Hood Financial

What Hood Financial does

Hood Financial, LLC is a solo-practitioner Registered Investment Advisor founded in 1986 by Michael D. Hood and headquartered at 10531 4S Commons Dr #714, San Diego, CA. The firm provides financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, and asset protection services to individuals in California, with primary segments being pre-retirees in the final 5-10 working years (accumulation phase), retirees in decumulation, multi-generational families, and second-opinion seekers who already have arrangements with other advisors. Hood Financial holds California investment adviser registration (CA Lic #0708399) and BBB accreditation, and the principal adviser carries the RICP, CLU, ChFC, AEP, and CASL designations with MDRT membership.

The firm operates a productized "Retirement Sherpa" methodology that segments services into three pillars: Map/Plan (goal-setting, retirement income projections, stress-testing), Gear/Portfolio Check (portfolio audit, insurance review, Social Security/Medicare optimization), and Sherpa Guide (ongoing guidance with quarterly reviews and rebalancing). The technology stack is composed entirely of third-party vendor integrations rather than proprietary infrastructure: Orion Advisor (via Simplicity Group/Simplicity Wealth) for portfolio management and client login, Riskalyze for risk tolerance quantification (producing a "risk number" and a Value at Risk score), RetirementAnalyzer for the 24/7 client portal, and CalcXML for interactive retirement calculators. Scheduling is handled through Calendly and Greminders. No proprietary technology, patents, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Hood Financial's revenue model is fee-based advisory revenue, most likely AUM-based given its RIA structure and Orion platform usage, supplemented by complexity-based fees for the standalone 2nd Opinion Service (which are credited toward implementation fees if the client engages the firm). Acquisition is driven by referrals from existing clients and professional networks, supported by a complimentary 90-minute consultation and a 15-minute Get Acquainted call. The firm does not publicly disclose pricing and reports no external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership.

Name

Hood Financial

Legal name

Hood Financial, LLC

Website

https://hoodfinancial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hood Financial is a solo-practitioner Registered Investment Advisor in San Diego that provides retirement planning, investment management, and financial planning services to California pre-retirees, retirees, and multi-generational families under a fiduciary "Retirement Sherpa" methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Financial Planning & Investment Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Planning & Goals-Based Advice (Mass Affluent) (FSAAAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retirement Planning & Long-Term Financial Planning Tools (FSAGADAI), Retirement & Pension Wealth (401(k)/IRA/SIPP/Superannuation Retail) (FSAAAAAJ)

Keywords

• Retirement planning services
• Investment advisory services
• Financial planning services
• Wealth management advisory
• Retirement income planning

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Services: Fee-based investment advisory services provided as a Registered Investment Advisor. Revenue is generated through advisory fees, likely assessed as a percentage of assets under management (AUM) given the investment management focus and Orion Advisor platform usage.
2. 2nd Opinion Service: Comprehensive review service covering retirement readiness, portfolio review, estate planning review, and tax review. Fees are based on the complexity of each individual situation. This service functions as both a standalone offering and a lead generation tool, as fees paid for the 2nd Opinion/Review Service are credited towards any future fees should the client engage the firm for implementation.
3. Financial Planning Services: Holistic financial planning services including retirement planning, investment management, insurance audits, estate planning, and tax planning. Provided as part of ongoing advisory relationships or as standalone planning engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hood Financial is a registered investment advisory firm that provides comprehensive retirement planning, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals and families. Its core offering is the "Retirement Sherpa Experience," a structured methodology that guides clients through accumulation (pre-retirement) and decumulation (retirement income) phases via Map/Plan, Gear/Portfolio Check, and Sherpa Guide services, supported by Orion Advisor portfolio management and Riskalyze risk assessment tools.

Product overview

Hood Financial is a registered investment advisor offering a unified retirement planning and wealth management platform centered on the 'Retirement Sherpa Experience' methodology. The core offering combines Accumulation Services (pre-retirement planning), Decumulation Services (retirement income planning), and 2nd Opinion Services (portfolio reviews) into an integrated approach. Supporting tools include Financial Calculators (savings, social security, need, inflation, taxability), Risk Assessment Tools powered by Riskalyze, Investment Management, and Insurance Services. The company operates with full independence, offering no proprietary products, and provides fiduciary advisory services with credentials including RICP, CLU, ChFC, AEP, and CASL designations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retirement Sherpa Experience A comprehensive retirement planning methodology framed via a mountain-climbing analogy, delivering Map/Plan (goal setting, retirement income projections, stress-testing), Gear/Portfolio Check (portfolio audit, insurance review, Social Security/Medicare optimization), and Sherpa Guide (ongoing guidance, 24/7 portal access, quarterly reviews, regular rebalancing) services for individuals navigating accumulation and decumulation phases of retirement.
• Accumulation Services Pre-retirement ("Ascent") planning services for individuals in their final 5-10 working years, focusing on budgeting, income protection through insurance, asset protection, investment strategy, and tax planning to maximize wealth accumulation before retirement.
• Decumulation Services Post-retirement ("Descent") income planning services covering income and tax planning, healthcare planning and long-term care, legacy planning, survivor-needs analysis, Social Security timing, pension distributions, annuity decisions, and withdrawal strategies for retirees in the drawdown phase.
• 2nd Opinion Service A comprehensive portfolio and financial plan review service covering retirement readiness review, portfolio review, estate planning review, and tax review, including a summary of findings with recommendations. Fees vary based on complexity and are credited toward future implementation fees if the client engages Hood Financial.
• Investment Management Fiduciary investment advisory services providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation, investment selection, and ongoing rebalancing aligned with each client's risk tolerance and retirement goals, executed through the Orion Advisor (Simplicity Wealth) platform.
• Insurance Services Insurance needs analysis and product recommendations for individuals and families, covering life insurance, health insurance, long-term care insurance, and annuity products as part of a comprehensive retirement planning strategy.
• Client Portal Access (RetirementAnalyzer) 24/7 online client portal via RetirementAnalyzer giving clients ongoing access to their financial plans, portfolio information, document vault, cash flow tracking, and budgeting tools in support of the firm's advisory relationships.
• Complimentary 90-Minute Consultation A no-cost introductory 90-minute strategy session for prospective clients covering financial concerns, retirement vision, common challenges, the firm's specific approach, and how Hood Financial can help navigate financial decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Majority of clients maintain 25+ year relationships with the firm
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NAEPC (National Association of Estate Planners & Councils)minorOthersProfessional affiliation with NAEPC, an organization focused on estate planning professionals. Membership demonstrates commitment to estate planning excellence and provides access to continuing education and professional development resources in the estate planning space.
• MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table)minorOthersMDRT is an elite international association of financial professionals recognized for outstanding production and ethical business practices. Membership represents top-tier achievement in the financial services industry and serves as a significant credibility marker for prospective clients.
• NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors)minorOthersProfessional association for insurance and financial advisors. Affiliation demonstrates commitment to the insurance and financial advisory profession and provides networking, advocacy, and professional development opportunities.
• Ethics.netminorOthersProfessional ethics platform providing resources and standards for ethical business conduct. Affiliation signals commitment to ethical practices in financial services.
• BYU Management SocietyminorOthersProfessional organization associated with BYU's Marriott School of Management. Affiliation reflects personal background and values alignment with the firm's 'Family First' philosophy.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau)minorOthersBBB Accredited Business status indicates the firm has been evaluated by the BBB and meets their standards for trustworthiness, honest advertising, and transparent business practices. CA Lic #1126-27001032.
• Simplicity Group / Simplicity WealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe firm uses Orion Advisor (powered by Simplicity Wealth/Simplicity Group) as its portfolio management platform, integrating with Orion for client login access. The firm's website was Built, Powered & Developed by Simplicity Group.
• RiskalyzecoreTechnology or IntegrationRiskalyze platform is used for client risk assessment, generating 'risk numbers' to quantify risk tolerance and align investments accordingly. The firm embeds Riskalyze tools on their website for prospect engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Charles Schwab Advisor Services: Custodian and platform provider behind Hood Financial's Orion Advisor integration. Functions as an enabling infrastructure provider rather than a direct competitor, but its Schwab Intelligent Portfolios robo-advice offering competes for the same pre-retiree demographic.

Regional players

• Halbert Hargrove: Long-established California-based RIA providing comprehensive wealth management and retirement planning to individuals and families. Closely comparable in fiduciary model, longevity (decades in business), and West Coast client base, though with broader HNW focus.

Emerging players

• Facet Wealth: Digital-first RIA delivering flat-fee financial planning and investment advice to mass-affluent clients remotely. Comparable target demographic and fiduciary model, but competes on price and digital convenience rather than high-touch in-person relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Fisher Investments: Large RIA primarily serving high-net-worth and mass-affluent investors with portfolio management and retirement planning. Overlaps with Hood Financial on fee-based investment advisory services for retirement-age clients, though focused more on discretionary portfolio management.
• Edelman Financial Engines: One of the largest independent RIAs in the U.S., offering retirement planning, investment management, and financial planning to mass-affluent individuals. Overlaps with Hood Financial on retirement-focused fiduciary advice but at vastly greater scale and brand recognition.
• Raymond James Financial Planning: Diversified financial services firm with a large financial planning and wealth management division serving retirees and pre-retirees. Overlaps on retirement and investment advisory services, though a broker-dealer model with proprietary product potential — opposite fiduciary posture from Hood.

Direct peers

• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Fiduciary-focused RIA offering goals-based financial planning and investment management to mass-affluent and pre-retiree clients. Comparable in fiduciary-first positioning, evidence-based investing approach, and retirement-planning emphasis.
• Carson Wealth: RIA and wealth management firm focused on retirement income planning and holistic financial advice for individuals approaching or in retirement. Comparable in retirement-income specialization, fiduciary positioning, and goals-based planning framework.
• Mercer Advisors: National RIA specializing in retirement and wealth planning for mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. Directly comparable to Hood Financial in fiduciary model, retirement-focused planning methodology, and fee-based AUM revenue, but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Creative Planning: Large independent RIA providing comprehensive wealth management, retirement, tax, and estate planning for individuals and families. Comparable in fiduciary, fee-based model with broad financial planning offering, though operating at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hoodfinancial86

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hood Financial