Jason B. Ezzell, CEPA®, C(k)P™
Managing Director, Founder
Jason Ezzell affiliated with Hightower in 2014 as a Managing Director and Founder of Natoma Wealth (formerly known as The Ezzell-Conklin Group). Previously, he spent 15 years as a Senior Vice President of Wealth Management and Senior Portfolio Manager in the PIA Program at Merrill Lynch. Jay was a member of the Circle of Excellence, as well as Designated Retirement Plan Advisor, an elite group of Financial Advisors chosen by Merrill Lynch based on their experience in the Institutional Retirement Plan space.
Jay’s main areas of focus are Private Client and Institutional Services. Jay leads the group’s research and investment process, driving customized portfolio construction and management for affluent private clients, institutions and endowments. Jay also leads the practice's Business Value Enhancement process, providing advice for business owners and key executives as they prepare for a transaction. Jay provides Institutional Clients with fiduciary services that include the creation and maintenance of fiduciary governance processes, as well as independent analysis and due diligence of investments in qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, defined benefit plans and endowment funds.
Jay holds dual degrees from California State University, Sacramento and an advanced certificate from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed the Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P™) program at The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU) at the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education, as well as the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) program through the Exit Planning Institute.
Jay and his wife Amy live in Folsom with their five children. Jay and his family are proud advocates of many non-profit support and educational organizations throughout Northern California, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, and the San Juan Education Foundation.
Recent Awards
Jay Ezzell is named Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for California | 2018-2025*
Jay Ezzell awarded The Backyard Awards 2024 Sage Award in partnership with Growth Factory!**
*This rating was provided on April 8, 2025, by Forbes | SHOOK Research. It covers the period of data as of June 30, 2024. There was no compensation exchanged in consideration for or the use of this rating. For more information, please visit https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/. Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/ SIPC.
**This rating was provided on April 8, 2025, by Forbes | SHOOK Research. It covers the period of data as of June 30, 2024. There was no compensation exchanged in consideration for or the use of this rating. For more information, please visit https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/. Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/ SIPC.
