Joseph Nelson
Private Wealth Financial Advisor
As a Financial Advisor, Joe commits to helping his clients achieve their financial goals by providing personalized financial services tailored to their unique needs and interests. Joe develops and maintains long-term relationships with his clients and aims to be their trusted lifetime advisor.
Education and Experience
During 1985 and 1991, Joe committed to the National Guard Reserve based in Chicopee, MA. In 1988, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. in Finance. For the next 15 years, Joe worked at Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Banc of America Securities, and UBS Financial Services. In 2000, Joe co-founded Global VR based in San Jose, CA and acted as Senior Vice President of Business Development until 2005. Since then, Joe has been with Wells Fargo Advisors as a Senior Financial Advisor.
Mission and Accomplishments
Now with 35 years of advisory experience, Joe's expertise focuses on Wealth Management and Investment Planning. As a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director- Investments, Joe merges the capabilities of experienced professionals from different financial disciplines into one dynamic, dedicated team working on the client's behalf and best interests. Joe's team provides specialized experience in wealth transfer, risk management, investment management, philanthropic strategies, and legacy planning.
Wells Fargo Advisors has awarded Joe for the Platinum Council award from 2014-2024 which is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.
In 2014-2023 Joe received the Five Star Wealth Manager* award in the San Francisco region. Joe was recognized as one of the Forbes Best- In- State Wealth Advisors in 2019-2024.
In 2024 and 2025 his team was recognized as one of Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams**.
CA Insurance# 0E98810
Additional Website:
My Website
About Wells Fargo Advisors
Wells Fargo Advisors, which traces its roots to 1879, grew over the years through mergers with some of the industry’s most respected regional and national firms. Throughout their histories, Wells Fargo Advisors’ predecessors were known for exceptional service based on trust, knowledge, and corporate cultures that put client needs and best interests above all else.
Wells Fargo Advisors is a non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company, one the nation’s largest, strongest and most respected financial institutions. In business since 1852 and named as one of “World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine since 2011, Wells Fargo is known and respected for its responsible stewardship of its clients’ assets.
2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/22 - 6/30/23 (Source: Forbes.com). 2023 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21
- 6/30/22 (Source: Forbes.com). 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2022; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/20 -6/30/21 (Source: Forbes.com).2021 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2021; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/19 -6/30/20 (Source: Forbes.com). 2020 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded January 2020; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/18 -6/30/19 (Source: Forbes.com). 2019 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2019; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/17 -6/30/18 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.
**About Forbes Best-in- State Wealth Management Teams
2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2025; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/23 - 3/31/24. The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams rating algorithm is based on the previous year's industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 11,674 wealth management teams were considered for the rating; 5,331 (45.66% percent of candidates) were named 2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams
2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/22 - 3/31/23 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year's industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.
*About Five Star Wealth Manager Award
The Five Star Wealth Manager award was issued on 11/01/23 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 02/13/2023 through 08/31/2023. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/ or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered;
9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com
2014- 3256 wealth managers were considered for the award; 93 (2.9% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2015- 1598 wealth managers were considered for the award; 107 (6.7% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2016- 1442 wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (6.7% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2017- 1488 wealth managers were considered for the award; 49 (3.3% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2018- 1,881 San Francisco area wealth managers were considered for the award; 46 (2 percent of candidates) were named 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2019- 2,012 San Francisco wealth managers were considered for the award; 47 (2% of candidates) were named 2019 Five Star Wealth Managers
2020- 2,026 San Francisco area wealth managers were considered for the award; 40 (2% of candidates) were named 2020 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2021- 2,025 San Francisco-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 32 (3% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2022- 2017 San Francisco-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 40(2% of candidates) were named 2022 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2023-2346 San Francisco-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 40(2% of candidates) were named 2023 Five Star Wealth Managers.
Education and Experience
During 1985 and 1991, Joe committed to the National Guard Reserve based in Chicopee, MA. In 1988, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. in Finance. For the next 15 years, Joe worked at Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Banc of America Securities, and UBS Financial Services. In 2000, Joe co-founded Global VR based in San Jose, CA and acted as Senior Vice President of Business Development until 2005. Since then, Joe has been with Wells Fargo Advisors as a Senior Financial Advisor.
Mission and Accomplishments
Now with 35 years of advisory experience, Joe's expertise focuses on Wealth Management and Investment Planning. As a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director- Investments, Joe merges the capabilities of experienced professionals from different financial disciplines into one dynamic, dedicated team working on the client's behalf and best interests. Joe's team provides specialized experience in wealth transfer, risk management, investment management, philanthropic strategies, and legacy planning.
Wells Fargo Advisors has awarded Joe for the Platinum Council award from 2014-2024 which is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.
In 2014-2023 Joe received the Five Star Wealth Manager* award in the San Francisco region. Joe was recognized as one of the Forbes Best- In- State Wealth Advisors in 2019-2024.
In 2024 and 2025 his team was recognized as one of Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams**.
CA Insurance# 0E98810
Additional Website:
My Website
About Wells Fargo Advisors
Wells Fargo Advisors, which traces its roots to 1879, grew over the years through mergers with some of the industry’s most respected regional and national firms. Throughout their histories, Wells Fargo Advisors’ predecessors were known for exceptional service based on trust, knowledge, and corporate cultures that put client needs and best interests above all else.
Wells Fargo Advisors is a non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company, one the nation’s largest, strongest and most respected financial institutions. In business since 1852 and named as one of “World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine since 2011, Wells Fargo is known and respected for its responsible stewardship of its clients’ assets.
2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/22 - 6/30/23 (Source: Forbes.com). 2023 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21
- 6/30/22 (Source: Forbes.com). 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2022; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/20 -6/30/21 (Source: Forbes.com).2021 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2021; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/19 -6/30/20 (Source: Forbes.com). 2020 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded January 2020; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/18 -6/30/19 (Source: Forbes.com). 2019 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2019; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/17 -6/30/18 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.
**About Forbes Best-in- State Wealth Management Teams
2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2025; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/23 - 3/31/24. The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams rating algorithm is based on the previous year's industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 11,674 wealth management teams were considered for the rating; 5,331 (45.66% percent of candidates) were named 2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams
2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/22 - 3/31/23 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year's industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.
*About Five Star Wealth Manager Award
The Five Star Wealth Manager award was issued on 11/01/23 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 02/13/2023 through 08/31/2023. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/ or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered;
9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com
2014- 3256 wealth managers were considered for the award; 93 (2.9% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2015- 1598 wealth managers were considered for the award; 107 (6.7% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2016- 1442 wealth managers were considered for the award; 96 (6.7% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2017- 1488 wealth managers were considered for the award; 49 (3.3% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.
2018- 1,881 San Francisco area wealth managers were considered for the award; 46 (2 percent of candidates) were named 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2019- 2,012 San Francisco wealth managers were considered for the award; 47 (2% of candidates) were named 2019 Five Star Wealth Managers
2020- 2,026 San Francisco area wealth managers were considered for the award; 40 (2% of candidates) were named 2020 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2021- 2,025 San Francisco-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 32 (3% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2022- 2017 San Francisco-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 40(2% of candidates) were named 2022 Five Star Wealth Managers.
2023-2346 San Francisco-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 40(2% of candidates) were named 2023 Five Star Wealth Managers.