Leo Martinez, MBA, AIF®, CDFA®

My name is Leo Martinez, and I am a financial advisor. I have been deeply immersed in this industry since 1993, a journey that has been nothing short of exhilarating. My fascination with business led me to kickstart my career on the Pacific Stock Exchange at the age of nineteen. From being a runner to a clerk, and ultimately a trader, I was able to witness the real-time dynamics of markets. The thrill of human behavior in response to market events was not just inspiring, but also ignited a passion that has guided my career for the past thirty years.

After completing my bachelor’s degree in economics from UC Davis in 1998, I returned to the trading floor and weathered one of the most tumultuous market events on September 11.  It was in the aftermath of the Iraq war that I made a significant career shift, leaving the trading floor for the retail market at a large brokerage house. This transition, my first exposure to the retail side of markets, left a profound impact on me.  The high-sales environment, where commissions and production were prioritized, did not align with my belief in serving clients' interests. Disappointed to find that the brokerage environment did not uphold the fiduciary standard, I made the decision to seek out an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) or establish one of my own. 

Enter the principals at Epsilon Financial Group.  After a referral from a colleague got me a meeting with the principals (mainly with the intention of how to conduct oneself as a fiduciary on this side of the business), I found myself with an offer to join them.  That was in 2007.   Since then, I have grown in my knowledge of truly serving clients and prioritizing their interests above mine (the definition of being a ‘fiduciary’).  I have grown into opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise encountered were I not in this environment.  It has truly been an enriching experience and the peak of my experience in the investment industry. 

Today, I also have the opportunity to teach as an adjunct professor in an MBA program at William Jessup University.  Getting to teach young professionals who are considering the industry that I am in is truly a joy as I look back over the course of my career and my life and see so many similarities. 

Apart from my career, I enjoy weekends away with my wife, Barbara, and time with my family.  We are active in our church and are close to our community of friends and neighbors.  I enjoy sailing in San Francisco Bay, target shooting with a compound bow, and time outdoors.

I look forward to working with you.