For Antonia La Rocca, financial well-being is inseparable from whole-person wellness. “If you don’t know where you are or where you want to go, life becomes more confusing and less optimal,” she says. “Clarity naturally reduces stress.” It’s a philosophy rooted not only in her decades of technical expertise, but in a lifetime of experience that shaped her into an advisor who leads with empathy as much as skill.
Long before founding Saige Private Wealth Management in 2022, Antonia was unknowingly preparing for the work she does now. As a VIP Tour Guide at Disneyland during her studies at Loyola Marymount University, she learned to interact with people from all walks of life, training that would later become just as valuable as her academic credentials.
After earning her degree in biology and chemistry, she moved into medical sales, eventually founding and selling her own medical services company. With the proceeds, she pursued a master’s degree in business taxation at USC, where she became the first in her cohort to secure a position with a Big Six accounting firm during the 1990 recession. There, she earned her CPA license and gained a deep understanding of how tax strategy shapes financial outcomes.
Her transition into wealth management felt natural—an opportunity to combine analytics with advocacy. But after nearly three decades in the industry, Antonia realized that the traditional brokerage model limited her ability to serve as a true fiduciary.
The pandemic crystallized what she had long felt: clients needed more personal, values-aligned guidance, free from the pressures of large institutions. Saige Private Wealth was founded on that belief.
At Saige, financial planning is more than a service; it’s a wellness practice. Antonia sees financial clarity as a stabilizing force that supports emotional balance, family harmony, and peace of mind. “Your finances are a major part of your ability to live the life you wish for,” she says. “Understanding where you stand and where you want to go naturally reduces stress.”
Her perspective is enriched by her current master’s studies in gerontology at USC. By understanding the emotional and practical realities of aging, she’s able to help clients prepare for long-term needs, caregiving responsibilities, legacy planning, and the transitions that accompany each stage of life. “Goals and needs shift as we age,” she says. “By understanding that journey, we can help clients feel secure and satisfied at every point.”
The heart of Saige’s approach lies in aligning financial strategies with personal values—not just income or net worth. Antonia and her all-female, bilingual team prioritize listening deeply, educating thoughtfully, and creating plans that reflect each client’s life goals.
One meaningful example is the story of “Megan,” a single mother and attorney whom the team supported for more than a decade. Saige helped her navigate benefit decisions, plan for her daughter’s education, and prepare for long-term needs. When Megan was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer just as she was expecting her first grandchild, Saige guided her and her daughter through disability claims, long-term care benefits, estate documents, and end-of-life decisions with clarity and compassion. After Megan’s passing, Saige continued to support her daughter and young family, helping them step into their next chapter with confidence.
It is this long-view, relationship-centered approach—one that honors the emotional side of financial life—that defines Saige.
Santa Barbara is more than the home of Saige’s office; it’s a reflection of the firm’s philosophy. “True wealth is rooted in intentional living,” Antonia says. “It’s prioritizing time with family, cultivating community, and enjoying the place you call home.”
Two-thirds of the Saige team were born and raised in Santa Barbara, giving the firm a deep connection to the Central Coast's culture and values. They actively support local organizations, including the SB International Film Festival, the Children’s Creative Project, and seasonal initiatives with the SB Food Bank.
While Saige serves clients nationwide, the region’s emphasis on balance, purpose, and community shapes the firm’s values-based approach everywhere.
For anyone looking to strengthen their financial well-being in the new year, Antonia recommends beginning not with a spreadsheet, but with self-reflection. “Take a breath and ask what you want this year to feel like,” she says. “Then connect that feeling to your financial habits.”
Her advice is simple, accessible, and grounded in the belief that financial health is an ongoing practice:
- Refresh your goals to ensure they reflect what matters most now.
- Simplify your financial life; fewer accounts, clearer systems, less clutter.
- Plan intentionally, choosing small, consistent steps over big, stressful leaps.
- Give yourself grace—financial wellness is a journey, not a race.
For Antonia, “true wealth” has a beautifully grounded definition: “Peace of mind. It’s generosity, security, purpose, and the clarity to recognize when you already have enough.”
In a season centered on renewal, Saige Private Wealth invites clients to view financial planning not as a task but as a path toward whole-person well-being—one where clarity brings calm, confidence brings balance, and every decision aligns with the life they truly want to live.
Saige Private Wealth Management | 805-456-2400 |info@sagepwm.com
Securities offered through Sanctuary Securities, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sanctuary Advisors, LLC., an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Saige Private Wealth is a DBA of Sanctuary Securities, Inc. and Sanctuary Advisors, LLC.