UBS extends Barron's streak with 3 advisor honors in California, Hawaii

Three UBS advisors in California and Hawaii earned Barron's Top 1,500 recognition for 2026.

UBS Wealth Management US placed three advisors from California and Hawaii on Barron's Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list for 2026, the firm said Tuesday.

"This distinction is a testament to their exceptional professionalism, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to serving UBS clients," Justin Frame, managing director and market executive of UBS's Pacific Desert Market, said.

Braydon Hamilton of La Jolla, a certified financial planner and certified investment management analyst with more than 20 years of experience, made the list for the third consecutive year. He specializes in financial planning and equity portfolio analysis, helping clients build diversified portfolios customized to their financial plans. Matthew Megorden and Daniel Shiu, both based in Honolulu, also earned spots — Megorden for the third straight year and Shiu for the second. Megorden works extensively with high-net-worth entrepreneurs and technology executives, while Shiu focuses on strategic planning for business owners. The Barron's ranking evaluates advisors on revenue produced, assets under management, practice quality and regulatory record.

The recognition comes as UBS manages $6.1 trillion in invested assets globally, positioning it among the world's largest wealth managers. The Swiss bank operates in more than 50 markets and serves clients through personalized advice, solutions and products. Its US wealth management division is a key growth driver for the group, competing with Morgan Stanley, Bank of America's Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs in the high-net-worth segment.

Pacific Desert Market strength

The Pacific Desert Market region, which Frame oversees, covers California, Hawaii and Arizona. Earlier Tuesday, UBS also announced that six advisors in Phoenix made the same Barron's list, bringing the region's total recognized advisors to nine. The Phoenix advisors include Brad Howell, Steven Schultz, Stockton Schultz, Ryan Moore and Scott MacDonald, led by Executive Director Ryan Lurie.

Barron's ranking methodology

The Barron's Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list is compiled annually based on multiple criteria including revenue produced for the advisor's firm, assets under management, quality of practice and regulatory record. Neither UBS Financial Services nor its employees pay a fee for inclusion, though UBS may hire the list compiler RJ Shook as a speaker for events, according to the firm's disclosure.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.