
- AUM share
- 0.9%
- Avg. per client
- $2.62M
Total
- Clients
- 1,316
- Regulatory AUM
- $5.06B
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $3.85M
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 0
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 11–25
First Foundation Advisors is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees (other than subscription fees) and performance-based fees. The reviewed brochures do not disclose an asset-based fee rate. Read the SEC-filed brochure. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning and Consulting
- Stand-alone financial planning and consulting is billed hourly, negotiable, generally up to $350 an hour.
Firstsun Capital Bancorp owns 75% or more of First Foundation Advisors. The leadership team of First Foundation Advisors includes President John Hakopian and Chief Compliance Officer Robert Roche. It has 57 employees, 28 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
John HakopianPresident/Chief Investment Officer
Robert RocheChief Compliance Officer
Investment adviser representatives
29 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
- Ara Moses Abajian
- Neil Christopher Amor
- Mark David Stuart Arblaster
- William Keith Arechiga
- Michael Atticus Berens
- Jennifer Kathryn Cagle
- Marc Tomaneng Cosico
- Lindsey Ann Hess
- Brandon Michael Humphryes
- Calvin Tekeim Jones
- Andrea Helene Matolo
- Troy L McSwain III
- Eric Michael Micheli
- Paul Edward Miller
- Michelle Bao-Chieu Nguyen
- Ekaterina A. Nuce
- Roger Bruce Palley
- William Bryant Pierrepont
- Joseph Anthony Raszewski
- Rachel Costa Ribeiro
- Ricardo Costa Ribeiro
- John Emery Sawyer IV
- Eric H Speron
- Roger Sanford Stinnett II
- Karuna Tejpaul
- Benjamin Darrow Thornhill
- Stephen J Wiechert
Staff
- 57 employees
- 28 in advisory functions
- 28 state-registered reps
- 1 soliciting firm
- Owns 75% or more of First Foundation Advisors
Firstsun Capital Bancorp
Control person · since April 2026
First Foundation Advisors’ regulatory assets went from $4.93B (April 2021) to $5.06B (July 2026); clients fell from 1,402 to 1,316 and employees from 63 to 57. In 2026, Logia Portfolio Management ($764M in its last filing) joined it.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $5.06B | 1,316 | 57 | 12 |
| June 2025 | $5.45B | 1,377 | 62 | 11 |
| March 2024 | $5.25B | 1,438 | 67 | 11 |
| July 2023 | $4.99B | 1,529 | 69 | 18 |
| April 2022 | $5.68B | 1,458 | 66 | 10 |
| April 2021 | $4.93B | 1,402 | 63 | 10 |
Firms that joined
20261 joined
- Logia Portfolio ManagementLast filed AUM $764M
Firms whose SEC withdrawal reports a sale to this firm, and deals reported in the press. Teams that moved without selling a registered firm may not appear.
Besides its headquarters, First Foundation Advisors has 11 offices, with 12 listed addresses across 5 states.
California · 8 listed addresses
- 18101 Von Karman Ave, Suite 700, IrvineHQ
- 74-850 Highway 111, Indian Wells
- 36 Malaga Cove Plaza, Palos Verdes Estates
- 4a Peninsula Center, Rolling Hills Estates
- 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego
- 1999 Harrison Street, Oakland
- 10850 Wilshire BLVD, Los Angeles
- 301 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena
Colorado · 1 listed address
- 1400 16th Street, Denver
Florida · 1 listed address
- 3560 Kraft Road, Naples
Hawaii · 1 listed address
- 500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu
Nevada · 1 listed address
- 6725 Via Austi, Las Vegas
Other business names
First Foundation Advisors has reported 2 other business names to the SEC.
- Firstsun Advisors
- Sunflower Wealth Advisors
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- First Foundation Advisors
- Headquarters
- 18101 Von Karman Ave, Suite 700, Irvine, CA 92612-1051
- Website
- Not reported
- Phone
- 949-476-0300
- @first-foundation-inc.
- SEC file
- 801-35973
- Structure
- California corporation
- Fiscal year end
- December
First Foundation Advisors uses Charles Schwab ($4.83B) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. First Foundation Advisors has custody of $1.59B in client assets for 469 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $4.83B100%
At year end, First Foundation Advisors’ separately managed accounts were largely in funds (43%) and stocks (36%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $2.78B across 354 positions; the largest are Microsoft Corp. (13.3%), iShares TR (8.1%) and Alphabet Inc. (4.7%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks36%
- Funds43%
- Registered funds38%
- Pooled vehicles5%
- Bonds16%
- State and local bonds8%
- U.S. government and agency bonds7%
- Investment grade corporate bonds1%
- Cash5%
Reported 13F holdings
- $2.78B
- Reported 13F value
- 354
- Positions
- 46.8%
- In the 10 largest
- +12.0%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Microsoft Corp.13.3%
- iShares TR · Core S&P500 ETF8.1%
- Alphabet Inc. · Cap Stk CL C4.7%
- iShares TR · Core MSCI Eafe4.1%
- Advanced Micro Devices Inc.3.8%
- J P Morgan Exchange Traded F · Equity Premium3.2%
- iShares Inc. · Core MSCI Emkt2.5%
- Amazon Com Inc.2.4%
- iShares TR · Rus Mid Cap ETF2.3%
- Goldman Sachs ETF TR · Activebeta US LG2.3%
Together, the ten largest are 46.8% of reported value.
How many clients does First Foundation Advisors have?
First Foundation Advisors has 1,316 clients and manages $5.06 billion for them, as of July 2026. They include 623 high-net-worth individuals, 430 individual clients and 157 banking or thrift institutions.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 29 July 2026
What services does First Foundation Advisors offer?
First Foundation Advisors provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for investment companies, pension consulting, and selecting other managers.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does First Foundation Advisors use?
First Foundation Advisors’ separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $4.83B. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 29 July 2026
How many financial advisors does First Foundation Advisors have?
First Foundation Advisors has 28 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 57 employees, and 28 perform investment advisory functions. None are registered representatives of a broker-dealer or licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does First Foundation Advisors invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, First Foundation Advisors’ separately managed accounts held 38% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 36% exchange-traded equities, 8% state and local bonds, 7% U.S. government and agency bonds, 5% pooled vehicles (private funds and similar), 5% cash and equivalents and 1% investment grade corporate bonds.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns First Foundation Advisors?
First Foundation Advisors’ direct owner is Firstsun Capital Bancorp (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 29 July 2026
How does First Foundation Advisors get paid?
First Foundation Advisors is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees and performance-based fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Is First Foundation Advisors registered with the SEC?
Yes, First Foundation Advisors has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 28 February 1990. Its CRD number is 106075 and its SEC file number is 801-35973.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 29 July 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact First Foundation Advisors?
First Foundation Advisors’ main office is at 18101 Von Karman Ave, Suite 700, Irvine, CA 92612-1051. Its phone number is 949-476-0300.