2025 Best Professional Services in Oakland and the East Bay
Each year, Oakland Magazine invites readers to celebrate excellence in our community by voting for their favorite professionals across a variety of service categories. From trusted accountants and skilled attorneys to innovative coaches and market-leading real estate experts, the 2025 Best Professional Services in Oakland and the East Bay showcase the businesses and individuals making a true impact on our region. Here are this year’s top vote-getters and winners, chosen by you.
Best Accounting or Tax Practices – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Candelaria LLP Oakland
- Forney Accountancy
- Mowat Mackie & Anderson
- New Insight Accounting
- Rabin & Company
🏆 Winner: Candelaria LLP Oakland
Best Attorneys – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Burneikis Law, P.C.
- Candelaria LLP Oakland
- Harriman Law
- Law Office of Brian A. Ripley, P.C.
- The Nieves Law Firm
🏆 Winner: Law Office of Brian A. Ripley, P.C.
Best Banks, S&Ls, or Credit Unions – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- 1st United Credit Union
- Bridge Bank
- Community Bank of the Bay
- Patelco Credit Union
- Provident Credit Union (Oakland Community Branch)
🏆 Winner: Bridge Bank
Best Business & Professional Coaches – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Ainka J. Fulani – BreakThrough Coaching
- Anna Scott – Wisdom Coaching
- Crystal Fry – Leadership and Life Coach
- Polaris One
- Real Life Oakland – Mae Chan, Business Alignment Coach
🏆 Winner: Ainka J. Fulani – BreakThrough Coaching
Best Business Service Providers – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Grand Copy Center
- Minuteman Press Oakland
- Oaklandish Screen Printing & Design
- Wanago
- Watchdog Studio
🏆 Winner: Minuteman Press Oakland
Best Commercial Photographers – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Andy Smith
- Benedicte Lassalle
- Cage and Aquarium
- Cesar Rubio Photography
- Joy Coakley
- Marcell Turner Photography
- Stuart Brinin Photography
🏆 Winner: Cage and Aquarium
Best Financial Planners – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Andrew Joseph Peritore
- E Demmler & Associates
- Gary Wong CPA
- Grodin Financial Services
- Guy Ben Ari
- Lula Financial
- Mindful Money
- Samantha N. Dinh, CFP
🏆 Winner: Guy Ben Ari
Best Insurance Agents – Auto & Property, Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Allstate – Monique Thomas
- Farmers Insurance – Leah Nishi
- Ken Bullock State Farm
- Odalis Ordonez Insurance Agency
- Steve Baur State Farm
🏆 Winner: Allstate – Monique Thomas
Best Insurance Agents – Business, Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Allstate – Monique Thomas
- Farmers Insurance – Leah Nishi
- Gregory F. Brown – G.F. Brown Insurance Services
- Helen Segura
- Odalis Ordonez Insurance Agency
- Steve Baur State Farm
🏆 Winner: Allstate – Monique Thomas
Best Mortgage Brokers (Individual) – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Brady Thomas
- Faramarz Moeen-Ziai
- Helena Jones-Kim
- Kelly O’Sullivan
- Renee Tucker
🏆 Winner: Faramarz Moeen-Ziai
Best Real Estate Agents – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Andrea Gordon
- David Higgins – Realtor & Founder, Cush Real Estate by Design
- Eloise Middleton
- Felicia Mares Villa @ Arlowe Homes
- Tanja Odzak – eXp Realty
- Teresa Lee
🏆 Winner: Andrea Gordon
Best Real Estate Brokers – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- David Higgins – Realtor
- Kate McCaffrey Group – Compass
- Linda Elkin – Red Oak Realty
- Negar Souza – Red Oak Realty
- The Grubb Company
🏆 Winner: David Higgins – Realtor
Best Real Estate Companies – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Compass Real Estate
- Cush Real Estate by Design
- KW Advisors
- Red Oak Realty
- The Grubb Company
🏆 Winner: Cush Real Estate by Design
Best Real Estate Teams – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- Anja Plowright Team
- Declan Spring & Denitsa Shopova
- The David Higgins Team at Cush
- The Leaper Team
- The Monday Team
🏆 Winner: The David Higgins Team at Cush
Best Wealth Managers – Oakland & East Bay 2025
- E Demmler & Associates
- Fruition Advisors
- PF Wealth Management
- Romar Wealth Management
- TIAA Financial Services
🏆 Winner: PF Wealth Management
How the 2025 Best Professional Services in Oakland and the East Bay Are Selected
The Best Professional Services in Oakland and the East Bay are determined through a comprehensive, two-round voting process designed to give the community a true voice in recognizing excellence.
Round 1 – Open Nominations: From February through mid-April, readers submit open write-in nominations for their favorite professional service providers in each category. This grassroots stage ensures that every deserving business or individual, whether well-known or a hidden gem, has the opportunity to be recognized.
Round 2 – Final Voting: Once nominations close, the top nominees in each category advance to the final ballot. During April and May, readers cast their votes from this curated list of leading contenders. Write-in submissions are no longer accepted at this stage, ensuring a fair and focused final vote.
Winners Announced: The official winners and Top 5 honorees are revealed in July and August, featured both online and in print, reaching thousands across Oakland and the East Bay. These results serve as a trusted guide for residents seeking the most respected, reliable, and community-endorsed professional services in the region.
We thank our readers for participating and encourage you to make your voice heard in next year’s Best of Oakland and the East Bay awards.
