Deborah W. Ellis
CFP®, MBA, CRPC®
Cogent Independent Advisors, Inc.
Vice President of Financial Planning
Deborah W. Ellis
CFP®, MBA, CRPC®
Cogent Independent Advisors, Inc.
Vice President of Financial Planning
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Deborah W. Ellis, CFP®, MBA, CRPC®
Fee-Only financial planner registered in Granada Hills, CA, Honolulu, HI, and Parker, CO serving clients locally and across the country

Deborah W. Ellis is a Granada Hills, CA fee-only financial planner. Cogent Independent Advisors, Inc. provides comprehensive and objective financial planning, investment advice and financial coaching to help clients organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Deborah W. Ellis is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
As a certified financial planner and international bestselling author Deborah W. Ellis exemplifies the Cogent Way. She has the education, life experience, and knowledge of constant changes in the financial landscape to help clients in identifying and attaining their financial goals. She’s seen how devastating a lack of fundamental financial knowledge can be for individuals, families and businesses. She believes that, like anything expected to grow and thrive, money must be cared for and nurtured. Without the proper guidance, financial wealth may not necessarily mean financial well-being. She is an advocate of financial empowerment for all.
She is proud to have worked in all phases of film and television production over the years but was moved by what she experienced to offer clients a source for financial guidance. To this end, she combined her financial knowledge with her creativity and her commitment to integrity, transparency and ongoing education to pursue her career as a Certified Financial Planner. Deborah earned her MBA in Investments, Finance and Economics from Pepperdine University Malibu, California and her Bachelor's Degree in Art from the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed the requirements to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) exam at Colorado College of Financial Planning, where she also earned her Charter Retirement Planning Counselor designation.
She is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, Women in Film, and the Financial Planning Association. Deborah travels between Southern California and Hawaii with her husband, Bruce and their loving poodle.
Deborah W. Ellis is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Our Name Says it All
COGENT
"COGENT" is an adjective meaning clear, logical and convincing. This is the fee-only business model that not only allows COGENT Advisors to clearly focus on their clients' needs but legally requires them to put their clients' best interests before their own. It also means there aren't any sales managers pressuring COGENT Advisors to produce more revenue for the firm. No sales goals and no incentive bonuses, prizes or vacation trips for top "producers" - just one clearly defined goal: Focus on our Clients' Best Interests.
INDEPENDENT
"INDEPENDENT" means COGENT Advisors do not work for any particular investment product manufacturer nor is there any incentive given to recommend one over another. We get our clients the best from the financial world, not what a company has decided to make available (and are often based on revenue sharing agreements).
ADVISORS
"ADVISORS" means truly professional advice givers - not sales people pitching financial products. Advisors also means that COGENT Advisors are experts in both investments and financial planning.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- Tax Planning
- Helping clients define their relationship with money
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
- Professional Women
Working Together
- In person or virtual meetings
- Transparent and Clearly Defined Fees
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
- We do not receive any financial incentives or commissions for any recommendations we provide
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Deborah W. Ellis is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Deborah W. Ellis is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Deborah W. Ellis is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ (Learn More)
The Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ or CRPC® designation is a premier retirement planning credential. The CRPC® program covers all aspects of the retirement process in a single comprehensive program with no product or advising biases.
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Deborah W. Ellis is a member of the Garrett Planning Network. Click here to learn more.
Everyone needs competent, objective financial advice from time to time. The Garrett Planning Network has a nationwide membership with hundreds of independent, Fee-Only financial planners providing advice to people from all walks of life, without minimum account requirements, sales commissions, or long-term commitments. Our members proudly embrace their fiduciary duty, always placing their clients' best interests first.
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Deborah W. Ellis is a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)
FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
Contact Deborah W. Ellis
Office Locations:
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13038 Garris Ave
Granada Hills, CA 91344-1067