A Q&A With Torrey Growth and Income Advisors
Tell us your backstory: What was your path to owning a business in Del Mar Village? Did you grow up here? Why did you choose Del Mar Village to set up shop?
I grew up on Pine Needles Drive and spent much of my life integrated in this community. I went to Del Mar Heights Elementary, then Earl Warren and Torrey Pines. My first job was as a Del Mar lifeguard, which I did through most of my twenties while competing on the national triathlon team.
My wife Janet and I also ran the Kona Grill & Bar in Solana Beach for many years. Professional athlete, lifeguard, restaurant owner — all a lot of fun, but as I got older I started looking for ways to help people that didn't involve jumping into frigid water or working past midnight.
In the late 1990s, my dad was expanding a local financial advisory practice he'd run for many years. He first started as a stockbroker in the 1960s after returning from years abroad as a Foreign Service Officer. It was the right moment for me to join him and together we ran a practice first within large financial institutions, then in 2006 we went independent and founded Torrey Growth & Income Advisors. We moved into our Del Mar Village office in 2009 and have been here ever since.
Tell us about your business. What should people know about it? What makes it unique?
We're a fee-only investment advisory and financial planning firm based right here in Del Mar Village. That means families hire us to manage their investments and act as a fiduciary advisor for other big moments in their financial life: when to retire, buying or selling a home, funding kids' education, tax strategy, estate planning, charitable giving. We aim to be the single point of contact for our clients' financial questions, not just their portfolio manager.
I believe we're a great fit for Del Mar families specifically because we have been here in the community for so long and we have supported so many Del Mar families over the past twenty years. We understand the financial questions that come with owning coastal property, running a business locally, or planning a local retirement. I've been a financial advisor since 1998, we've operated independently as a fee-only fiduciary for 20 years, have been based out of Del Mar for 17 years, and now I'm proud to have my own children working alongside me as the third generation carrying the practice forward.
What is one menu item or product you are most known for or is particularly special to you?
We're especially known for helping longtime coastal San Diego families navigate the financial realities of retiring here in Del Mar. Things like building a financial plan that takes long-term costs into account or building tailored investment strategies for each stage of life. We also have many clients who’ve been fortunate to see their net worth grow significantly due to technology investments and we help them manage those concentrated investments. If you've lived in Del Mar a long time and your finances have gotten more complicated than they used to be, then we’d love to talk with you.
Tell us one fun fact about your business most people don't know.
Our name comes from our local Torrey Pine tree, which is obvious if you're a local but usually needs some explaining to clients from out of town. Beyond the local connection, it felt like the right name for a firm I hope will keep growing for generations. Torrey Pine trees can live to be over 200 years old! We're already three generations in.
What do you love about Del Mar Village?
I love how easy it is to run into friends and clients throughout the day. Most of the action in Del Mar happens in a couple of blocks along Camino Del Mar and down to the beach. It’s rare not to run into someone I know when out to grab coffee, watch the surf, or enjoy a meal.
How would you spend the perfect day in Del Mar? Where would you go? What would you eat or do?
On weekdays I'm usually in our office by 6:30am when the financial markets open. But on a perfect weekend, I'd start with a morning surf session. Then I’d meet my three little granddaughters at Seagrove Park to play. Around lunchtime I'd grab some Board & Brew for the family – the Chicken Club is my go-to – and meet everyone back on the beach.
In the evening, once everyone's showered and the little ones have napped, we'd head to Del Mar Plaza for dinner. A good beach day with family and great food, right here in Del Mar is as good as it gets.