*Note: CPAs may specialize in different areas. Be sure to check credentials and service offerings.*
If this is your first time working with a CPA, don’t worry — most professionals offer a free consultation and will walk you through what to expect. You may be asked to complete an intake form, share financial documents, or set clear goals for your session.
*Note: Every CPA operates a bit differently. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before committing.*
*Tip: Organize your documents in advance to save time and ensure accuracy.*
*Note: Preparation helps you make the most of your CPA’s expertise.*
*Note: Every CPA is different — take time to find one who fits your goals and style.*
965 E Main St
Ventura, California 93001
I have worked with Gaea for over 15 years as my financial advisor supporting me towards my financial planning and retirement goals. During this time Gaea has helped me rollover multiple 401k plans, and coached me on appropriate investment trends to align with my long term goals. Additionally, now that I am a single mom, I was provided great information about the right life insurance and long term care savings plans for me that aligns to my income earnings today with the maximum return. At 43 years old, I no
I have known Gaea for nearly 15 years. I have the upmost trust in her expertise as a financial advisor helping me meet my retirement goals. She is extremely knowledgeable and always has my best interest in mind. Not only has she advised me; she has also helped a family member with their retirements needs a well. I appreciate her timeliness and availability as she conducts annual reviews, and I appreciate her recommendations. She takes the time to explain the market and the economy. She is very personable an
Gaea has been my Financial Advisor now for over 10 years and our relationship has continued to grow and blossom over time. What I most appreciate about Gaea, is that over the years I have worked with her, I have become well informed and educated about my portfolio and the different choices available to me. She works with me on various types of retirement accounts, as well as my personal savings. Gaea does not only care about my money, but she cares deeply about me as a person, always asking about my persona
Gaea?s approach is refreshingly soul-aligned, reflecting a genuine commitment to her clients? well-being and success. She takes the time to understand your unique needs and goals, offering insights that are both practical and deeply aligned with your personal values. It's clear that she genuinely wants the best for those she serves, and her personalized, attentive service makes working with her a standout experience. I've been a very happy customer and thrilled with how my portfolio has been doing. If you?
"I have known Gaea since she was a young girl. When my previous financial advisor was going to be turning me over to a new agent, I heard that Gaea was working in this field and decided to give her a try. I am so glad I made that choice, that has been over 10 years ago now. Gaea has been a great helping me through every financial change with ease. I feel completely confident in her abilities, and appreciate and rely on her advice which is a comfort to me. The big plus, I get a wonderful visit filled with he
We have been with Gaea for over 15 years and she has been excellent with us over these years. I highly recommend her to my friends and relatives. Looking forward to many more years to come.
I knew Gaea personally for several years before she became my financial advisor, but that is not why I selected her. Having someone guide and help manage your financial security is a big decision and it is no more crucial for me personally now that I have chosen to do strictly volunteer work. That means, what I do have really needs to work for me and be managed properly. The years of knowing Gaea I've never seen anyone take their job and clients as seriously as she does. She has a tremendous work ethic and
I have known Gaea Verneris for many years and have watched her life change and grow. Gaea has always been driven by an inner desire to be creative, knowledgeable, of service, and personally successful. It's my good fortune to have stayed in the vicinity of that growth, which now serves me and wife so satisfactorily. As our financial advisor, Gaea provides us with uncompromising service. When we communicate with her we know she will be full of ideas to help us enhance the strength of our portfolio. But, in a
Gaea came to me as a trusted referral almost 8 years ago. I was not specifically looking for an advisor, but decided after meeting with her, to move forward with her planning and advice. I have followed her when she moved office from Carpinteria to Ventura, and when she opened her own firm, Legacy One Financial. I have also referred two family members, who now work with her as well, and several acquaintances over the years. Gaea is very easy to talk to and contact. She has great support staff. They are all
If you are looking for a financial advisor who truly cares about your success, and will work tirelessly to help you achieve your goals, look no further than Gaea Verneris. I started my small S?Corp business in 2013 and working with Gaea has not only changed my life, but my children and their children?s children?s life. When I started with Gaea, I did not have a retirement plan. Like a personal trainer, Gaea became my financial trainer. She set up my owners 401(k) for my small business, set up a small life i
After meeting and interviewing Gaea initially, we were very impressed with her knowledge of the complicated field of finance, and that of investments. Her professional demeanor generates competence and trust. She was also instrumental in introducing us to a long-term insurance care plan about 10 years ago, which we have been very pleased with. It gives us some extra confidence looking towards the future. We have strongly recommended her to our family and friends. With each referral she has graciously sent
When I moved to Ventura I wanted to find a new financial advisor who would not only be knowledgeable, but also accessible. Gaea Verneris has met both those requirements beyond my expectations. She is always available to answer or research my questions about investments. Her personable approach not only makes for an easy relationship, but allows her to know more about what her clients? needs and expectations are, now and for the future. I am retired and recently widowed. That made for many changes in life, a
I've known Gaea for over a decade now . I met her through my parents as she was their financial advisor. She also worked with one of my sisters and her husband. Our family advisor! I figured if they put their trust in her, I would as well. We've been happy with her and followed her when she came to LPL financial in 2019 .Over the years she's always proven to be caring, knowledgeable, and effective. Thanks Gaea !
We have been working with Gaea for almost 13 years. Her experience and attention to detail has been very assuring as I'm planning to retire in the near future. We were referred to Gaea by my mother in law and have since referred our children to Gaea for their financial planning needs. Gaea has exceeded our expectations and we feel very confident in her ability to manage our portfolio.
Over ten years ago I needed to change our financial advisor and investments. I took a chance on Gaea after meeting with her and feeling of her sincere compassionate spirit, her knowledge of the business, and her dedication to make a difference in my investing decisions. She has proved to be excellent in what she does and has endeared herself to be considered a true friend. I trusted her enough to have advised a couple of my children to become her clients. I fully support and endorse her as a superior fin
Gaea came to me as a referral from a family member. The moment I stepped into her office I knew she was the perfect fit for me. She has always been so knowledgeable, kind, friendly, and helpful. Not only do we talk about my retirement goals, investments mix and portfolio, she's also become a dear friend and someone that I can open up to about life and all that's going on. I trust her fully and feel grateful and blessed to have her on my team. She is always up-to-date on the markets and has great advice as t
My husband and I have been working with Gaea for many years. Her advice and professionalism are very helpful. Gaea is patient when explaining the workings of financial institutions. We feel that Gaea understands our needs. We are very satisfied with our relationship with Gaea and we will continue working with her.
Gaea has been a wonderful financial advisor and so helpful to bring clarity to some "difficult to understand" investments. She takes a personal interest in us and our family and has helped us with an ESA for our grandson. We think she's great!
I've known Gaea for more than ten years and I can honestly say that I trust her when it comes to advising and guiding me in any questions or concerns, I may have. She knows what I want and need and does not pressure me in any way. I have also referred her to my family and friends, and they speak very highly of her as well. She truly cares about her clients; she and her team are always very professional. It's been a pleasure working with Gaea and look forward to many more years! - Irma M
Gaea Verneris has been very helpful in determining the best course of action for us to take with our existing investments, plus she has made sound recommendations for future investment opportunities as we get closer to our retirement years. We have great confidence in her knowledge, experience and guidance and we would recommend Gaea to others who are looking for a competent financial advisor for their own financial planning needs. - Mike and Cindy D.
Gaea has always been the sound of reason for me with all my investing and has guided me through a lot of exciting and tough decisions. Her passion for what she does and her investment of time and energy into my financial and personal well being has been refreshing. My family and I are very thankful and I always look forward to meeting and talking with her.
"Gaea is an excellent investment and retirement planner. We have been working with Gaea for almost 10 years and have been very happy with the process and results. The things that impress us the most are the focus on developing and executing on a plan, the consistent and steady approach, and the personal attention that Gaea pays to changes in our lives and the impact they may have on the plan. Working with Gaea has been a wise decision and we trust her wholeheartedly to have our best interests at heart. Her
We have been clients with Gaea for 14 years. She is delightful and easy to work with. Her approach to investing based upon our need has been awesome.
My husband and I met Gaia through our daughter. So happy for her hard work kindness and expertise. So pleased and happy to have her. Sheis always willing to help us in every way with our finances.
Gaea is extremely knowledgeable, very helpful and very careful to make sure that my investments are the best for my needs. Gaea is also very friendly and I like her so very much.
Gaea has been our financial adviser for many years and she takes interest not only in helping us grow for our retirement but to fully understand our needs.
The USA is a complicated place especially when it comes to finances. Gaea is the perfect person to help you navigate those complexities and make your money work harder and smarter for you. Thank you Gaea!
I have and continue to find Gaea such a font of knowledge on my investments and a wonderful human being too boot
Gaea will meet you no matter where you are with your planning and help you make the best decisions for you!
Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which ensures they’ve passed rigorous exams and meet state requirements. Check for relevant experience in your industry, additional certifications like CFA or CMA, and membership in professional organizations like the AICPA. Verify their credentials through state licensing boards.
Use online directories like the AICPA, CPAverify, or state CPA societies. Search platforms like Yelp or Google for local CPAs with reviews. Ask for referrals from business associates, friends, or financial advisors. Local chambers of commerce can also provide recommendations.
A CPA is a licensed professional who has passed the CPA exam and met state requirements for education and experience. An accountant may lack this certification and could have varying levels of expertise. For complex tasks like tax audits or financial reporting, a CPA is typically more qualified.
Ask about their experience with your specific financial needs, such as tax preparation, small business accounting, or estate planning. Review their website or LinkedIn for case studies or client testimonials. Inquire about their client base to ensure they handle similar financial situations.
Yes, reviews provide insight into a CPA’s reliability, communication, and performance. Check platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau for client feedback. Look for patterns in reviews, but verify their authenticity, as some may be biased or outdated.
Visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website or use CPAverify.org to check a CPA’s license status. Confirm their license is active and check for any disciplinary actions or complaints. This ensures they’re in good standing and meet professional standards.
Ask about their experience with your financial needs, fee structure, availability, and communication style. Inquire how they handle tax filings, audits, or financial planning. Ask for references or examples of similar work to assess their expertise and fit.
Fees vary based on location, services, and complexity. Basic tax preparation may cost $150-$500, while business accounting or audits can range from $1,000 to $10,000+. Request a detailed fee structure upfront and compare quotes from multiple CPAs.
Yes, many CPAs offer remote services through secure online platforms for document sharing and virtual consultations. Ensure they use encrypted tools for data security. Remote CPAs can be effective if they understand your local tax laws or business regulations.
During consultations, evaluate their ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Ask sample questions about taxes or financial strategies and note their responsiveness and clarity. Good communication ensures you understand their advice and fosters a productive relationship.
Beware of CPAs who guarantee specific tax refunds, lack a valid license, or have disciplinary actions on record. Avoid those with poor communication, vague fee structures, or negative reviews highlighting unethical behavior. Always verify their credentials independently.
Large firms offer more resources and specialized teams but may charge higher fees. Solo practitioners often provide personalized service and lower costs but may have limited availability. Choose based on your needs, budget, and preference for personalized attention.
For individuals, annual meetings for tax preparation may suffice. Businesses may need quarterly or monthly check-ins for bookkeeping, tax planning, or financial reporting. Discuss your needs upfront to establish a meeting schedule that aligns with your financial goals.
Yes, many CPAs handle both, but confirm their expertise in both areas. Ask about their experience managing personal taxes and business accounting simultaneously. Ensure they can balance both without compromising attention to your specific financial needs.
Discuss concerns directly with your CPA to resolve issues. If unresolved, check your contract for termination terms. Seek a new CPA by researching reviews, credentials, and referrals. Request your financial records to ensure a smooth transition to a new professional.