Ryan A. Hughes, MBA

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Bull Oak Financial Advisors Ryan A. Hughes, MBA
Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Serving Clients Nationwide

We help you do more with what you've earned. Fee-Only. Fiduciary.

30 Certified Advisor Reviews™
5 out of 5 Stars
Jump to Reviews

Areas of Focus

  • Financial Planning
  • High Net Worth Retirement Planning
  • Investment Management
  • Legacy Planning
  • Retirement Income Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Roth Conversion Strategies
  • Tax-Efficient Planning
  • Wealth Management

About Ryan A. Hughes, MBA

Bull Oak Financial Advisors is a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor in San Diego, helping high-net-worth individuals and families navigate the transition into retirement through integrated financial planning, investment management, and tax planning.

Since launching the firm in 2014, I've been named to InvestmentNews' 40 Under 40, and Bull Oak has been recognized by Wealth Management magazine as one of the fastest-growing firms in the industry.

I built the firm I would want to hire myself: independent, pragmatic, and data-driven, designed to simplify the most complex parts of clients' financial lives. I bring experience from both the institutional and private-wealth sides of the industry, including equity research at Wedbush Securities and advisory roles at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Charles Schwab. I am also a proud U.S. Navy veteran, having completed two deployments to the Persian Gulf as a member of the VBSS team aboard the USS Jarrett.

I earned my MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where I was a GAP Fellow, served as Chief Investment Officer of the Anderson Student Asset Management program, and received the J. Fred Weston Award for excellence in finance.

I was born and raised by my grandparents in Pueblo, CO. After graduating from high school in 2000, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Jarrett, completing two deployments to the Persian Gulf as a member of the ship's Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team, conducting high-risk maritime boarding operations. After separating from the Navy, I attended the University of Southern California, where I studied business and entrepreneurship and came of age during the Pete Carroll era, a time when USC football was unavoidable, and optimism still existed in the financial system.

My first job after graduation in 2008 was at Merrill Lynch, just as the Global Financial Crisis was unfolding. I later worked at Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, and Wedbush Securities long enough to know that while finance was the right field, the Wall Street culture wasn't. In 2012, I left the industry to pursue an MBA at UCLA Anderson, where I immersed myself in academic finance and portfolio construction. The result was Bull Oak, founded in 2014 to build the kind of independent, fiduciary firm I would want to hire myself: thoughtful, disciplined, and free of the conventional Wall Street vibe.

I live in the Del Sur community of San Diego with my wife and our two children. When I'm not working, you'll usually find me juggling youth sports schedules, keeping up with USC football, or trying (and failing) to convince my family that my music playlists are still relevant.

Professional Designations

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Affiliations

  • Fee Only Network

Primary Location

16236 San Dieguito Rd, Ste 4-21, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091

Video

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • Flat Fee
  • Percentage of Assets Managed

What to expect in the first meeting

Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a 45-min introductory conversation with our Head of Advice, Peter Campbell, CFP®, to see if working with us makes sense. We’ll walk through your priorities, explain our approach, and outline what the next steps would be. We look forward to speaking with you.

Offers Investment Management

Yes

About Bull Oak Financial Advisors

Bull Oak Financial Advisors is a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisory firm founded in 2014 and based in Rancho Santa Fe, California, serving clients in San Diego and nationwide.

Who We Serve

We work best with near retirees and current retirees looking to delegate their ongoing financial planning and investing needs. You’ve achieved great things and are too busy to manage the complexity of your finances. You also understand the benefit of an experienced human advisor.

Most importantly, genuinely nice people. We value kindness and mutual respect.

Our Services

Bull Oak is an all-in-one financial partner that brings together financial planning, investment management, and tax strategy. Being successful with money is about pragmatism. We help you separate emotion from reality and keep you on track with your financial goals so you can enjoy your money stress-free. Our team takes the time to carefully understand your needs so we can construct a thoughtful plan to help you retire as soon as possible and spend more time doing what you love most.

Transparent Pricing

Our fee structure is designed to be simple and transparent, with no commissions, hidden fees, or product sales. Services begin with a flat annual fee, plus a separate asset-based management fee for clients who also engage us for portfolio management. Together, these fees cover financial planning, investment management, and tax planning.

Investment advisory services are provided through Bull Oak Capital, LLC, which is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Education

UCLA Anderson School of Management, Master of Business Administration | University of Southern California, Bachelor's Degree

Hobbies and Interests

  • Family
  • Football
  • Music

Who We Serve

  • Dual Income Family
  • Families
  • Gen X
  • Gen Y / Millennials
  • High Net Worth
  • Individuals
  • Living in Retirement

Wealthtender® is a trusted, independent financial directory and educational resource governed by our strict Editorial Policy, Integrity Standards, and Terms of Use. While we receive compensation from featured professionals (a natural conflict of interest), we always operate with integrity and transparency to earn your trust. Wealthtender is not a client of these providers. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.

Write a Review


By clicking submit, you acknowledge this review is based on your own experience and reflects your genuine opinion. You also agree to our review policy, privacy policy, and terms and conditions, and give this financial advisor permission to publicly display your review on their website.

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 4, 2026
We have worked with Peter for about a decade..! Him and the team at bulloak are fantastic, have a rational approach to money and take the time to explain their methodology and educate their clients. Its not purely transactional. We have also referred multiple friends to them and we all couldn't be happier with the bulloak team. I would highly recommend getting in touch for your financial planning needs.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 4, 2026
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Sean Essex
Sean Essex

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 12, 2025
After extensive research on retirement planning and interviewing multiple financial planners, we hit the jackpot with Bull Oak. We were deeply impressed with the 2 hour strategy meeting which mapped out our finances and goals. As an example of the level of care you will receive: our portfolio includes an investment in a QOZ (Qualified Opportunity Zone) which is not common and is fairly complicated. This type of investment was new to all the financial planners we interviewed, including Bull Oak. However, only Bull Oak wanted to learn more about it and they arranged a conference call with the holding company to better understand the details and limitations around the invesment. From the start, both Peter and Michael asked all the right questions and were deeply invested in fully understanding our entire financial picture. As a result, they have charted a course for us that aligns with our retirement vision and allows us to sleep at night. I highly recommend Bull Oak for their excellent personalized service.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Mar 12, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Karen
Karen

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jan 16, 2025
The team at Bull Oak truly goes above and beyond when assisting their clients. After my parents passed it was clear the advisor they had used was unorganized, noncommunicative, and ultimately unhelpful. Bull Oak was the exact opposite experience- they took great effort to locate all assets and details for multiple accounts, including a few that were complicated to say the least. We now have clear vision into all information, have completely reorganized and relocated all accounts, and ultimately feel very comfortable with where we stand financially. We will rely on Bull Oak for all future financial advice and could not be more relieved to have found them.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jan 16, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Erin Kearney
Erin Kearney

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 13, 2024
We’ve had an excellent experience with Peter and his team. They take a personal interest in our family’s financial goals and have provided clear and actionable plans for both our savings and investments. Thanks to their advice, our savings and investments are well-structured, and we feel secure about our future.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Matt Bergin
Matt Bergin

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 20, 2024
We have been clients of Bull Oak Capital now for 5 years at least. They have been amazing and way surpassed my expectations, which had already been quite high. Ryan, Peter and the team offer exemplary service and attention to detail. Between the financial planning, advice, regular updates, podcasts, YouTube channel and even the yearly Christmas Gift, we are very happy we went with this company. You won’t regret it should you choose them also.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 20, 2024
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Noel Heraty
Noel Heraty

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Feb 11, 2024
Ryan, Peter, and the team at Bull Oak are not only skilled advisors, they are thoughtful as well. Often the first thing that comes to mind when looking for an advisor is managing investments. Bull Oak does this of course--their philosophy is logical and evidence-based. But they were clear early in our partnership that they wanted to bring value through other avenues: tax planning and efficient financial planning, for example. They have done this while also factoring in our goals and values. They are also a delight to work with. We highly recommend Bull Oak Capital.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Maggie Loveland
Maggie Loveland

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Dec 2, 2023
About 5 years back we started looking for a fiduciary financial advisor and found that Bull Oak had the best reviews in San Diego. I consulted with Ryan then and found out details of the services they offer but our portfolio didn’t meet their minimum requirements then. Ryan however was extremely helpful and I continued to subscribe to the firms newsletter to get generic macroeconomic insights and also understand their approach.Along the way we tried some other financial advisors from Ameriprise who were absolutely useless. They confirmed being fiduciaries but just sold us Ameriprise products and had us create accounts with no personalized guidance of any sort.We were recently able to qualify for Bull Oak’s minimum and have been able to avail of their services. Peter from Ryan’s team has been managing our portfolio and has been amazingly helpful. They study your situation in depth, understand your goals well and provide advice that sets you up for long term success. When you consult with them you can tell they put in a lot of time in creating a targeted plan and don’t just provide templatized financial advice. We are very happy with what we’ve seen so far and look forward to quantify returns on the offered guidance.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Dec 2, 2023
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Vinit Samel
Vinit Samel

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 11, 2023
The Bull Oak team has been great; the only regret I have is not signing on with them sooner... I love the methodical approach and the focus on minimizing costs and maximizing returns at scale, as well as the detailed approach Ryan, Peter and team take to financial planning specifically. I also love how the firm uses modern planning tools to stay connected with me at all times! I already recommended Bull Oak to a few of my friends and colleagues.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Sep 11, 2023
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Dmitriy Bromberg
Dmitriy Bromberg

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jan 3, 2023
Alyssa was very prompt and quick to respond, kindly and with great patience!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jan 3, 2023
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Lisa Davis
Lisa Davis

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Dec 12, 2022
I sought out a financial advisor looking for someone who was a fiduciary and used an AUM fee. From the first moment I chatted with Peter, I felt like I was speaking to someone I could trust. He demonstrated being thorough, respectful, kind and extremely transparent in each of our interactions, and I was immediately impressed. I had many questions finding myself in unfamiliar waters and new to investment. Peter never made me feel like I was trouble and always thoroughly answered questions and not just answered them but made sure I understood. I've been with Bull Oak for about 3 months now though I started chatting with them a couple months prior to that. I'm very happy and feel like I really lucked out in finding an honest and ethical financial advisor to do business with. Highly recommend.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Stephanie McManus
Stephanie McManus

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 14, 2022
If you’re looking for an honest, credible and hardworking financial manager or investment management firm, Bull Oak Capital should be number one on your list.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Nov 14, 2022
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Curtis Van Kummer
Curtis Van Kummer

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 6, 2022
My husband and I recently reached the most rewarding years of our lives - RETIREMENT! Upon achieving this milestone, our top priority was to find a fiduciary firm that can help us consolidate/manage our assets and provide financial stability/planning not only for our new chapter in life but also for our children’s (and grandchildren’s) future.As detail-oriented individuals, we spent a lot of time researching and interviewing financial advisors and fiduciary firms to find the perfect fit for us. It was a daunting task! But we are happy to say that … hands down, Bull Oak Capital stood out among our choices. From the get-go, Ryan earned our trust, confidence and respect! He is honest, patient, responsible, organized, responsive, sharp, and has a modern approach to financial planning (versus old school perspective) which we were seeking.Even though we’ve only been with Bull Oak Capital for a few months (we had previously managed our own finances & investments), we are very pleased with their services thus far. Ryan and his team (Peter and Alyssa) made our transition seamless and easy. They handled our retirement rollovers efficiently by completing all required forms for us, answering questions instantaneously, participating in 3-way calls to our 401K holding companies to ensure smooth conversions, and meeting with us via Zoom to review strategies and visions to maximize our financial strength and growth. Just recently, they mapped out for us several scenarios on retirement paths we want to pursue. The documents they prepared were detailed and thorough highlighting each scenario’s projected results and recommendations as well as retirement income, gifting ideas, estate planning, insurance and tax strategies.In summary, Bull Oak Capital has given us peace of mind - we feel confident that we are in good “financial” hands with them. Thank you Ryan, Peter and Alyssa for your exceptional financial expertise and work ethics. We can now truly enjoy our retirement to the fullest and rest assured that our children’s future will be strong, steadfast and protected.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 6, 2022
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Patty Chang
Patty Chang

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 2, 2021
The most difficult part for me in my journey of finding the right financial advisor was trust. After about a half a year of meeting with several different types of financial advisors, once I met Ryan, I immediately knew I was going to stay with him. Ryan is a professional in his field and you can expect great communication and transparency. Ryan will take his time to explain any questions or concerns that you might have as a client. My experience and results with him have been amazing.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Marco Lujan
Marco Lujan

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jun 24, 2021
Highly recommend Ryan and his team. They have surpassed my expectations in what to expect from a financial advisor. Ryan is transparent, communicative, and responsive. He has spent so much time answering my questions, explaining market trends, and mapping out a financial plan to help me understand what's realistic and how different decisions may put me on different trajectories. He also sends out regular newsletters with his thoughts on the economy and how to think about different market changes, which I love. Really happy with Ryan and his team and feel much more secure with my financial future.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jun 24, 2021
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Alexandra Jones
Alexandra Jones

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Feb 26, 2021
When my husband passed away last summer, I felt not only the pain of losing my life partner, but the concern and uncertainty of how I was going to handle my new financial situation, remain self=sufficient, and plan for the future.A friend referred me to Ryan, praising his professionalism and competence. Although in the midst of the COVID pandemic, Ryan sensed my anxiety and offered to meet with me in person. Both he and his assistant, Alyssa, provided not only the financial expertise and guidance which I needed; but were exceptionally kind and supportive during each of our sessions, as well as during the many phone conversations along the way.I feel Ryan truly cares about his clients. He elicits and listens to your ideas, openly shares his knowledge and foresight, and seems to genuinely enjoy helping someone plan and secure their financial stability.I am so grateful to be working with this dedicated and awesome team!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Feb 26, 2021
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Patricia Rodgers
Patricia Rodgers

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Dec 9, 2020
Ryan is an experienced and diligent investment planner. We’re extremely happy working with Ryan and highly recommend anyone looking for financial planning to check him out.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Dec 9, 2020
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Mark
Mark

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jun 21, 2020
Ryan and his team provide world class financial advice on a very personal level. We chose Bull Oak because it is local to San Diego, and we did not want to deal with one of the large, impersonal firms to advise us on our investments and plan for retirement. We could not be happier with the service and we highly recommend Bull Oak Capital.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jun 21, 2020
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Jill Schafer
Jill Schafer

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Feb 16, 2020
We interviewed multiple financial advisors and are very happy with our decision to work with Ryan and Bull Oak Capital. We have had 2 meetings now and Ryan has gone above and beyond with the personalized service, being transparent and very knowledgeable in both the financial planning and portfolio management areas. We are already seeing a difference in our investments and we look forward to a very long and productive relationship with Bull Oak Capital.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Feb 16, 2020
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Kally Dhillon
Kally Dhillon

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jan 2, 2020
I recommend Ryan for anyone looking for an honest financial advisor. He took his time to customize a plan for me...it was not cookie cutter and he was willing to listen to what I needed (or maybe I should say help me figure out what I needed) and then helped put variations of the plausible plans on paper for me to decide which I should use...I learned a lot during meetings with him.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for S. J. Shahangian
S. J. Shahangian

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 10, 2019
After many years of investing with a major brokerage company, it was a breath of fresh air for my wife and I to switch to Ryan Hughes of Bull Oak Capital, with whom we’ve been for several months now. His low-key, intelligent and strategic approach gives us an increased feeling of financial security. As valuable, if not more, is knowing that in his role as a fiduciary he always acts in our best interest. Ryan and his team also created a written Financial Plan for us. As you can tell from this review, we’re very glad that Ryan is our fiduciary financial advisor.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Nov 10, 2019
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Bob Kappel
Bob Kappel

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jan 28, 2019
Ryan has helped me and my wife navigate the muddy waters of investing with confidence, Financial Planning, and eliminating all the other noise from the talking heads. He's detailed, concerned with your personal goals and desires, easy to understand and always enjoyable to be with. If you're looking for a Financial Planner, do yourself a favor - set up an appointment today.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Gary Isbell
Gary Isbell

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 2, 2018
Bull Oak and Ryan were recommended to me by one of his clients. He provided me with a comprehensive retirement planning and I was very satisfied with what he did. He is professional, knowledgeable and experienced. His approach is logical and very clear and it was really useful. I would highly recommend him.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Nov 2, 2018
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for john moore
john moore

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jul 15, 2018
I would highly recommend Ryan at Bull Oak Capital. From the very first phone consultation, Ryan seemed honest, knowledgeable, and most of all, very professional. I chose Ryan to better handle my investments, to create a financial plan for my girlfriend and I, and to give me recommendations to better prepare myself for the future.During our financial planning meeting, Ryan sat down with my girlfriend and I and asked us about all of our financial goals (short and long-term). Ryan was able to map out our financial future on his white board, and was very personable and thoughtful during this process, coming up with ideas that we had never thought about when talking about finances.The team at Bull Oak ran several financial models, tailored specifically to our financial goals and provided a very detailed document to explain their results and recommendations they had for us. Ryan and his team covered real-estate, retirement planning, planning for children (and college), and our general living lifestyle which included everyday expenses to small and large vacations. Ryan is very responsive to questions and is open to making any adjustments to your financial plan.On the investment side, Ryan thoroughly explained his investment strategy and patiently explained any terminology that we did not understand. He allows you to choose how aggressively you want to invest your money (5 levels) based upon how much risk you would like to take on. Ryan is a fiduciary advisor, meaning that Bull Oak charges a small overall fee to the client (% of your portfolio), and does not collect any revenue from commissions. So, it is in Ryan’s best interest to maintain a quality portfolio for his clients.Based on our experience so far, we would recommend Ryan at Bull Oak Capital if you are seeking investment strategies, investment management, or need a very detailed financial plan mapped out for you and your family.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jul 15, 2018
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Aron Ouye
Aron Ouye

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Apr 3, 2018
My boyfriend and I wanted to make sure we were making smart financial decisions for the future. While searching on the internet for local advisers, we found Bull Oak Capital, which had stellar reviews! I went into the initial meeting feeling intimidated by the idea of seeing a financial advisor but Ryan quickly put me at ease with his professional but easy-going demeanor. Throughout the whole process, Ryan was so patient in explaining investment terminology and helping my boyfriend and I discover questions about our future we hadn't even considered before.Ryan and his team were super thorough with our financial report and it's been so exciting to get a clear view of not only our current financial health but projections for years to come. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a firm grasp on my financial future, and we have Ryan and the Bull Oak team to thank for!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Apr 3, 2018
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Reina Taylor
Reina Taylor

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jun 12, 2017
Bull Oak recently produced an excellent financial plan deliverable for my wife and I that will guide our family's financial decisions both in the tactical near-term and strategic long-term.We selected Bull Oak to create a financial plan for us based on the strength of the initial consultation in Bull Oak's downtown office and due to the firm being a fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), so they only receive revenue from their customers and are not permitted to receive revenue from commissions or product resale. As such, Bull Oak is not incentivized at all to sell certain products or specific funds -- and can be a completely agnostic investment advisor to the firm's customers.Bull Oak has developed a proprietary investment system based on common sense principles and advisor Ryan Hughes can support his investment philosophies with sound reason. Ryan is everything you want in someone advising you on how to manage your money: honest, patient, thoughtful, introspective, wise, cautious, and smart. Ryan knows his subject matter very well and is one of those people you know you can trust.Bull Oak ran a couple of different models for my wife and I and gave us a very thorough and detailed document customized for our situation, covering recommendations for everything from real-estate, retirement investing, investing for college education for the children, vacations, and planning regarding our aging parents. In cases where our dreams were bigger than what we may expect to realistically achieve, Ryan gently gave us evidence and data to support an alternative path. For the most part, the plan Bull Oak developed left us feeling great about our future and our ability to achieve our goals given their advice.As someone who has chosen a career where I deliver advisory services and strategic consultations to customers, please take my word that this firm is legit. I highly recommend Bull Oak Capital for their excellent, professional work.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Jay Keyes
Jay Keyes

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 8, 2017
Ryan's financial planning consultation helped me see which direction I should head in my career and investment plan. He also has a strategic approach to investing that helps to ensure dips in the markets don't impact his clients to the level mutual funds encounter. I have already recommended him to family and friends.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for tom gee
tom gee

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 15, 2016
I had an introductory meeting with Ryan at his office in San Diego. I've been around many financial advisors - he's unlike them all. Straight forward, patient, knowledgeable, and best of all, I had an incredible sense that he had my best long-term interests in mind. Genuinely. If you're in the phase of finding a financial partner who is right for you you will do yourself a service by making him part of your process. That will set the tone for the rest of your research and I bet you'll likely find your way back to him.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Michael W. Chandler
Michael W. Chandler

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Aug 18, 2016
My husband and I have been working with Ryan for 4 months, and I only wish we would have found him sooner. On our first meeting, it was immediately clear that Ryan has a wealth of knowledge and is able to impart that knowledge in a way that is easily understood. While his down to earth style makes it easy to communicate, he is all business when it comes to handling his clients' investments. In this short amount of time, we are already seeing results that just weren't happening with our previous advisor. Ryan is passionate about what he is doing, committed to doing the best for his clients, an excellent communicator, and he gets results. We are very confident in working with Ryan and highly recommend his services.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Aug 18, 2016
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for monica howard
monica howard

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 24, 2015
I found Ryan via Yelp and talked to him a little bit about what he does and how it can help what I was looking for (investing and getting a plan together). He has a good background in econimics and has spent a lot of time studying how the market works, among other things. I also talked to folks from other places. I ended up going with Ryan because he was the only one willing to explain anything I asked to me and wasn't afraid to be honest about his philosophy and why he does what he does. He also didn't come across as arrogant or over confident.I'm happy with the financial plan that he produced for me. We sat down for a few hours and went over all of my expenses as well as gathering data about the retirement accounts I have through work and my goals such as buying a house, travel, college for niece and nephews, etc. The plan has helped me visualize retirement over the course of my many years until then. I walked away with key strategies for achieving my goals, better managing my retirement accounts at work (he researched everything for me!), and how to do more with extra money that I have.I also walked away with a better understanding of how some basic things around stocks/ETFS/funds and other financial stuff in general work. I feel more confident in dabbling in investing on my own now. Would recommend Ryan to anyone that is looking to get themselves on track or needing someone to manage their portfolio.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Mike T
Mike T

5 Stars

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jul 12, 2015
   
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Former Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
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Shirley Hughes
Get answers to frequently asked questions regarding the services offered by Ryan A. Hughes, MBA View Disclosures

FAQs

Who does Bull Oak Financial Advisors work best with?
We work best with near retirees and current retirees looking to delegate their ongoing financial planning and investing needs. You’ve achieved great things and are too busy to manage the complexity of your finances. You also understand the benefit of an experienced human advisor. Most importantly, genuinely nice people. We value kindness and mutual respect.
How do you get paid?
Bull Oak’s fee structure is designed to be simple, fair, and transparent. We aim to build long-term relationships and provide outsized value relative to our costs. No commissions, hidden fees, or extra charges. We charge a flat annual fee, and there is also a separate fee based on assets under management. There’s no charge on the first $1 million we manage, and just 0.35% on anything above that. Together, these fees cover all of our services, including financial planning, investment management, and tax planning.
Can you work with clients remotely?
Yes, we’re based in San Diego, CA, but we work with clients nationwide. Our team is happy to meet virtually or in whatever way is most convenient for you.

FAQ Disclosures

Still have questions? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help.