Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Gardena Financial in Gardena

4.8 (34) 1516 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247, United States

Categories

Tax preparation
Accountant
Financial planner
Life insurance agency
Mortgage broker
Tax preparation service

Location on the map

Gardena, Los Angeles County, California, US

Phone: +1 424-999-8829
Site: http://gardenafinancial.com/

Opening hours

Monday:9 AM–6 PM
Tuesday:9 AM–6 PM
Wednesday:9 AM–6 PM
Thursday:9 AM–6 PM
Friday:9 AM–6 PM
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.8

34 Reviews for Gardena Financial 2024:

Review №1

2023-04-02 19:50:38

Gardena Financial is truly the best place you can go to do your taxes. Kiak is very helpful and knowledgeable. He takes his time to explain you everything and most importantly he cares about you. I would definitely recommend Gardena Financial to everyone whos looking for an excellent experience filling their taxes.

Review №2

2021-02-21 00:55:23

This was my first time ever working with someone else to prepare my taxes and Kiak was great! He made me feel comfortable and handed everything. The process was clear and organized. Hes a real, down to earth person, not a stuffy financial person. He ran scenarios for me, explaining different deductions. He made this tax season stress free. Im so happy we found him!

Review №3

2021-02-15 01:31:51

Kiak is extremely knowledgeable, and offers exceptional service! First time doing my taxes with him this year, and treated me like a client he has known for years. Offered great advice, and looks out for your best interest. If someone professional is what you are seeking, Kiak is the one to give a call. Glad I came across his business, when I was in the market for a tax professional.

Review №4

2022-10-11 05:20:13

If youre looking for someone quick to action to help you get your taxes done correctly and thoroughly, Kiaks the guy. He is very direct and to the point, but extremely detailed when explaining your taxes and its implications. Would definitely recommend him.

Review №5

2021-02-21 03:54:35

I recently refinanced my house with Gardena Financial Mortgage, working with Kiak. I got a very low 30 years fixed, saving over $3200 per year. Because Kiak is also a tax accountant and a financial advisor, I save another 8k per year on my taxes. In a nutshell, he not only can get you a home loan but also ensure that it is aligned appropriately with other areas of my finances (taxes, retirement, etc). It is extremely hard to find a mortgage broker who is also a tax person, financial advisors, and real estate broker, and more. Kiak is very experience in ALL of these areas and thus can see my situation holistically. This is a huge benefit. Youre crazy if you dont check out his services. Lastly, Kiak has really good follow-through and very professional.

Review №6

2014-02-13 08:34:13

I moved up to South Bay LA early July. I needed to get my taxes done and looked around on yelp for a bit and came across ITS Financial Group.Right from the beginning the service was excellent. I called to see if I could make an appointment and they were able to fit me in within two hours of calling.Kiak is a true professional and very friendly. His philosophy is that he doesnt just want to prepare your taxes, but educate you on your financial situation so that you can make the best decisions possible. I highly recommend this company for any financial service. Thanks ITS.

Review №7

2015-02-13 20:13:27

Kiak is the truth. He knows his job and his credentials backs him up. Been going to him for the past 2 years. He did a great job on my taxes. But he did a better job putting my financial well being in perspective for me. Cannot fathom how much it would cost to get that kind of care and service from another financial group. Dont be Kiaks customer, be his client. He will look after you and make sure you are making good financial decisions. He is the best around.

Review №8

2021-02-08 23:34:01

Kiak has been my financial advisor for the last few years and I have learned to trust his advice. When I told him I wanted to refinance my home he suggested that I use Gardena Financial Mortgage to refinance my home. Over the years I have purchased and refinanced homes using both banks and credit unions, and none provided the services in a way that Kiak and his staff did. Kiak and his staff helped me through the process and always kept me up to date on how things were going. They always asked if I had any questions. When I have worked with other mortgage companies I never had any loan officer show the interest or take the time to make sure I was comfortable with the process as they did. I would highly recommend Gardena Financial Mortgage to anyone looking for a Mortgage Broker including my family and friends.

Review №9

2021-03-31 02:22:00

Kiak helped me tax woes with the IRS, he explained everything in detail which made the whole ordeal less painful, I liked his work so much i had him do my 2020 tax, and got a big refund. kiaks customer service is second to none, I would recommend his services to all of my friends and family.

Review №10

2020-07-12 23:35:09

As a recent college grad filing taxes was becoming quite overwhelming. Kiak was wonderful and walked me through every step. Everything was done virtually in the midst of this pandemic and I feel confident that I got the most out of my tax return. If you’re looking for someone that is thorough and knowledgeable, look no further!!

Review №11

2016-02-10 02:41:49

This is my first time I decided I really wanted to establish a long term professional relationship with the person who prepares my taxes. I was tired of bouncing from place to place. I decided to do some research on business that I could trust and return every year. That is when I came across ITS Financial Group Inc.. I visited their website and was surpised of all the services and credentials the staff offers. The experience definitely lived up to the description. Kiak Tae was able to prepare my taxes. He even went the extra mile to educate me on what he was doing. This was definitely diffrent from other tax payers I had gone to. He was able to work with my busy schedule and fit me into his appointments. It was fast, helpful, and a great learning experience. I will definitely return.

Review №12

2019-11-05 06:32:51

I have been getting my taxes done here for years! Kiak is very professional and bridges the gap between true quality, and affordability. Some legwork on your part is necessary, and depending on how extensive your tax situation is, it varies.But if you really think about it, what better way to understand your tax situation than actually getting involved in the process yourself? Not only does this ensure accuracy, but it also streamlines the process from beginning to end. A prime example of this is Kiaks recent implementation of Jotform. I recently brought my dad on board and filling out the pertinent information online through Jotform in the comfort of my own home was nice!! Indeed it did facilitate the process and limited needless back and forth.It also doesnt hurt that Kiak is well versed to advise on many other financial matters you may have. I highly recommend you inquire to see if he can help you in your tax situation. Already getting my 2020 tax documents scanned into my computer and ready to go!!!

Review №13

2014-02-12 20:55:02

I was lucky enough to stumble upon ITS during a Google search for tax preparers and I cannot recommend them highly enough!I was the last appointment of the day and Kiak stayed with me an hour after they should have closed to make sure everything was right and to explain everything to me step by step. (Usually, I do my own taxes but I started freelance work as a personal assistant this year and needed some extra guidance.) He gets you to look at the big picture in your financial life, not just the yearly tax income part. He is very educated in the many aspects that make up your financial well-being.Everyone at the office is very friendly and personable. They care about you as an individual and offer you coffee, water, and snacks. Youre not just a number that they need to get in and out in a certain amount of time (like at other big-name tax companies.) I also found the price to be well-worth the time and effort that Kiak put in and Im fairly certain it was less than what H&R Block would have charged.Additionally, they also have someone in the office who specializes in Covered CA and Ill be in touch with them this week as well so I can move away from my expensive COBRA benefits.In a city like Los Angeles that seems daunting and alienating, it is refreshing to find such lovely, caring individuals at a place like ITS.

Review №14

2021-02-15 00:30:00

Hello. My name is Gerardo Reyes. I just refinanced with Gardena financial mortgage. I am very pleased with the benefits I received.* My payments have been reduced from three payments to just one.* My payment dropped by $2,255 per month.*As a result I am able to reduce my retirement withdrawal.*In addition, this will help my taxes be reduced.* These actions will help my savings last much longer, reducing the likelihood of running out of money.* I was able to get an excellent mortgage rate with a coordinated transaction in the other areas of my finances(taxes, financial plan, etc.)I retired over five years ago. At that time there were lots of important decisions to be made. Among them were:*Should I refinance to 15 years for both my rental and primary home?* Should I use my retirement fund to pay off my home?*Will my taxes go up if I pay off my home?*How will each of my financial decisions affect other areas of my personal finances(i.e., cash flow, emergencies fund,etc.)?*How should my retirement fund be managed?* Who can I trust to guide me?These are some of the questions that gave me anxiety and kept me up late at night. I had interviewed several financial advisors and Kiak honestly wasn’t my first choice. In the end, I selected him, for the following reasons:* Most financial advisors are not a mortgage broker, a tax accountant, a real estate broker, nor an insurance broker.*Kiak is credentialed in ALL Five areas, and he has many resources to run several kinds of analysis.*When he helps refinance my mortgages, he thinks about how it would affect the other areas of my finances(i.e. income tax liability, cash flow, etc.) It is certain that a regular mortgage broker isn’t able to accomplish this.*Since I use all of his services including tax filing, mortgage, retirement planning, etc., It has been much less painful for me. If I need to know about refinancing and how it will affect my tax liability, he can easily run a complex analysis using his tax and financial planning software with my existing information. This saves me time, money, and lots of explaining to different financial professionals.* Most importantly, Kiak will be honest and forthright with you. He’s not afraid to lose you as a client if he thinks you were going in the wrong direction. If you are planning to use his services, be prepared. Be honest with him and listen to him. In my life experience, it’s easy to find several sales people who will tell you what you want to hear, but not necessarily tell you what’s good for you. Kiak has the credentials, work ethic, compassion, and passion to tell you what is right for you without being afraid of whether you will use his service or not. He values his reputation over a quick transaction. I hope you’ll find this to be as true as I have.Gerardo

Review №15

2015-02-13 02:47:13

ITS Financial Group Inc. was recommended to my husband and I a few years ago by a very close friend. After 30 plus years as a Registered Nurse (RN), I needed to figure out my retirement plan. I did not want to make mistakes other nurses made by selecting the wrong retirement options. Within 20 minutes of meeting with Kiak, I felt his sincerity and authenticity. Even though I came to Kiak to talk about my retirement, thru effective profiling he discovered my mistakes pertaining to my mortgage. I would have potentially been caught and not be able to refinance my house and stuck with an interest only debt. The reason is that you will have a hard time refinancing when you retire because you no longer have a 2 year income history. Kiak knows this because among his Enrolled Agent credential (which mean he can represent you in tax court), he has at least 5 other credentials plus direct experience in each of those industries. He can see your personal finance holistically and can detect inefficiency. Through his mortgage division, his team refinanced my home with a low 3% 30 years fixed rate, saving me a large amount of money each month. Soon after, I decided to switch my accountant to their tax firm. Katie, his partner, found missed tax deductions on my previous taxes. They saved us more money.Over the next several months, I met with Kiak. He suggested that I should NOT bring my retirement fund over to his firm to manage. I was very surprised. Most financial advisors or retirement planners, whomever you are likely to deal with would want you to sign on the dotted line, right then and there. Kiak is different! This affirmed to me that he cares on a personal level. He is seriously concern about me rather than just about profit. His reason was that I am a very a generous person who likes to take care of other people. With a pension, I have to wait every month for my check as opposed to having full access to my entire fund if I transfer my entire fund to an IRA with Kiak.Kiak used to teach children of the rich and famous in Brentwood, CA. Therefore he is a teacher at heart. Seriously, I am the kind of person who is interested in finance only when it involves shopping. Yet he held my attention completely on a subject I am totally uninterested in.More importantly, ITS Financial Group Inc. is neither a mom and pop shop with very little resources nor a large Wall Street corporation who truly does not have personal interest in you. ITSFG is a local boutique firm serving Gardena, Torrance, Carson, Lawndale, Redondo Beach and other neighboring South Bay cities. We are not from the South Bay, but knowing their resources, we are definitely more than willing to drive far to get high caliber services. Their staff includes Mauro who is very helpful and competent and Jennifer who is delightful and extremely competent. Jennifer helped us sort out our Medicare plan nightmare and real estate issues. Tim, another staff member, is professional and patience. He helped my husband with redeeming my recently deceased mother-in-law’s US Savings Bond dated back to 1968.I, finally retired in November of 2014 and transferred all my retirement funds from Fidelity Investment and UCLA retirement pension system to Kiak’s investment firm TaeVestment LLC, who is set up with Pershing LLC (owned by Bank New York Mellon).If by chance you do not live close to one of their offices, please believe us, it will be well worth your extra time and travel to get to them. They will more than go those extra miles for you.

Review №16

2021-03-19 02:39:47

Kiak Tae has been filling my families taxes for many years. This year I was fortunate enough to have him file mine. He is very thorough and detail oriented. I couldnt be more pleased!

Review №17

2014-01-31 21:33:42

Ive been going to ITS for consecutive years and Ive had a wonderful experience every time. I get an appointment with ease and Kiak always answers my questions thoroughly and makes sure I understand everything about the tax process. His staff is top notch, friendly and welcoming. I am confident in his skills and use him yearly to get the best return possible!

Review №18

2014-02-21 04:17:02

I yelped ITS and read over the reviews. There were many detailed great reviews so I thought why not give it a try? Afterall they got a 5 star rating. What made me choose ITS over other five star rating tax services was these reviews done by real people. Now it is my turn to share my experience with ITS. My experience with ITS was overall very exceptional. Kiak Tae actually spent quality time educating me about taxes and did not rush me to get out. He helped me see the bigger picture of my finance. He is very knowledgeable and knows what he is doing and is willing to take the time to explain things. In addition he has many credentials and degrees and tons of experience, which makes him overall well-rounded. You cannot get these services anywhere else, it is rare for a decent price. He also gave me pointers on how to save money (financial advising) going above and beyond when he did not have to. He was very personable and very caring about what he does and actually wanted to get to know who I am. I also loved the warm environment at the office, it makes me want to return. The front desk worker was also very friendly. I know that I was in good hands and have nothing to worry about. I highly recommend this place to people.

Review №19

2015-02-11 03:58:53

In the past, I used tax professional and inexpensive software like Turbo Tax to prepare my Federal and State tax return. Unfortunately I did not see much of a difference. This year my daughter is applying to colleges and need my 2014 tax return quickly. I did not want to spend hours and sometime days doing my own taxes. I have known ITS Financial Group located in Gardena and their stellar reputation. I live in the 90247 Gardena areas. Meeting with Kiak and his associates confirms their 5-Stars reputation. Within 10 minutes of reviewing my past tax returns and answering Kiak’s questions, I learned that I could have saved thousands of dollars per year on my tax return. Kiak and his team are not just tax people, their team have the highest credentials and covers many other important financial areas like real estate, personal finance, investment, and risk management. They tend to integrate their services.I learned that not all tax professionals are Enrolled Agents or a CPAs. Also, not all Certified Public Accountants know taxation. And that most tax preparers are not even Enrolled Agent nor CPA. To confuse the matter even more there are many people saying they are Enrolled Agent, CPA, or even brag that they have many years of experience working for the IRS, implying that they are Enrolled Agents. Even though I am highly educated, this is not my field and can be confusing.In summary, I am so glad I have met Kiak and his team. You are not “LIKELY” going to find “ANY” tax and financial firm better than ITS Financial Group Inc. Similar quality firms will ONLY work with high net worth individuals, those that make over $300k per years and have millions in assets. You should ask Kiak or his team why they decided to open their high value services to the middle class. Carefully listen and you will understand. I promise. So especially if you live in the South Bay (Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Carson, Lawndale, Hawthorne, Harbor or in any cities for a fact), I highly recommend you seek their service.

Review №20

2015-02-18 04:43:01

I have been filing tax using online software such as H&R block or TurboTax. However, I get a letter from IRS or FTB every year regarding how much tax I still owe them. I guess neither IRS nor FTB would be so diligent to return me money if there is actually an over payment. This year, when my financial situation becomes more complicated, I decide to hire a tax accountant. After all, I want neither underpayment nor over payment.After some online research, I decided to go with ITS Financial Group Inc. My experience with Kiak is quite unusual. Unlike many other tax accountants, such as the one my ex hired, who would get the paper work from us, and send us back home after a brief conversation, then call us to pick up our tax return once done, Kiak started my tax by an interesting financial introduction, such as what type of loan is a better suit for my situation, or what I should have done to get a higher tax refund etc, which made me feel like he is more of a financial adviser than just a tax accountant. :) Indeed, Kiak has a whole lot more knowledge than regular tax accountants.On top of being a tax accountant, he is also an Enrolled Agent, a financial adviser, and a real estate broker who can figure out many complicated tax situations that many regular tax accountants cannot do. He could easily look up how much property tax I paid even without me providing him many details through a website that only a real estate broker has access to. The most exciting thing I found is that, a switch from schedule A to schedule E can increase my refund by $4000 due to the nature of my property and the grey areas of tax laws. When there is a controversial tax situation that can fall into either category, Kiak always chooses what is the best for his client to maximize his clients refund.With a very big relief of getting my headache off my head, and exciting anticipation for a big tax refund, I got home. But then I found a 1098 form sitting in my mailbox. Luckily, Kiak was quick enough to reverse my e-filed tax and fill in this addition which got me an additional $150 refund without any additional charges. YAY, thank you, Kiak. Youre awesome!!! :) Go see them if you live in Gardena, Torrance, Lawndale, or anywhere in Los Angeles. Its definitely worth it.

Review №21

2014-02-17 18:51:21

Great service! Highly recommended! I was able to be squeezed in on the day I called. Kiak always answers my questions thoroughly and goes above and beyond. Any financial questions I have he answers with integrity. He takes the time to educate me financially which shows he values his customers. His staff are professional and welcoming. They do a great job at making me feel comfortable.

Review №22

2018-05-03 01:00:44

Can’t say enough about ITS Financial & Fusion Loan Advisors. Been getting our taxes done by Kiak at ITSFG for the past 3 years and he was the best decision we’ve made so far when it came to that. He holds multiple licenses which allows him to approach and see even a standard tax return from many different angles. This of course translates to the clients’ benefit. On a completely different level from just about every CPA and CTP out there.This past year was a brutal one as we experienced a home invasion burglary and home leak that was only partially covered by insurance. This complicated so many aspects of our lives including our taxes and took our debt to heights that were unbearable.Thankfully, Kiak also happens to hold a real estate broker’s license. Cue in Jennifer.Jennifer is the real estate specialist for Fusion Loan Advisors and we lucked out with having her represent us. Couldn’t have asked for anyone better. Seriously. Every “t” was crossed and “I” dotted in record time. Our cash-out refinance loan was not an easy one and required so many hurdles to overcome. She was not only on top of every aspect at any given time but made magic happen when all hope was lost. With every surprise and unexpected turn she had a solution. I know many would’ve failed but her relationships with the respective lenders or finance institutions made things work when they technically shouldn’t have. Having had the privilege of corresponding daily with her over the past month and half, I am not surprised by the solid reputation she holds and the high regard many have of her, present company included.THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and again THANK YOU Jennifer, Kiak, and team! My family and I could wholeheartedly say, without any reservation, that you guys are seriously THE BEST!

Review №23

2015-08-27 09:59:51

I needed to get my taxes in order afer not filing properly. After sitting down with Kiak he was able to answer all my questions and point me in the right direction. He took his time and consulted me on what I can and can not do and what I can look forward to in the future. Just wish I wouldve found his company years ago and wouldve saved me a lot of stress. Now looking forward to many years ahead. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Review №24

2018-03-06 03:07:53

My co-worker introduced me here over a year ago and Im grateful he did. Katie helped me out the first time and Kiak helped me this time around. Both of them were an amazing help to me and I left both times looking forward to coming back.

Review №25

2015-03-10 18:03:17

Ive used ITS for tax services for the last 3 years and have had positive experiences every time. Very satisfied with the amount of quality and time that Kiak and Katie have spent with me. They are terrific!

Review №26

2016-02-14 23:29:08

Kiak is most definitely the man! He is very professional and knowledgeable. I had a great experience working with him. He was very thorough and patient. I would recommend his services to anyone.

Review №27

2015-03-23 17:15:38

There is no coincidence that all reviews posted here are positive. Obviously because ITS FG Inc. delivers!! My experience working with the team in Gardena, CA office was nothing less than total satisfactory as they dont seize to amaze me with their vast knowledge and experience, not to mention the convenient one-stop-shopping services and impressive credentials of the owner(s) and/or partners in preparing our tax-returns which come with the bonus of solid, wise advice and directions for future financials from the expert owner himself. I can say all of these confidently, until its proven to us otherwise. From being a tax-preparation customer, Im now inclined to become their client.

Review №28

2020-07-15 03:33:24

What a life saver! Called the day before taxes were due (after an extension) and Kiak took my call and worked after hours to file on time! Would definitely recommend!

Review №29

2017-03-20 17:15:13

Highly recommend this place. The people working here are top notch when it comes to doing your taxes, and in the process of doing your taxes they will educate you in mistakes many tax places do and things to avoid. I can honestly say Ive learned some things coming here and I plan on returning next year :)

Review №30

2020-07-15 02:04:41

Gardena Financial was very quick the respond to my needs!. Kiak was very helpful and patient in helping understand the process. Will be returning!

Review №31

2016-01-30 19:06:46

Very calm relaxing environment. They take their time and make sure to help you to the fullest. For sure will recommend and come back!

Review №32

2016-01-18 19:55:16

This place was the best decision I made unlike the others in the tax business made me feel comfortable and explain 2 me about information I did not no about if u wanna get u taxes done in a professional and educational way this is the place 2 be @

Review №33

2017-05-01 21:59:36

I was quoted $350-$500 for services, but ended up paying over $800, without any proper justification. Ignoring the price paid, the service overall was satisfactory.

Review №34

2015-03-02 12:10:09

Helped me with my tax return. Great customer service. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful.