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Award-Winning Financial Advisors Serving Santa Barbara & Los Angeles
Welcome, we endeavor to provide relevant information for your investment advisor evaluation, along with an array financial insights and investment expertise.
About Montecito Capital Management: Your Journey. Your Wealth. Our Strategy.
Montecito Capital Management has been dedicated to advising clients with personalized wealth management since 2004 and the firm’s founder, Kip Lytel, CFA, has been an author, speaker and industry leader on financial topics for over two decades. We are an award-winning Registered Investment Advisory (“RIA”) firm offering comprehensive financial advisory services to individuals, families, trusts and businesses during the accumulation of asset phase, or in retirement. Notably, we are Fiduciary advisors and therefore adhere to the highest Fiduciary standard of being legally bound to always prioritize our client’s “best interests” while at all times acting in good faith. You may assume that all advisors uphold the Fiduciary standard of care, but this is not accurate, as only 12% of financial advisors choose to meet this exalted standard.
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Comprehensive Financial Advisory Services
Our financial advisory practice is all-encompassing from portfolio management, financial planning, retirement budget-income solutions, tax-efficient investing, estate planning, philanthropy, educational saving plans, to private asset holdings, such as real estate, private transactions and business matters. We strive to keep our clients fully informed on the status of their finances at every step of their advisory journey, ensuring a comprehensive understanding on all aspects impacting their wealth. Our resolute commitment to integrity and tailored financial advice surpasses basic values; it shapes trust as the cornerstone of our advisory relationship with clients.
Why Clients Choose Montecito Capital Management
Your financial journey deserves expert guidance. Here’s why investors turn to us:
- Recognized Excellence – Award-winning advisor distinguished for exceptional client satisfaction and results that stand the test of time.
- Seasoned Expertise – Decades of experience and academic insight in wealth and investment management.
- True Fiduciaries – We are “hands-on” and act solely in your best interest with complete independence and integrity: No products + No commissions = No conflicts.
- Secure Custody – Assets are safely held at Charles Schwab, ensuring full transparency & 24/7 online access.
- Tailored Planning – We spend the extra time! Every strategy aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and life’s changing priorities.
- Open & Honest – Personalized meetings, clear communication, no hidden fees and total clarity at every step of your wealth-building journey.
Our Investment Philosophy
We craft financially secure futures by focusing on specific goals: liquidity, sustained growth, guaranteed income, portfolio risk containment, all within the context of the client’s objectives and resources. Since we emphasize that the understanding of risks embedded in a portfolio is central to providing value to our clients, we actively manage and build diverse, multi-asset portfolios to capture long-term positive returns while having resilient portfolios that may help weather market volatility.
Indeed, we are engaged in robust wealth enhancing strategies designed to shield client financial assets from potential risks, and unforeseen adversities, through innovative asset management, including portfolio construction, investment security selection, portfolio rebalancing, cost containment and tax efficient investing. Our modern portfolio strategies are designed to offer superior risk management, strength and stability tailored to our client’s specific return and income goals.
Client-Centered Approach
It is our philosophy to work with most anyone who is sincere in the prospects of improving their asset prosperity, retirement lifestyle and estate given they value advice and guidance from an experienced financial advisor. Our goal is to help clients achieve their financial and investment objectives by providing clear guidance, reducing risks, identifying opportunities, and implementing effective strategies. This is why successful long-lasting client relationships don’t happen by chance, but rather from hard work, depth of experience, earned trust and positive results. We focus on what really matters to clients, and for us that has been to spend a good amount of time identifying what is the best planning approach for each client’s unique financial and personal circumstances, followed by actionable advice for improvements.
Complimentary Advisory Meeting
For those seeking or are interested in exploring a new relationship with a financial advisor, we offer a complimentary initial advisory meeting and portfolio review. We often tell prospective clients that there can be plenty to worry about, but the fact that they have decided to consult with a professional advisor on any financial matter, then that in effect is taking an instrumental step toward a brighter financial future. It has been our experience that a personal advisor relationship can enable superior financial outcomes with an integrated financial strategy and professional asset management.
Taking advantage of a no-cost session with an experienced investment advisor could help you better understand your portfolio’s risk profile, uncover opportunities for improvement, and enhance your overall investment strategy. A free session with a financial professional also offers a chance to take stock of your overall financial well-being, evaluate how your current budget supports your desired lifestyle, and plan confidently for the retirement you envision.
"Best Rated Financial Advisor" Awards & Accolades
We are honored by the many “Best Financial Advisor” accolades received, including FORBES Magazine the Top 10 Most Dependable Wealth Managers in Southern California by Goldline Research and a coveted “Five Star” advisory ranking by Paladin Registry, reserved for the nation’s elite ranked advisors based on an extensive advisor screening evaluation of credentials, ethics, business practices and quality of services. Montecito Capital Management has also been recognized by Expertise.com in the 2022-2025 period as one of the Top 18 Financial Advisors in Los Angeles after a rigorous examination of 10 variables across five categories: Reputation, Credibility, Experience, Availability and Professionalism. Moreover, Expertise.com further bestowed “Best Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara” award for the past three consecutive years. Wealth & Money Management presented Montecito Capital Management with the Wealth Management Firm of the Year award for Southern California twice in a row. The final round of accolades come from two publications, Global 100 Award and M&A Today Award for Leading Financial Planner in 2024, followed by Corp Today Magazine in its 2024 Awards issue, with the “Best Wealth Management Practice” for Southern California region.
About Kip Lytel, CFA
Founder, Managing Wealth Advisor
- Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA), Economics
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance
- Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA)
- Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)
- Member, CFA Institute
- Member, Paladin Registry
- Member, Financial Management Association (FMA)
- Member, RIA Board of Advisors for Wealth Management
- Member, Financial Advisor Magazine
Media, Publications & Speaking Engagements
As Founder and Managing Wealth Advisor of Montecito Capital Management, Kip Lytel, CFA, is a recognized leader in the wealth management industry, helping clients in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles achieve long-term financial success through sophisticated, strategic wealth planning. Known for his clear, insightful voice as an author and speaker, Kip has spent more than two decades helping clients make disciplined, intelligent financial decisions that align with their long-term goals.
Before founding Montecito Capital Management in 2004, Kip held senior roles at multi-billion-dollar asset management firms, where he honed expertise in institutional portfolio construction, advanced risk management, and research-driven investment strategies. Driven by a mission to bring these professional-grade capabilities directly to individual investors, he built the firm around a fully transparent, conflict-free model that emphasizes client-first portfolio management.
Kip earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) as a distinguished Fellowship Scholar from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University and holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics from The Claremont Colleges. A Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®), he has also served in leadership roles on the boards of both private and publicly traded companies, further reflecting his depth of expertise and industry influence.
Kip Lytel is active with speaking engagements at investment finance conferences and academic universities, while also authoring investment articles in publications. He participates in investment-related interviews where he frequently shares his expertise on the capital markets and has been cited and/or published in Wall Street Journal, Barron’s Magazine, Forbes Magazine, Business Week Magazine, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Wealth Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, Investment News Magazine, Advisor Perspectives, Seeking Alpha, and Santa Barbara News Press.
Outside of the world of finance, Kip enjoys fly-fishing, exploring hiking trails, family adventures, and actively contributing to his community through service and engagement. He is a French wine enthusiast and is a Founding member of the Sous-Commanderie de Santa Barbara of the Confrérie de Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Kip Lytel financially supports and, at times, is active in many charitable organizations: Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Direct Relief Humanitarian, Girls Rock Santa Barbara, The Unity Bar, Pacific Pride Foundation, Hillel, Women’s Economic Ventures, Kiva.org, Africare, Baal Dan Charities, UNICEF, J/P Haitian Relief Organization, Storyteller, CADA, Calm4Kids, Humane Farming Association and CFA Institute Research Foundation.
This Month's Highlight: Meet Our New Financial Consultant
Loveth Abu is a finance professional with a foundation in Business Administration and Management from Brigham Young University. At Montecito Capital Management, Loveth collaborates closely with a Senior Advisor to develop and refine tailored financial plans. In this role, she conducts in-depth research, supports investment strategy development, and manages client communications to ensure clarity, trust, and consistent progress toward financial goals.
Loveth frequently undertakes a thorough assessment of clients’ overall financial fitness. This includes reviewing income sources—such as salaries, bonuses, rental income, and investment returns—and comparing them against recurring expenses and savings patterns. Through this analysis, she identifies strengths, weaknesses, and potential risks within the client’s financial framework. She also approaches retirement planning with the same rigor, ensuring that each strategy builds a solid foundation for long-term financial stability.
"Pure" Fee-Based Advisor: Fiduciary, Holistic & Inclusive Wealth Management
As a “pure” fee-based advisor our approach is more holistic, independent and fiduciary-driven where we are not in the business of ‘selling’ investments products, nor do we have outside incentive conflicts given we do not accept commissions. We bring the highest duty to care with transparency on fees, costs, actions and rationale for financial recommendations to our clients.
Our wealth management practice is geared toward inclusiveness by embracing client diversity and a wide scope of asset sizes, the latter of which spans from mass affluent to the high net worth individual/family. While $250,000 is generally the minimum asset level needed to achieve appropriate portfolio diversification, our advisors are happy to work with you to explore the best path toward your financial goals
Moreover, our clients benefit from a fee structure that is considered “pure” fee-only, which means the firm’s sole compensation is derived from a fixed-rate on assets in which we actively advise. Indeed, this fee-only approach often aids clients with a sliding fee scale of 1.0%-0.6% of advised assets where the incremental declining rates are tied to corresponding higher asset bracket sizes.
Personalized & Independent Advisory Advantage
One of the many advantages of working with a boutique Registered Investment Advisory (“RIA”) firm like Montecito Capital Management is we are ‘hands-on’ and this enables us to take our advisory services beyond investment decisions with counsel that encompasses all aspects of a client’s personal financial profile.
We start with a discussion about personal, business and family considerations within the framework of financial goals, then we determine how best to maximize your success, on your terms. We tailor our services to each client’s unique circumstances, such as complexity of assets, income, work stability, age, health, life goals, charitable intent & family dynamics.
Unlike large turnkey advisory companies associated with banks or brokerages, our clients do not have to go through a committee for approval to make investment changes to meet their desired objectives, nor receive a ‘cooker cutter’ one-fit-all proposal. Rather, we customize our strategic plan to meet your goals, which in turn help you better achieve the optimal investment portfolio outcome. Our passion for excellence means we won’t rest until we’ve done all we can to solve your financial matters, with a strong commitment to responsive and cost-effective client services.
“Independent” RIA translates into greater flexibility of choices for competitive options available in the marketplace, along with a significant higher level of personal service. For example, we don’t take shortcuts with time spent with clients and we believe advising is a highly communicative process and it is essential that clients understand the process: why we are recommending certain actions and what specifically are we trying to accomplish with our strategies?
Our clients have the freedom to choose the best-of-breed investment options, many of which render cost savings with the potential of superior risk-adjusted returns. The accumulation of all these Independent advisory advantages sets us apart from large bank wealth management services and brokerages, where there are often inherent conflicts of interest with proprietary funds, commissions and products being recommended to clients.
"Premier" Asset Custody, Free Stock Trading & Transparency with Charles Schwab
We offer access to the Institutional Service Group at Charles Schwab, where we have a dedicated service team with advanced trading and research options. The U.S News & World Report awarded Charles Schwab the 2025 Best Investment Platform. Montecito Capital Management’s goal is to provide the highest level of reliable asset custody, trade execution and transparency at the lowest cost through Charles Schwab.
- Client assets are held in custody at Charles Schwab, where the account(s) remain in the client’s direct ownership as non-discretionary assets.
- Client assets are further safeguarded by limitations on our advisory control – we can only work within the investment parameters set by the client. Having the highest level of transparency, accountability and asset safeguards is all to better serve our clients
- Our clients have 24/7 online access to their Charles Schwab “discount brokerage” account which has absolutely no commission or trade fees for stock/ETF trades. Moreover, as another layer of “checks and balances,” our clients receive their brokerage statements directly from a trusted third-party, Charles Schwab Institutional, where they can elect either email or USPS delivery.
- Schwab is a member of Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which provides protection for securities and cash in client brokerage accounts, including those held by clients of investment advisors with Schwab Advisor Services. SIPC provides up to $500,000 of protection for brokerage accounts held in each separate capacity (e.g., joint tenant or sole owner), with a limit of $250,000 for claims of uninvested cash balances.
- In addition to SPIC, Schwab Clients receive an extra level of coverage through “excess SIPC” of $600 million aggregate insurance protection for securities in cash.
- Charles Schwab’s total assets were $458.93 billion as of June 30, 2025, while its total client assets reached $10.76 trillion as of July 31, 2025.
- While we always can schedule an available time to counsel our clients in our offices, there is also a convenient full-service Charles Schwab office available to clients in Santa Barbara at 900 Chapala Street at the corner cross street of Canon Perdido Street, and six locations in Los Angeles.
We align with our clients’ financial objectives by delivering personalized financial guidance, strategic asset planning, retirement roadmaps, comprehensive assessments, and modern portfolio management
Guiding Clients With Trust & Integrity
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When should you consider working with a financial advisor?
It really depends on your situation—your goals, your comfort managing money, and what you hope to achieve. But generally, once you start saving for retirement or planning for your future, it’s smart to have a trusted advisor by your side. A professional can help you make confident decisions, uncover opportunities to save, manage portfolio risk and help guide you toward your long-term financial growth goals.
Taking the time for a complimentary portfolio review with a financial advisor may provide valuable insights into your investment mix, highlight areas of unnecessary risk, and uncover opportunities for better diversification. This can serve as a valuable financial fitness checkup—helping you review your budget, refine your spending habits, and ensure your lifestyle goals align with your retirement plans.
Our qualifications & experience.
Our team brings decades of combined investment and finance experience. We hold MBA, CFA, CFP, and RIA credentials, along with a bachelor’s in economics, finance and accounting—equipping us with both the financial and investment insight to help you make sound decisions.
How we’re compensated, what are our fees.
First, it is important to clarify that we’re fiduciary advisors—which means your interests come first. Only about 12% of advisors meet the fiduciary standard, but we’re proud to be among them. That means we’re legally required to act in your best interests—no exceptions, no conflicts.
Transparency matters. We charge a straightforward, asset-based fee—no commissions, no hidden costs. As your assets grow, your fee percentage decreases with a sliding scale asset bracket model. Further, our average fees are roughly 30% below the industry norm, and your initial consultation is always complimentary.
For more information: https://www.mcapitalmgt.com/fees
Our investment philosophy.
Your goals drive your plan. We tailor portfolios to your unique needs—whether that’s maintaining liquidity, achieving steady growth, or building reliable income. We take an active, risk-aware approach to help you capture long-term gains while staying resilient through market changes.
For more information: https://www.mcapitalmgt.com/portfolio
Is there a type of client criteria for who you all work with.
Our clients are diverse – different ages, backgrounds, goals – we work with individuals and families from all walks of life. While we typically recommend at least $250,000 in investable assets for optimal diversification, we’re flexible and happy to discuss your individual situation.
How many years have you been practicing?
We have been providing professional financial advice to clients for over twenty years. During that time, we’ve helped individuals, families and organizations achieve lasting financial stability and growth.
Let’s start a conversation about what’s most important to you. Please complete the contact box, and we’ll follow up personally to offer insights and guidance. Thank you.
To best serve at the convenience of our clients, advisors also regularly travel within 120-mile radius of both the Central & Southern California offices to meet clients at their homes, businesses or for lunch advisory meetings at privacy-appropriate restaurants. Prospective clients outside our region are also welcome to contact our firm.
Wealth Management Team Leader:
Kip Lytel, CFA®, MBA
SERVING SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, VENTURA COUNTY & SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
Montecito Capital Management
225 East Carrillo Street, Suite 203
Santa Barbara CA 93101
(805) 965-7955
SERVING LOS ANGELES COUNTY & ORANGE COUNTY
Montecito Capital Management
522 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 207
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(805) 965-7955
Email Us: ContactUs@McapitalMgt.Com
*Source, 12% of financial advisors are Fiduciary: Fiduciary Financial Advisor: Why You Need to Work With One
Disclaimer: The website provides general information regarding our business along with access to additional investment related information. Material presented on this website is believed to be from reliable sources and is meant for informational purposes only. The intent is to provide helpful information, which should NOT be construed as investment advice. We do not guarantee its accuracy, nor completeness, and it is not intended to be the primary basis for investment decisions. We do not make personal investment recommendations to people or entities except to those who have engaged us expressly for the purpose of providing professional investment advisory services. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. Montecito Capital Management Group’s ADV filing is available online at http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov and current FORM ADV Part 2, which describes the services offered, fees charged and detailed company information, among other things, is available upon request free of charge. To a certain degree we are limited in our fiduciary capacity by the firm’s non-discretionary client relationship, whereby the client dictates the investment parameters and contractually agrees to accept sole responsibility for their choices.