DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services

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Client assets under management

$81,200,784

Clients

137

18% high-net-worth

Advisors

of 4 employees

Firm type

Supported

1-4 advisors or >$200M in AUM

Clients per advisor

Low

Average account size

$592,706

About

Seaside Financial & Insurance Services provides investment advisory and financial planning to individuals (including high‑net‑worth clients), as well as pension plans, businesses, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers ongoing portfolio management, single‑issue and ongoing financial planning, and pension consulting, typically charging asset‑based advisory fees.

The firm’s investment process emphasizes fundamental analysis within a broader toolkit that includes technical, quantitative, and modern portfolio theory approaches, and it documents client objectives with an Investment Policy Statement. Seaside regularly uses third‑party research and platforms (e.g., Morningstar, eMoney) and may recommend or place assets with third‑party managers — including a tax‑overlay platform — while disclosing that such arrangements entail additional fees; the firm also discloses use of AI tools to assist in preparing client materials, with human review prior to use.

Compared with many peers, several advisory representatives maintain concurrent broker‑dealer registration and insurance licenses, and the firm discloses that these roles can generate commission‑based compensation and related conflicts of interest that it seeks to manage. The firm also offers no‑cost educational seminars, recommends outside advisers while continuing to charge advisory fees on assets managed by those advisers, and its personnel hold trustee/director roles in investment entities, features that distinguish its business mix from many similarly sized advisory firms.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Educational seminars or workshops

Expertise

General retirement planning Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Annuities

Fee options

Fixed

Fixed financial planning fees ranging from $200 to $12,000 depending on complexity and scope

Percentage

$0 - $250,000: 1.25% annually $250,001 - $999,999: 1.00% annually $1,000,001 - $2,999,999: 0.90% annually $3,000,001+: 0.75% annually

Commissions

Commissions earned by certain representatives in their broker-dealer and insurance capacities; separate from advisory fees

Project-based

$65 to $400 per hour, depending on advisor experience and service nature; maximum $300/hour for Washington clients

Other

Fee-only: Fixed fees typically ranging from $200 to $12,000 for financial planning services; hourly fees range from $65 to $400 per hour (max $300/hour for Washington clients)

Main office location

DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services

2888 Loker Ave East, Suite 110

Carlsbad CA 92010, United States

Number of offices

Most active in

California · Connecticut · New York

Disclosures

Business activities & affiliations

Is active or affiliated with:

Insurance agent

They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.

Is not active or affiliated with:

Broker-dealer / trader

They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.

Bank

They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.

Trust company

They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.

Fund sponsor

They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.

Accountant / CPA / tax prep

They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.

Lawyer

They provide legal services, typically billed separately.

Real estate agent

They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.

Other specialized services

They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.

Forms ADV

Form ADV Part 2: Client Brochure Form ADV Part 3: Client Relationship

Quick links

Website (760) 433-4632

Advisors at this firm

Darlene M

Series 65

Carlsbad, CA

DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services

Darlene Maza is a financial advisor at DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services in Carlsbad, CA, holding a Series 65 credential with four years of industry experience. She has been with Seaside Advisory Services, Inc. since 2021 and with Seaside Advisory since 2016. Seaside Financial & Insurance Services primarily serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, businesses, charities, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and insurance placement, using investment strategies based on fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis.

General retirement planning Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Annuities

Cody L

Series 65

Greenwhich, CT

DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services

Cody Laidlaw is a financial advisor at DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Seaside Advisory Services, Inc. since 2021 and has been involved with Belpointe since 2013. Outside of advisory work, Laidlaw serves as Head of Investor Relations for Belpointe Real Estate Development, a private equity firm specializing in real estate development. Seaside Financial & Insurance Services primarily serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, businesses, charities, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting, using a combination of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis to inform its long-term and occasional short-term investment strategies.

General retirement planning Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Annuities

Shawn O

Series 63, Series 66

Carlsbad, CA

DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services

Shawn Orser is a financial advisor with Seaside Financial & Insurance Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Fortune Financial Services, Inc. since 2014 and with Seaside Advisory Services, Inc. since 2009. Orser serves as a trustee on the Board of Directors for Collaborative Investment Series Trust, overseeing mutual funds and fund managers according to their investment mandates. Seaside Financial & Insurance Services primarily serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, businesses, charities, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and insurance placement, using documented client objectives and a combination of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis in its investment approach.

General retirement planning Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Annuities

Alison F

Series 63, Series 65

Carlsbad, CA

DBA Seaside Financial & Insurance Services

Alison Farrin is a financial advisor with Seaside Financial & Insurance Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. She has worked at Fortune Financial Services, Inc. since 2014 and has been involved with Seaside Advisory and Innovative Pension Strategies, Inc. since 2011 and 1991, respectively. Farrin also conducts educational seminars to help 401(k) participants understand plan terminology and mechanics. Seaside Financial & Insurance Services serves primarily individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, businesses, charities, and trusts. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and insurance placement, employing long-term investment strategies documented in Investment Policy Statements.

General retirement planning Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Annuities

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