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Financial Care for the
Rest of Your Life

In-Person & Virtual Wealth Planning

Schedule a Call

Cultivate. Grow. Maintain.  

Comprehensive Care for Your Financial Future

At the WealthGarden, we believe that safeguarding your financial health calls for ongoing care and dedication. We provide you with just that by working closely with you through your entire financial journey. Through our thoughtful process, we craft integrated strategies that align with your goals, your family and the causes that matter most to you.


Here’s What You Should Know
About Your Experience with Us:


Our process is simple and efficient El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Our process is simple and efficient.

As an independent firm, we have a nimble team and streamlined technology that enables us to be quick, communicative and attentive to your needs.

You'll have more clarity around your money El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

You’ll have more clarity around your money.

We’ll discuss different options available to you, and you’ll be provided with specific next steps to help you reach your goals.

We'll be your partner for the long haul El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

We’ll be your partner for the long haul.

Our team is committed to being there for you through your life’s challenges, wins and critical decisions.

We give back to our community El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

We give back to our community.

We strive to make a positive impact and create a stronger community by donating to organizations that our clients and us choose every year. 



You & Your Finances Deserve Care 

That’s Unique to Your Needs

You & Your Finances Deserve Care El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

By intentionally serving a small number of clients, we’re able to devote the time and in-depth service to your needs. With year-round oversight and hands-on advice, our goal is to see you flourish with a wealth garden that is strong, bountiful and long lasting.

Are You Looking for a More Intentional
Approach to Your Wealth?

Together, we can create a plan that aligns with your life’s goals.

See How We Can Help


Get To Know Us

Nurturing Your Dreams

Through Personalized Planning & Collaboration 

Your money affects nearly every part of your life. It can dictate how you spend your time, how you’re able to support your family—and how you feel. So when it comes to figuring out the best way to manage your resources, it makes sense that you want to work with someone who’s willing and able to deeply understand both your concerns and your hopes for the future.

We created the WealthGarden to be able to offer you that kind of experience—one that’s characterized by proactive service, intimate understanding and authentic partnership. 


With our limited client base, we’re not trying to be the biggest firm out there.

 Instead, we’re focused on genuinely collaborating with you to make the best choices for your future and family. Through comprehensive planning, we’ll advocate for your wellbeing today, tomorrow and for all of the years that lie ahead.

Josephti Cruz, CDFA® Photo

Josephti Cruz, CDFA®

Read Bio

Josephti Cruz

Josephti Cruz, CDFA®

Founding Partner and CCO
Wealth Management Advisor

310-571-8489
josephti@thewealthgardenfs.com

Schedule a complimentary consultation



Call me “Jo-SEF-tee” or “Jo”

I have a “mom” personality, even before I became a mother to Nyla and Sloane, my daughters. For as long as I can remember, I’ve taken care of my people—to make life simpler and easier for those around me, to be that reassuring, trusted pillar of strength and consistency.  

My life’s goal is simple: nurture and care for my family, my friends, and my clients.

During my last year at UCLA, I was reading the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times when I came across a full-page ad for an Investor’s Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center and convinced my roommates to go with me. The keynote speaker was Chuck Schwab himself. I was hooked.

I graduated with a degree in psychology knowing I would never use it in an official capacity. However, I’m grateful for that education, because it’s so important to listen and understand each and every client. Money is emotional and that’s ok.  

Since then, I’ve worked at many notable firms, including JPMorgan Chase and MorganStanley/Smith Barney, but I hold a soft spot for the combined 16 years that I spent at AllianceBernstein and TIAA.  I owe everything that I know about financial planning, investments and elite client service to the wonderful people I had the honor of learning from at those two firms.

Over two decades later, my business partner and I created the WealthGarden f.s. to elevate our collective knowledge and experience to a higher level. Take wealth management as you know it, and add warmth, ease, efficiency and the latest technology. We’re streamlining our processes so we can spend more quality time with you to do what’s in your best interest—and give you the best opportunity to live your best life.  

I am here to be my clients’ and their loved ones’ trusted partner for the rest of their lives.

Speaking of loved ones, Nyla and Sloane are my mini-me’s and the reason this night owl wakes up early in the morning. They’re my cheerleaders (and guinea pigs) when I stumble through new recipes in the kitchen and attempt to keep my potted garden alive perched on our window sills. We cherish our little adventures together, whether it’s a weekend trip up the coast or to our favorite spot in Hawaii. My mom, who is my rock and pillar of strength, thankfully lives a few miles away and is a constant presence in our lives.  

Some passions: real estate, trying new cuisines locally and abroad, and snowboarding.

I recently concluded a three-year term as a board member of the Academic Accountability and Facilities committees for Equitas Academy, an amazing K-8 community of charter schools in the Pico Union neighborhood of Los Angeles. 

To learn more about Josephti, see our blog, “Ask Josephti Anything.”




Jade Eagles Photo

Jade Eagles

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Jade Eagles

Jade Eagles

Founding Partner
Wealth Management Advisor

310-896-5661 
jade@thewealthgardenfs.com

Schedule a complimentary consultation


I was born to a high school teacher father and civil servant mother. My sisters and I grew up in a household that always valued helping others. My father dedicated his professional life nurturing his students with the knowledge they would need to succeed in adulthood. On weekends, my mother fed the homeless, and taught English and local customs to newly immigrated families.  

Our family’s passion for community service influenced my decision to join the Royal Australian Navy, where I served for 14 years. Here, I learned the value of teamwork and collaboration, both on and off the field. Influenced by my fellow sailors, I first became interested in personal finance.  My friends and I freely shared best practices in the interest of improving all of our financial futures. It was during this time I began investing in portfolios and purchased my first two homes in my early 20’s.

Over a decade ago, I moved to the United States to start a family and new career. I had a decision to make on what to do in this next chapter of my life. Combining my passion for personal finance and helping others, I joined a team at a major insurance company that focused on air traffic controllers. Here, I saw the positive impact life insurance and annuities could have with families as a financial solution, but also realized it was often misrepresented and misused. Thankfully, my mentor believed in making sure our recommendations always served the client’s best interest.

From there, I gained more experience working with individuals and families during my time at JPMorgan Chase, and most recently at TIAA, where I refined my skills in financial planning. Collaborating with business partners both within and outside of TIAA, I crafted custom solutions for my clients encompassing everything from retirement income needs to planning for future generations.

Now, my business partner and I are taking our collective experience and dedication to helping others to the next level by creating the WealthGarden f.s., where we deliver a higher level service experience to a small client base, for the rest of their lives.

Merrick is my son and #1 travel buddy. We’ve explored the world together, with his first trip at 4 months old. It’s our goal to visit every national park while camping in my renovated 1983 Volkswagen Vanagon. During the summer, we’re beach bums, and in the winter, we’re improving our snowboarding skills. I LOVE to cook elaborate meals and host dinner parties, which I hope to do again soon.

To learn more about Jade, see our blog, “Ask Jade Anything.”


Wendy Turk Photo

Wendy Turk

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Wendy Turk

Wendy Turk

Partner
Wealth Management Advisor
310-906-0170
wendy@thewealthgardenfs.com

Schedule a complimentary consultation



Life has a funny way to take you where you’re supposed to be, whether it’s on a straight path or a winding road. I’ve always been a meticulous planner, but I didn’t originally set out to be a financial planner.

I grew up in Los Angeles and loved it so much I stayed here to attend UCLA, where I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. I took a stint doing DNA research for a biotech company, appreciating that I was helping people, but also realizing that I didn’t ever directly see the results of my work.

And that’s where the road led me—back to UCLA to obtain a Certificate in Personal Financial Planning. I’ve always loved finances, documenting every expense from the first time I received an allowance. Coupled with my interpersonal skills, patience, organization, and creativity, I knew would be well-suited for a career in financial planning. Even more importantly, I found that my skill set could fill a great need for financial literacy, especially among women.

With over 15 years’ experience, I work with clients to create comprehensive plans that consider both the numbers and the emotions surrounding money. My top skills are listening, teaching, and organization. This gives each and every client clarity about their finances and empowers them to enjoy their lives, today and tomorrow. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing my clients have babies, send kids to college, get married, retire, take a fantastic vacation, and everything in between, knowing that I helped them reach those goals.

I have an ongoing podcast, Money Talks, where women of diverse backgrounds tell stories about their personal experiences with money, and I also created Money & Me, a children’s education program that teaches financial literacy at an early age.

In my spare time, I enjoy hanging with my kids, Owen and Andrew, and my husband Jason. We visit National Parks (we’re on a bit of a quest to visit them all), cook and bake together (sourdough became a thing during Covid), and share many beach days, regardless of the season. I have been a PTA Board member at my children’s school for 4 years, currently serving as the PTA Treasurer (surprise!).

Libby Brady Photo

Libby Brady

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Libby Brady

Libby Brady

Marketing and Administrative Support



Hello!

My name is Libby and I provide marketing and administrative support for the WealthGarden.

In 2014, I graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. A few years later, I graduated from Concordia University Irvine with my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, more specifically Curriculum and Design. I was lucky enough to find my dream job right out of college as a Kindergarten teacher in Culver City. My time and energy has been poured into my school, students, and community there for the last eight years. Education has always been a passion of mine and I feel very fortunate to be just a small part of my students’ academic career.

With each new stage in life, comes new passions and priorities. My husband and I welcomed a baby girl into our family in June 2022. Our daughter, Faye, is keeping me very busy with playdates, parks, music class, and so much more! My husband and I made the very difficult decision for me to leave my teaching job for now, so that I can stay home and take care of our daughter. I feel so fortunate to have this time with Faye and our fur baby, Juno.

The opportunity to partner with the WealthGarden fell into my lap when we were deciding whether I should go back to work. The timing felt right and I was excited about the role after speaking with Jo and Jade. I look forward to supporting them and you along your journey.

I am originally from San Clemente, California, but have lived in Los Angeles since 2009. We love to travel, go to the beach, discover new restaurants, and I enjoy cooking for my family and friends.

Libby Brady

"I take my role in your life very seriously. This is personal for me. I treat you like a member of my family, and I literally lose sleep making sure I help you live the best life possible with the assets you worked so hard to accumulate."

- Josephti Cruz

When the Health of Your Wealth Garden Depends on the Care It Receives

Who You Partner with Matters

We’ve seen firsthand the difference between impersonal and personal planning, the latter leading to drastically improved outcomes. This is why we exist as a boutique, independent firm. You, your family and your wealth deserve attentive care—and a team that intends to be there for you for the rest of your life.

When we partner with clients, we serve them as a legal fiduciary. This means we’re responsible for making recommendations in their best interest. Your needs are at the forefront of our thoughts and actions; we don’t work for commission or for a third party but serve you independently. In this way, we apply our insight to create strategies that align with your values, your needs and your highest outcomes.



Why Choose Us?


We sit on your side of the table.

We believe in taking an educational approach, so you can truly understand your options and gain confidence in making the right decisions for your life and loved ones. 

Your goals and priorities are ahead of ours.

Your best interest is at the heart of all we do. Guided by genuine care for our clients, who we consider to be like family, we are committed to doing right by you.

We don’t believe anyone has all the answers.

This is why we prioritize collaborating with professionals, from estate attorneys to CPA’s, to deliver the best strategies for your goals. 

You’ll receive a comprehensive, custom-designed plan.

From your investments and income to your legacy and protection, we consider every aspect of your financial life and strive to optimize it as an integrated whole. 

A Beautiful Garden Needs the Right Kind of Nurturance to Stay Healthy

So does your financial life

Our goal is to understand you, your circumstances and what you care most about—and develop a unique care plan for you. If our approach sounds like the kind of support you need, we encourage you to see how we can help you.


Explore What We Do

You’ve Grown Your Wealth Garden

We’ll Help You Maintain it for the Years to Come 


Taking Care of Every Facet of Your Financial Life

 

 

Manage your investments

We construct and maintain a risk-appropriate and well-diversified portfolio that is personalized to your needs.

 

rocking chair piggy bank icon

 

Develop a retirement income plan

 

We help you coordinate your various streams of income and create a plan aimed at maintaining your lifestyle in retirement.

 

 

Provide divorce support

As you adjust to a new life situation, we can partner with your other trusted advisors and provide guidance on how to transition accounts, revise your estate plan, and move forward confidently.

 

 

Disability and Incapacity Strategies

Through disability and incapacity planning, we can assist you in preparing for the unexpected.

 

 

Legacy planning

Our team partners with your estate attorney to help pass along your wealth and/or business to the people and charities you desire in a tax-efficient way. We also provide additional support by facilitating family meetings.

 

 

Tax guidance

For every aspect of your wealth, including your portfolio and retirement plan, we seek the most tax-efficient avenues. Our team can partner with your CPA to carry out a fully integrated tax plan for your wealth.

 

 

Losing a spouse or loved one

Navigating through the loss of someone you love can be devastating. Our team is here to provide you with hands-on support and guidance to help you adjust to the changes at hand.

 

 

Charitable giving

If you wish to give to charities or organizations, we incorporate tax-efficient strategies into your financial plan, periodically reviewing to see if any adjustments need to be made.

As Your Life Evolves,

Your Financial Strategy Should Too

Plans change. Circumstances shift. Newfound goals are established. As you move through life’s ebbs and flow, we help you plan around the things you care most about. If our comprehensive approach sounds like something you’re looking for, we invite you to learn more about working with us or contact our team to talk.

Explore Our Process Start the Conversation


Learning Your Story

to Develop a Care Plan that Nurtures Your Wealth and Life

Our Initial Process

We follow a straightforward process to provide you with clear next steps for your wealth. Our work together always involves an intimate understanding of your needs and what’s going on in your life. In this way, we can provide you with options that are oriented towards your values and unique life circumstances. 


step 1.

Financial Planning - Lay the Groundwork El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Lay the Groundwork

In our first meetings together, we’ll lay a foundation for moving forward. We’ll get to know all about you, your life and what you care most about. You’ll be asked questions like “What do you want to achieve in retirement?” and “What are your goals through financial planning?”  We will also analyze if your portfolio is aligned with your Risk Number.  You can also ask us all about how we work, what our approach is, or anything else on your mind.

Step 2.

Financial Planning - Present Your Care Plan El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Present Your Care Plan

After reviewing your documents, accounts, and the goals you’ve outlined, our team will create a financial plan with recommendations to close any gaps. We’ll walk you through your potential paths and discuss how they connect to your objectives, and we'll present potential solutions to address issues.


Step 3.

Financial Planning - Nourish Your Wealth El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Nourish Your Wealth

At this stage, we’ll implement your comprehensive plan, and you’ll be prepared with any steps to take on your end. If need be, we may collaborate with additional professionals, such as your estate attorney or CPA.


Tending to Your Wealth Year-Round

As part of our long-term commitment to our clients, we typically recommend 3-4 in-depth meetings throughout the year to discuss your progress and make any necessary revisions to your financial plan.  See a sample schedule below: 


Jan - Feb El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Jan-Feb

  • Discuss annual income needs, debt, and revisit budget
  • Update plan as needed
  • Portfolio review

Spring El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Spring

  • Incapacity/disability planning review
  • Update plan as needed
  • Portfolio review

Summer El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Summer

  • Overall goals review
  • Update plan as needed
  • Portfolio review

Late Fall El Segundo, CA the WealthGarden f.s.

Late Fall

  • Legacy planning review
  • Tax guidance, including potential capital gains exposure, charitable giving opportunities
  • Update plan as needed
  • Portfolio review


Interested in Working Together?

Get in Touch


Tax Services


The WealthGarden has partnered with Rob Narolewski, an IRS-enrolled agent, and his Ohio-based team to offer tax preparation and strategy services to our clients.

Rob has 22 years of accounting experience and offers the following services:

  • Individual, business, and corporate tax preparation
  • On demand online access to returns
  • Future tax projections
  • Tax planning strategies
  • Roth conversion strategies
  • Bookkeeping
  • Multi-state filings
  • Work with expats living abroad
  • Business creation
  • Payroll processing
  • Sales tax reporting
  • Non-profit reporting

In Rob’s spare time, he enjoys swapping jokes with his kids, reading about history and psychology, and travel.

TaxGarden LLC services are separate from advisory services provided by the WealthGarden f.s. and incur separate fees.


FAQ

What is your fee structure?

The fee we charge is a percentage of the amount of money we manage for you. In addition, when your accounts grow, it’s possible that your fee percentage is smaller. Included in your fee is the following:

  • Investment advising
  • Comprehensive financial planning
  • Ongoing financial advice and guidance
  • 24/7 account access
  • Regular meetings throughout the year

Our goal is to help you remain financially secure and to partner with you throughout every season of your life. Please refer to our ADV 2A for a full description of our fees and business practices.


You’re a four-person company. That’s kind of scary.

Interestingly enough, we have the resources of a big company and potentially more. Because we are a four-person operation, we work with specialists to support the services we provide to you. The beauty of this is we get to be nimble and strategic with who we partner with, instead of being limited to whatever a big firm chooses to give us. If we can hire, we can fire if we find the service to be less than what we demand for our clients (we’ve done this once already).  

  • Certain administrative and support services - NWAM, LLC dba RIA Innovations.*
  • Custodians for holding client assets - Fidelity and Schwab
  • Research - Fidelity, Schwab, BlackRock, First Trust
  • Trading/Rebalancing, investment manager options - 55ip
  • Financial planning -Right Capital

*RIA Innovations and the WealthGarden are not affiliated.”


Have Another Question?

Reach Out

Your Money and Life Are an Interconnected Ecosystem

Let’s Make It Flourish

In-Person & Virtual Financial
Planning for LA

If you’re curious about working with us or you have a few questions, we invite you to get in touch with us directly or fill out the form below.