Ocean Path Advisors
A Path to the Ocean
What started out as a goal to be in control of my own finances, evolved into becoming an expert in my field, and now owning my own Manhattan Beach-based boutique wealth management firm. I’m Todd Butler – Founder and Principal of Ocean Path Advisors. More importantly, I’m husband to Britton, dad to Knox (8), Declan (5), and a baby girl named Blake on the way, and legal guardian to a small collection of animals affectionately known as Luna, Leo, Popsicle, Spikey, Taranchey, and Blueberry.
I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood in Baltimore City, where I watched my parents struggle to pay the bills my entire childhood. Early in life, I decided that I never again wanted to feel so insecure about money matters and that I’d create a different path for myself. It led me to pursue my Certified Financial Planner™ certification, which afforded me the opportunity to work with so many amazing families in my capacity as their fiduciary Financial Planner.
I started Ocean Path in 2021 after the large and rapidly growing firm where I was a partner dropped an unexpected bombshell on me. The firm was being sold to Mariner Wealth Advisors, a very large registered investment adviser. I legally owned my book of business, and Mariner made me an exceptional offer to sell my book to them in the broader acquisition of my firm. It was enough money for me to retire young and live a great life. I thought about it for exactly one night, and when I woke up the next morning, I knew what I had to do.
Having the opportunity to walk away brought about a renewed sense of purpose in me - I knew that I would follow through on my dream of launching my own boutique South Bay wealth management firm. And thus, Ocean Path Advisors was born. The name came naturally when I considered my journey from the gritty streets of Baltimore to the beautiful sands of Manhattan Beach, and it’s been more than I could have hoped for. Today, my incredible team of six professionals (including three CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ practitioners and one Certified Public Accountant) works with just over 160 individuals and families.
A Path to Financial Success
Ocean Path Advisors has given me the opportunity to provide to others what my parents needed most. I’m able to educate individuals and families about how they can potentially maximize their wealth, pay less in taxes and fees, and live the life of their dreams. The best part of my job is seeing people’s lives change for the better because of detailed planning that produces meaningful results. Seeing them buy the home of their dreams, put their kids and grandkids through college, retire in the location of their dreams, and free themselves of the burden that financial insecurity brought me as a child. That’s what makes this job feel like it’s not a job.
We offer investment advisory services through Mariner Platform Solutions, an SEC-registered investment advisor and we are required to put our client’s interests before our own. In other words, we work solely for the individuals and families who trust us with their finances. When they succeed, we succeed.
While we're a boutique firm by design, the relationship with Mariner Platform Solutions gives us the support of a big Investment Advisor so we can keep our attention on fulfilling our mission – helping clients achieve their financial goals. Mariner Platform Solutions provides our firm with compliance oversight, operations, portfolio management, trading, custodial support, and large firm pricing power. This allows us to offer our unique “big and boutique” experience, which has proven to be the perfect balance that clients are looking for, in our opinion.
A Path to Working Together
What started out as a goal to be in control of my own finances, evolved into becoming an expert in my field, and now owning my own Manhattan Beach-based boutique wealth management firm. I’m Todd Butler – Founder and Principal of Ocean Path Advisors. More importantly, I’m husband to Britton, dad to Knox (8), Declan (5), and a baby girl named Blake on the way, and legal guardian to a small collection of animals affectionately known as Luna, Leo, Popsicle, Spikey, Taranchey, and Blueberry.
I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood in Baltimore City, where I watched my parents struggle to pay the bills my entire childhood. Early in life, I decided that I never again wanted to feel so insecure about money matters and that I’d create a different path for myself. It led me to pursue my Certified Financial Planner™ certification, which afforded me the opportunity to work with so many amazing families in my capacity as their fiduciary Financial Planner.
I started Ocean Path in 2021 after the large and rapidly growing firm where I was a partner dropped an unexpected bombshell on me. The firm was being sold to Mariner Wealth Advisors, a very large registered investment adviser. I legally owned my book of business, and Mariner made me an exceptional offer to sell my book to them in the broader acquisition of my firm. It was enough money for me to retire young and live a great life. I thought about it for exactly one night, and when I woke up the next morning, I knew what I had to do.
Having the opportunity to walk away brought about a renewed sense of purpose in me - I knew that I would follow through on my dream of launching my own boutique South Bay wealth management firm. And thus, Ocean Path Advisors was born. The name came naturally when I considered my journey from the gritty streets of Baltimore to the beautiful sands of Manhattan Beach, and it’s been more than I could have hoped for. Today, my incredible team of six professionals (including three CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ practitioners and one Certified Public Accountant) works with just over 160 individuals and families.
A Path to Financial Success
Ocean Path Advisors has given me the opportunity to provide to others what my parents needed most. I’m able to educate individuals and families about how they can potentially maximize their wealth, pay less in taxes and fees, and live the life of their dreams. The best part of my job is seeing people’s lives change for the better because of detailed planning that produces meaningful results. Seeing them buy the home of their dreams, put their kids and grandkids through college, retire in the location of their dreams, and free themselves of the burden that financial insecurity brought me as a child. That’s what makes this job feel like it’s not a job.
We offer investment advisory services through Mariner Platform Solutions, an SEC-registered investment advisor and we are required to put our client’s interests before our own. In other words, we work solely for the individuals and families who trust us with their finances. When they succeed, we succeed.
While we're a boutique firm by design, the relationship with Mariner Platform Solutions gives us the support of a big Investment Advisor so we can keep our attention on fulfilling our mission – helping clients achieve their financial goals. Mariner Platform Solutions provides our firm with compliance oversight, operations, portfolio management, trading, custodial support, and large firm pricing power. This allows us to offer our unique “big and boutique” experience, which has proven to be the perfect balance that clients are looking for, in our opinion.
A Path to Working Together
Our clients range from young, high-earning accumulators with little in current assets (but growing complexity) to Ultra-High Net Worth families with more than $100 million dollars in liquid assets. We have no minimum investment amount.
Why work with us? We understand that trust and knowing exactly what you’re getting is an essential part of our advisor/client relationship. That’s why we provide prospective clients with a fully confidential, fully complimentary comprehensive written strategy before becoming clients.
Here’s what to expect:
1) Introduction Meeting: We get you scheduled and bring you in or meet over Zoom for a complimentary consultation and introduction meeting with our team.
Here’s what to expect:
1) Introduction Meeting: We get you scheduled and bring you in or meet over Zoom for a complimentary consultation and introduction meeting with our team.
2) Prospective Client Questionnaire: Once the introduction meeting is complete, we follow up with you to complete our secure data-gathering process.
3) Data Gathering: We review the details of your situation, then ask supporting questions and gather applicable documents to ensure we have all the information needed to construct our plan.
4) Financial Plan Creation and Meeting Scheduling: Once we have a complete set of data, we analyze your specific situation and develop your complimentary, custom-written financial plan. Once completed, we can review it in person or over a Zoom meeting.
Once you become a client, we offer a very methodical, process-driven experience where we strive to leave "no stone unturned." We believe so much in putting people on the path to success that if someone isn't a great fit for what we do, our goal is to provide a few tangible recommendations that they can carry out on their own to better their financial life. And there's no sales pressure whatsoever, just information.
A Path Home
Having a solid foundation is the beginning of creating the life you want, whether it be in your relationships, your house, or your finances. There are 2,665 miles between my first home in Baltimore and The Hill Section in Manhattan Beach, my forever home. The distance is long, but the journey has been rich and full of opportunity and growth (and great neighbors). It’s given me a life better than I could have dreamed. Now Ocean Path Advisors allows me to help others achieve their dreams. And with less than a mile between The Hill Section and our office in the Sand Section, it couldn’t be easier to find your path. We’re ready when you are.
A Path Home
Having a solid foundation is the beginning of creating the life you want, whether it be in your relationships, your house, or your finances. There are 2,665 miles between my first home in Baltimore and The Hill Section in Manhattan Beach, my forever home. The distance is long, but the journey has been rich and full of opportunity and growth (and great neighbors). It’s given me a life better than I could have dreamed. Now Ocean Path Advisors allows me to help others achieve their dreams. And with less than a mile between The Hill Section and our office in the Sand Section, it couldn’t be easier to find your path. We’re ready when you are.
For additional information please contact our team at team@oceanpath.com. Please keep in mind that there is no guarantee that any financial or investment plan will be successful. Investing involves risk and the potential to lose principal.