Stephen Peterson

Stephen Peterson, CFP®

Senior Wealth Manager
Shareholder
(650) 854-9150 LinkedIn

Stephen Peterson started his career in the stock brokerage business, but he was soon not satisfied dealing solely with transactions. He wanted to focus on building relationships and becoming a trusted advisor. With 30 years’ experience in wealth management and financial planning, Steve still strives every day towards this same goal in his work with his Sand Hill clients.

As a Senior Wealth Manager, Steve considers himself a “financial physician” who helps people live longer, financially healthy lives. He is passionate about getting to know his clients personally and helping them take care of not only their money, but everything else that comes up along the way—from kids and education planning, to buying or building homes, to philanthropic considerations. Steve specializes in assisting high net worth individuals navigate the complexities of multi-generational wealth planning and transfer, with a special focus on residential real estate assets. He understands the importance of both financial calculations and intrinsic personal valuations in the overall planning process, and applies his depth and breadth of experience and expertise to making sure clients consider their options when it comes to cash flow management and estate planning. He works closely with his clients’ other professionals too, from attorneys to accountants, to coordinate proper planning for things like optimal tax benefits and insurance coverage. Steve also serves on our firm’s Investment Committee.

Outside of work, Steve is an active, hands-on father who loves spending time with his family and being involved with his kids’ schools and the community at large. He has served on the Investment Committee for the Endowment of the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF), as well as the Board of Directors and as President of the Menlo Circus Club where he’s an active member and dedicated swimmer. Steve enjoys getting out in nature as often as he can, to hike, backpack, or play a round of golf whenever he can find the time. As his kids begin to head off to college, Steve is looking forward to the next phase of life—and we can bet he’s got a solid plan.

Latest Blog Posts by Stephen Peterson

Jul 29, 2024
College Bound — Hip, HIPAA, Hooray
College Bound — Hip, HIPAA, Hooray

Congratulations, your son or daughter—or perhaps grandchild—recently got accepted to college, and soon is off to school in the fall. Together, you are probably discussing

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Jan 26, 2024
Fiscal Sponsorship for Charity
Fiscal Sponsorship for Charity

Donor-advised funds (DAF) have become increasingly popular in recent years for individuals supporting various ongoing philanthropic causes, especially given their ease of achieving a potentially

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Jul 18, 2023
Risky Business
Risky Business

July 18, 2023 Despite the growing list of issues that seem to separate California and Florida these days, there is one area that they have

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Jan 31, 2023
Emotional Rescue
Emotional Rescue

January 31, 2023 Behavioral finance plays an important role in long-term investment success. We behave as we do in large part because we are affected

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Jul 14, 2022
Children in Cars Getting Coffee… or Anything Else
Children in Cars Getting Coffee… or Anything Else

July 14, 2022 Young drivers and cars have always been an expensive combination, whether they’re renting vehicles or getting their own auto insurance. This is

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Jan 27, 2022
Longevity Risk
Longevity Risk

January 27, 2022 For much of human history, life—as described by 17th century political philosopher Thomas Hobbes in his book Leviathan—was for most people “nasty,

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Jul 29, 2021
Fire Risk and Homeowners Insurance
Fire Risk and Homeowners Insurance

July 29, 2021 The devastating wildfires in California that did so much damage in the past few years are now impacting pricing and availability of

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May 24, 2021
The Changing Landscape of Homeowner’s Insurance in CA Due to Fire Risk
The Changing Landscape of Homeowner’s Insurance in CA Due to Fire Risk

May 24, 2021 Sand Hill's Senior Wealth Manager Steve Peterson and Senior Managing Director at the specialty brokerage firm Risk Strategies, John O'Neill, discuss the

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Feb 2, 2021
Live Long—Live Well—and Prosper
Live Long—Live Well—and Prosper

February 2, 2021 Long-term financial success usually requires many technical steps, like creating living trusts and living wills, but it should also involve a dedication

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