Sonoma Wealth - Financial Advisory Firm in Sonoma, CA

Q: What services do you provide? What are your specialties?

We provide: -Comprehensive financial planning -Investment management and portfolio construction -Retirement planning -Tax planning coordination with CPAs -Estate planning coordination with estate attorneys -Risk management and insurance analysis -Business succession planning -Employer retirement plan design We provide a holistic, fiduciary approach to your entire financial picture including stocks, real estate and asset protection. We address the impact of taxes on asset performance with tax planning and our tax aware investment strategies. Our true specialty is our grounded, education-first approach to working with clients, always working in their best interest.

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Financial Advisor

California

Sonoma

VETTED

Tel: 707-343-9508 539 Broadway Sonoma, CA 95476

Live Your Legacy

About Sonoma Wealth

At Sonoma Wealth, we pride ourselves on working as hard for you as you have for yourself. We invest our energy in our clients just as they invest with us. We provide our clients a holistic approach to finance, including: financial planning, asset management, tax planning and asset protection. Our approach is coaching-focused and down-to-earth. We enjoy a collaborative, and even fun environment together, to work toward your financial goals.

See Disclosures

Our Team

Daren Blonski

CFP^®,AIF^®, CEPA^®

Daren Blonski

CFP^®,AIF^®, CEPA^®

Daren Blonski, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® is the Co-founder and Managing Principal of Sonoma Wealth Advisors. He is a learner, educator, entrepreneur, and life coach. With Bachelors in Sociology from UC Davis and Masters in Psychology from Sonoma State University, he is deeply connected to helping clients take their lives to the next level. His clients see him as an educator and coach, operating in the realm of financial planning.

Working with clients across the life-stage spectrum, he has particular interest in assisting entrepreneurs looking to soak up life and maximize their fulfillment. He is an advocate of Dave Ramsey’s approach to organizing and prioritizing finances.

A life-long learner, Daren is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary™, a Certified Retirement Planner Specialist™, a Certified Retirement Planning Counselor™, an Accredited Asset Management Specialist™, a SmartVestor Pro™ with Dave Ramsey, and a Certified Exit Planning advisor for those selling their business. He is deeply committed to the pursuit of knowledge, because he knows it will help his clients best.

Multi-dimensional in his interests, he facilitates leadership training with non-profits, particularly those in Sonoma Valley. He has worked extensively internationally with the curriculum based on The Leadership Challenge framework. As an avid reader, he constantly explores new ideas and themes to incorporate into his life, including titles such as On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers and Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better by Lyn Alden.

In 2023, Daren took his love of books to the next level and became an an author himself!

Clarity: A Leadership Succession Tale tells a fictionalized-version of a financial firm in freefall, and the lessons in leadership required to get it back on track. Available on Amazon in 3 print formats, and on Audible in audiobook format with exclusive author discussion segments in-between chapters.
His non-fiction book Broken Dealer, co-authored with fellow advisor Carmine Corino, examines the questionable motives of broker-dealer financial firms and his journey to becoming a fiduciary. Available on Amazon in 3 print formats.

Born and raised in Sonoma County, Daren's downtime is always outside. If there is a race to run, a weight to lift or a mountain to climb, Daren is all in. He spends his spare time pursuing his physical and mental agility through various outdoor and physical health-related activities.

Of all his certifications, he considers his most important to be Dad to Brooklyn, Bryton, and Brady, and Husband to Shae.

Chris Sipes

CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®, NSSA®

Chris Sipes

CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®, NSSA®

Chris brings over 13 years of experience in the financial industry to Sonoma Wealth Advisors. As a co-founder of Sonoma Wealth Advisors, he operates as the Chief Compliance and Investment Officer. Chris is passionate about investing and is continuously exploring proven strategies and techniques to assist clients in reaching their financial goals.

Chris is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ (AIF®), a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and a National Social Security Advisor™ (NSSA®). With these certifications, he's ready to help your family plan for today, tomorrow and beyond!

Chris previously worked for a large national bank serving business owners and high net worth individuals. During that time, he developed a reputation as a trusted partner for his many long-term clients. He began his career in 2006 with a large, family-owned commercial insurance agency, working with business owners to identify their risks and secure customized coverage from a wide range of insurance companies.

Chris relocated from Ohio to California in 2008 to seek sun and adventure in the West. As an avid reader, Chris enjoys the stories and the personalities behind the numbers. He understands that the best plan won’t work if it’s not a plan that will work for you, and that the decisions you face can be approached thoughtfully and strategically. Chris believes the best advice is the advice you’ll implement and see through life’s inevitable ups and downs.

Chris and his wife, Sandra, have 3 daughters and a son. He’s a graduate of The Ohio State University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with his family.

Clay Dunke

CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®, NSSA®

Clay Dunke

CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®, NSSA®

Clay was born and raised in Sonoma about a mile from our home office. Having grown up here playing baseball, basketball, and soccer, he has gotten to know many of the local families that make our town so special. Now, as a financial advisor and a youth baseball coach, he is strengthening those relationships and building many new ones.

Clay’s interest in investing began in his early teens when his grandmother gave him The Warren Buffett Book of Investing Wisdom by Robert L. Bloch. He became enamored with the investing legend’s life story and investing style. This experience began his endless love of education and all things investing.

Clay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ (AIF®), a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and a National Social Security Advisor™ (NSSA®). With these certifications, he's ready to help your family plan for today, tomorrow and beyond!

When he’s not hard at work, Clay is somewhere outside with his friends and family, exercising, playing golf, camping, adventuring the globe, or at a baseball tournament.

Shelby Wirick

AIF®

Shelby Wirick

AIF®

Shelby has enjoyed a dynamic career in finance and corporate executive management, encompassing over a decade of service with internationally renowned Fortune 500 companies. In that time, Shelby has developed an affinity for leadership and talent development, helping her co-workers maximize their full professional potential. Shelby is passionate about helping people find their talents, opportunities and obstacles. She brings this focus to her clients at Sonoma Wealth Advisors, walking beside them as they achieve their business, financial, and retirement goals.

Shelby was born and raised in San Diego, but fell in love with Sonoma at first sight. Shelby attended Sonoma State University, earned a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Spanish Language Studies, and holds numerous professional certifications and accreditations. Shelby is active in the Sonoma community - residing only three short blocks from our home office - and is a member of a centennial Sonoma County ranching family.

Outside the office, you can find Shelby volunteering at her church, traveling, and or enjoying the delights of Sonoma County with her husband, two children, and two black labs.

Gaetano Bettinelli, MBA

Gaetano was born and raised in Napa Valley, where his family resided for five generations. Growing up in the small community of Saint Helena taught him many life lessons, including hard work, loyalty, staying true to your word, and handling all situations with integrity.

Gaetano has always felt called to serve others, which led him to serve his country in the Armed Forces. He attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps, where he served for eight years. Today, he is dedicated to leveraging his passion, energy, and expertise to help others achieve their personal financial goals.

Gaetano knows that successful outcomes are rarely the result of a single individual’s effort. His individual “highlight reel” moments, including playing college football, completing multiple marathons and double marathons, running an Ironman Triathlon, going on numerous military deployments, and finishing his master's in business administration, support his two life pillars. First, success starts with a well-thought-out and intentional plan. Anything is possible when you dedicate yourself to a series of small, intentional steps that build on one another. Second, no accomplishment is achieved in isolation. Experts, mentors, coaches, and advisors (including financial advisors) who truly have your best interests at heart significantly increase your probability of success.

Gaetano holds a Series 65 securities license with Sonoma Wealth Advisors, a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the United States Naval Academy, and a master's in business administration with a focus on finance from the University of California, Davis.

Gaetano lives in Napa with his wife and three children. He is blessed to live close to family, including his parents, siblings, and many nieces and nephews. When he is not working or with his family, he enjoys volunteering at church, hiking in the mountains, or planning his next outdoor adventure.

General Information

Firm Start Year:

2019

No. of Employees:

20-49 Employees

Name of Custodial Firm:

Charles Schwab

States Licensed in:

Communities served:

Our roots and many of our clients are in the North Bay Area including Napa County, Marin County and our home base in Sonoma County. Thanks to technology, we can also easily serve clients across California and the United States through virtual meetings.

Work with the following types of clients:

Businesses, Individual Investors, Families

Advisory Services Provided:

Investment Advice & Management, Financial Advice & Consulting, Financial Planning, Portfolio Management, Retirement Planning, 401K Rollovers, Wealth Management, Money Management, Education Funding and Planning, Financial Planning for Individuals, Financial Planning for Businesses, Tax Advice and Services, Risk Management

Services

Investment Types:

Mutual Funds, Options & Futures, Bonds, Stocks, Annuities, Commodities, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Alternative Investments

I provide a free initial consultation:

Yes

Preferred meeting methods

Can meet clients in the following ways:

Email, Video Conference, Our Offices, Phone

Compensation and Fees

Fee Structure:

Fee-Based

Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts:

$1m+

Compensation Methods:

Based on Assets, Flat Fee

Firm Information

Assets Managed by Firm:

$1 Billion

Financial Planning for Individuals

Our personal financial planning process delivers a customized, forward-looking roadmap for you and your family. We take a deep dive into your unique financial life including budgeting, retirement goals, tax-aware strategy coordination with your CPA, and major life transitions to provide comprehensive financial guidance that puts you on a definitive path to toward your financial goals.

Portfolio Management

At Sonoma Wealth Advisors, our fiduciary portfolio management services focus on building long-term, tax-efficient wealth. Guided by a credentialed team of financial advisors in Sonoma County, we handle the heavy lifting of asset allocation, portfolio rebalancing, and market tracking to ensure your investments directly align with your broader financial plan. We utilize a risk-analysis framework to design diversified portfolios built around your specific risk tolerance, timeline, and long-term capital goals.

Retirement Planning

Chart your future with comprehensive retirement planning services designed to provide clarity and confidence. Our retirement planners in Northern California look at your entire financial picture to map out a clear strategy to achieve your goals. From maximizing retirement contributions to calculating future income needs, our team walks you through every scenario so you can transition into retirement seamlessly.

Wealth Management

Our comprehensive wealth management services integrate investment management, forward-looking tax coordination, and estate planning support into one cohesive strategy. We partner closely with individuals, families, and professionals across Northern California to grow, preserve, and protect their generational wealth. Because we are a fee-based firm, our wealth advisors offer objective, transparent advice tailored strictly to your personal financial milestones.

401K Rollovers

At Sonoma Wealth Advisors, we treat a 401(k) rollover as one part of your broader financial picture, not a one-size-fits-all transaction. As a fee-based, SEC-registered fiduciary firm with Certified Financial Planner® professionals and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designees on staff, we walk you through the options available when you leave an employer or reassess an old plan including staying in your former employer's plan, moving assets to a new employer's plan, rolling over to an IRA, or, in limited cases, taking a distribution and we weigh the differences in fees, investment options, creditor protections, and tax treatment before making a recommendation. Because a rollover recommendation is a fiduciary decision, we evaluate your specific plan documents, retirement timeline, and overall financial plan rather than defaulting to a single outcome. We also coordinate directly with plan administrators and custodians to help the process run smoothly and reduce the risk of costly errors, such as missing the 60-day rollover window or triggering unnecessary tax withholding. Please note that, like many advisory firms, we may have a financial incentive when a rollover results in assets being managed under our advisory fee, and we disclose this conflict as part of our standard relationship disclosures. Individual results and recommendations vary based on your specific circumstances, and nothing here should be read as investment, tax, or legal advice if you're considering a 401(k) rollover, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us to review your plan and goals before making a decision.

Financial Planning for Businesses

For business owners, we treat the business itself as one of your largest financial assets, and we plan for it accordingly integrating your company's value, cash flow, and ownership structure into your overall financial picture rather than addressing it in isolation. With Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA®) on staff, we help you think through what "life after the business" looks like well before a sale or transition is imminent, using a structured framework that looks at maximizing business value, your personal financial readiness, and your post-exit plans together rather than as separate problems to solve later. Whether you're building toward a future sale, transferring ownership to family or key employees, or simply want your business and personal finances working in sync today, we help you map out the timeline and the tradeoffs involved. Business valuations, tax outcomes, and deal terms depend on many factors outside our control, and we typically work alongside your attorney, CPA, and other specialists on the technical execution of a sale or succession our role is to help ensure the business decision fits the life and financial plan you actually want.

Tax Advice and Services

Every investment and planning decision has tax consequences, so tax planning runs through everything we do rather than an April document collection exercise. Our advisors analyze your current situation using a tech-backed tax return analysis to identify opportunities like tax-loss harvesting, efficient sequencing of retirement account withdrawals, and charitable giving strategies, then help you plot out future moves in light of the ever-changing tax code. We look at the types of accounts you hold, the investments inside them, and the timing of distributions, since small adjustments in any of those areas can meaningfully change how much you keep versus how much you owe.

Education Funding and Planning

Saving for a child's or grandchild's education is rarely a standalone goal it has to compete with retirement savings, mortgage payments, and everything else on your balance sheet, so we build an education funding strategy that fits within your full financial picture rather than treating it in isolation. We help you estimate future education costs, evaluate savings vehicles such as 529 plans, ESAs, and custodial accounts, and structure a contribution schedule that reflects your timeline, tax situation, and other priorities, since features like state tax benefits, contribution limits, and qualified-expense rules vary by plan and by state.

Investment Advice & Management

Investment advice and management sits at the center of what we do every other plan we build, from retirement to education funding to business transition, ultimately gets implemented through the accounts we manage for you. We provide ongoing, continuous management and supervision of your investments across IRAs, brokerage accounts, trust accounts, and employer retirement accounts. Once we understand your financial objectives, we typically manage your portfolio on a discretionary basis, meaning we can place trades and rebalance without contacting you for every transaction, while keeping you informed through regular check-ins and reporting. Your assets remain held at an independent, qualified custodian rather than with our firm directly, our advisory fees are disclosed upfront and billed transparently. As with any investment strategy, there is no guarantee of profit or protection against loss, and the specific approach we recommend depends entirely on your individual goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Risk Management

Risk management is about protecting the plan we build together from the events that could otherwise derail it the loss of a paycheck, a serious illness, a premature death, or a liability claim that outpaces available assets. We review your existing coverage alongside your overall financial picture and identify where life, disability, long-term care, or property and liability insurance could shore up gaps in your plan, treating these tools as protection against critical events rather than as investments in their own right. Any insurance-related guidance is provided in the context of your specific goals and existing coverage, and is subject to the underwriting and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company; insurance products are not FDIC insured and are not guaranteed by our firm.

Money Management

At Sonoma Wealth Advisors, we manage your portfolio with the mindset of a fiduciary- in your best interest, alongside you and your family and built around your goals rather than a generic model. We start by understanding your risk tolerance and time horizon, then apply a factor-based, tax-efficient asset allocation strategy for the long term with your accounts held at an independent, qualified custodian and every trade made at your direction within the plan we build together. We weigh each investment decision against your broader financial picture, including taxes and other assets, rather than managing anything in isolation.

What services do you provide? What are your specialties?

Disclosures

WiserAdvisor provides referrals to financial professionals. WiserAdvisor is not a current client of advisor or advisory services. Financial professionals pay cash compensation for these referrals, which creates the incentive for WiserAdvisor to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest.

Additional Detailed Disclosures

https://www.wiseradvisor.com/disclosure/1893798/wiseradvisor-sonoma-wealth-detailed-disclosure.html

Disclaimer

Investment advisory services provided by Fermata Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor d/b/a Sonoma Wealth Advisors. This profile is a paid advertisement. Sonoma Wealth Advisors pays a fee to be listed on wiseradvisor.com, paladinregistry.com, retirementplanning.net, financialadvisor.net, financialplanners.net and rothira.org. Wiseradvisor.com, paladinregistry.com, retirementplanning.net, financialadvisor.net, financialplanners.net and rothira.org do not endorse or recommend Sonoma Wealth Advisors, and a firm's inclusion on the platform should not be construed as an endorsement or an indication of the quality of its advisory services. Additional information about Sonoma Wealth Advisors, including Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS, is available at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Firm CRD# 305614

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Tuesday9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Wednesday9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Thursday9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Friday9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Awards & Recognitions

FA Mag America's Top RIAs 2025(09/27/2026)

We are proud to announce that for the 2nd time this summer, our firm has received a national recognition for financial services. Sonoma Wealth has been named a Top RIA in 2025 by Financial Advisor Magazine. FA Mag is on the forefront of financial services, tracking trends and developments across the United States. The award, based on scale, growth and professionalism, is a yet another testament to the hard work and service we feel weâre providing our clients every day. "A firm doesn't grow if the clients feel they're under-served,â Managing Principal Chris Sipes said. âIt is a genuine honor to know that we're helping so many individuals and families.â âWe started with 1 office in Sonoma,â said Managing Principal Daren Blonski. âA few years later we have 4 locations to serve our clients from Auburn to Marin. We are grateful to all of our great clients for being on this journey together.â With great gratitude we accept this recognition, and look forward to a bright future for our firm.

AdvisorHub Advisors To Watch RIAs 2025(07/24/2025)

We are proud to announce that our firm, Sonoma Wealth, has once again been named an RIA To Watch in 2025 by Advisor Hub. AdvisorHub is a prominent financial services news and media company, tracking trends in the industry across the United States. The award, based on scale, growth and professionalism, is a testament to the hard work and service we feel weâre providing our clients every day. "Iâm not really a trophies on the shelf kinda guy,â Managing Principal Daren Blonski said when asked. âBut awards like these are an honor to receive and are a greenlight that what weâre doing is heading in the right direction.â With a chuckle he said âI might put it in my email sig.â âClient service is first on our list,â said Managing Principal Chris Sipes. âEvery day a client is with your firm, theyâre choosing to be with your firm. We take that responsibility seriously.â With great gratitude we accept this recognition, and look forward to a bright future for our firm.

Financial Advisor 2024 America's Top RIA's(07/16/2024)

Financial Advisor (FA) Magazineâs annual RIA Survey & Ranking evaluates and ranks independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) based on their assets under management (AUM). It is a widely recognized, voluntary benchmarking tool in the wealth management industry that ranks eligible firms from largest to smallest. Firms are primarily ranked by their year-end AUM, but the survey also evaluates year-over-year asset growth and growth in assets per client.

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