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Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

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Client assets under management

$812,718,595

Clients

588

32% high-net-worth

Advisors

9

of 11 employees

Firm type

Team

5-30 advisors or >$500M in AUM

Clients per advisor

65

Typical

Average account size

$1,382,174

About

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment adviser serving individuals (including high-net-worth clients), retirement plans, trusts, and other entities, managing roughly $836 million for about 588 clients through a team of nine advisors. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting and participant account management, and advice on fee-based annuities and other investment vehicles.

The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to implement client-directed investment objectives and offers strategies ranging from conservative fixed-income allocations to aggressive equity-focused portfolios; trading approaches include long- and short-term purchases, margin transactions, and option writing. FSA also provides retirement plan participant account management via a third‑party aggregation platform and delivers on-going reporting and periodic portfolio reviews.

What is distinctive about this advisor is its vertical integration: it operates a wholly owned broker‑dealer and licensed insurance agency, and several advisory personnel are registered representatives of that broker‑dealer, which executes PAM account trades and receives clearing and revenue-sharing arrangements. The firm’s use of derivatives and option-writing in managed accounts, its requirement that PAM accounts use the affiliated broker‑dealer, and the firm leadership’s substantial time spent in affiliated broker-dealer, insurance, and educational businesses are notable features relative to its peer group.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Selection of other advisers

Expertise

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy

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Fee options

Fixed

Fixed fees typically $1,500 to $5,000 (for financial planning and consulting)

Percentage

$0 - $500,000: 1.30% $500,001 - $1,500,000: 0.85% $1,500,001 - $2,500,000: 0.80% $2,500,001 - $3,500,000: 0.75% $3,500,001 - $5,000,000: 0.70% $5,000,001+: 0.60%

Project-based

$200 to $300 per hour (for financial planning and consulting)

Other

Account minimum: $50,000 to $250,000 (negotiable) Fee-only: Fixed fees: $1,500 to $5,000; Hourly fees: $200 to $300 per hour

Main office location

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

10920 Via Frontera, Suite 500

San Diego CA 92127, United States

Number of offices

1

Most active in

Alabama · Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

Christopher P

Series 66

Gilbert, AZ

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Christopher Puplava is a financial advisor with Financial Sense Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Puplava Securities, Inc. since 2016 and has operated Puplava Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. Puplava also participates in podcasts and writes occasional articles related to financial topics. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities, managing approximately $836 million across 588 clients with a team of nine advisors. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to support client-directed investment objectives and offers a range of strategies from conservative to aggressive, including option writing and margin transactions.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

James P

CFP®, Series 63

San Diego, CA

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

James Puplava is a CFP® with 44 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the founder of Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. and has held prior roles at Puplava Securities, Inc. and Puplava Financial Services, Inc. Puplava is also involved in media through Financialsense.com, where he participates in podcasts and writes articles. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $836 million for individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm employs a team of nine advisors and uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to provide discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting tailored to client-directed investment objectives.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Ryan P

Series 63, Series 66

San Diego, CA

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Ryan Puplava is a financial advisor with Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 27 years of industry experience. His work history includes a brief tenure at LPL Financial in 2016 and a long-standing association with Financial Sense Advisors and Financial Sense Securities since 1996. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment advisor serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities, managing approximately $836 million for about 588 clients. The firm employs a team of nine advisors and offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, using both fundamental and technical analysis to tailor strategies ranging from conservative fixed income to aggressive equity portfolios.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Robert B

Series 63

Jensen Beach, FL

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Robert Bernard is a financial advisor at Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. with 45 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Puplava Securities, Inc. and LPL Financial, LLC. Bernard contributes occasional articles and podcasts related to investment advisory topics. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities, managing approximately $836 million for about 588 clients through a team of nine advisors. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to implement a range of investment strategies, including discretionary portfolio management and retirement-plan consulting.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Nicholas K

Series 66

San Diego, CA

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Nicholas Kile is a financial advisor at Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Outback Steakhouse for nine years before joining Financial Sense Securities, Inc. in 2024. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $836 million for about 588 clients through a team of nine advisors. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities, offering discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting with strategies ranging from conservative fixed-income to aggressive equity-focused portfolios.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Xavier S

Series 66

San Diego, CA

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Xavier Stonehouse is a financial advisor at Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. in San Diego, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Financial Sense Securities, Inc. and LPL Financial, along with prior experience in education at Gonzaga University and St. Augustine High School. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $836 million across 588 clients through a team of nine advisors. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, implementing strategies that combine fundamental and technical analysis across a range of risk profiles.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

William P

Series 63, Series 66

Scottsdale, AZ

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

William Puplava is a financial advisor with Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 36 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Linsco/Private Ledger for 15 years and has operated Puplava Financial Services, Inc. and Puplava Securities Inc. since 2017. Puplava also serves as trustee for the William T. Puplava Family Trust. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $836 million for nearly 600 clients through a team of nine advisors. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities, employing a combination of fundamental and technical analysis in discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, with strategies ranging from fixed-income to aggressive equity portfolios.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Brendan M

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

San Diego, CA

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Brendan Mc Murtrie is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. He previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC and AXA Advisors, LLC. Brendan is based in San Diego, CA. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, and trusts, managing approximately $836 million for around 588 clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to tailor investment strategies that range from conservative fixed-income to aggressive equity portfolios, and also provides retirement-plan consulting and participant account management through a team of nine advisors.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Crystal C

CFP®, Series 66

San Diego, CA

Financial Sense Advisors, Inc.

Crystal Colbert is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor at Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. in San Diego, CA, with eight years of industry experience. She has worked primarily at Financial Sense Securities, Inc. since 2016. Financial Sense Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $836 million for about 588 clients through a team of nine advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to support client investment objectives and offers a range of strategies from conservative fixed-income to aggressive equity portfolios.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
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