Equity compensation
Equity compensation planning covers the tax, diversification, and cash-flow decisions that come with stock-based pay: RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPP, 83(b) elections, AMT, and strategies for concentrated positions before and after an IPO or secondary. Advisors with depth here can model the lifecycle of an equity grant alongside the rest of a household's financial plan.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 1,349 fee-only financial advisors focused on equity compensation at 643 firms, most in San Francisco, Austin and New York. 53% hold the CFP certification. Of the 1348 with fees on file, 85% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 1,349
- Firms
- 643
- Cities
- 420
- Hold the CFP
- 53%
- Other credentials: CFA 12% · CPA 3% · EA 3%
- How they charge (of 1348 with fees on file): percentage of assets 85% · hourly 39% · fixed fees 37% · ongoing planning fee 24%
Source: Wellspent public graph, data as of . Shares are of advisors listed here; an advisor can hold several credentials or fee types. Methodology
Advisors with depth in equity compensation
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saket Sengar | Better Financial Services | Federal Way | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Deane Financial advice for startup founders and tech employees with equity compensation. | Rora Wealth | Atlanta | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Sevasti Balafas | GoalVest Advisory | New York | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sharon Khan | DeDora Capital | Napa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Andrusko | Integrated Capital Planning | Bend | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Peterson | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sylvia Kwan | Ellevest | San Francisco | CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Tara Manista | Sachi Financial Planning | Newport Beach | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Thomas Jennings | Keen Capital | Westminster | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Thomas Kopelman We help high net income/ high worth business owners manage their entire financial life. | AllStreet Wealth | Carmel | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Thomas Manetta I take great pride in having built a business that truly honors my clients best interests without interference from anything. This allows me to help my clients, without hurting them. | Manetta Wealth Management | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Timothy Raftis | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tracy McGuire | Brandywine Oak Private Wealth | Kennett Square | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Trevor Scotto | Fiduciary Financial Group | San Rafael | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tristan Cox | Wealth Span Capital Management | Northfield | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Tyler Stearns | Castle Coast Wealth | La Jolla | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Litton | Castle Coast Wealth | Incline Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| 5T Wealth Management Financial advisory firm in Napa with a focus on clients needing comprehensive financial planning and sophisticated investment solutions. | 5T Wealth Management | Napa | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Aaron Buckholtz | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Adrienne Fox | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexander Lippitt | Lakewood Financial Group | Evanston | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Amy Fisher | WebsterRogers Financial Advisors | Florence | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Cattano | Occidental Asset Management | Burlingame | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Hicks | Occidental Asset Management | Altamonte Springs | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Klein | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Madison | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Anna Hong | New Insight Wealth Advisors | San Ramon | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ashley Perlmutter | Sherman Wealth | Gaithersburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Barry Mendel | Mendel Money Management | Northbrook | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Benjamin Rinkey | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Blake Martin | Cloud Capital Management | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Bradley Sherman | Sherman Wealth | Gaithersburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brady Storhoff | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brent Woolsey | Red Crane Wealth | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Kopp | Canopy Wealth Management | Middleton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Bryan Llewellyn | Llewellyn Financial | Charlotte | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Caitlyn Driehorst | RightWise Wealth | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Cassidy Steck | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Chengkuo Chen | Redwood Money | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christina Gamache | RADIANT Wealth Planning | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Stevenson | Telos Partners | Avon | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Clinton Walkner | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Cole Hystead | Logan Park Wealth Management | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dajin Yang | New Insight Wealth Advisors | San Ramon | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dallas Trahern | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Carroll | Alliance Private Wealth | Bee Cave | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel DeSouza | Not listed | Honolulu | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Danielle Brown | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Muehl | Canopy Wealth Management | Middleton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Ybarra | Aspired Wealth | Loveland | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Dinghao Jiang | Downtown Wealth Studios | Wellesley | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
Guides
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Financial advisor for RSUs and stock options
An equity compensation advisor plans when to exercise and sell, covers the tax your employer under-withholds, and keeps one stock from running your plan. Fee-only planners charge a median $4,500 a year.
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Independent RIA vs wirehouse: which is better for you?
A wirehouse advisor works for a large national brokerage firm, is usually registered as both broker and adviser, and sells from the firm's platform. An independent RIA owns its firm, keeps your money at an outside custodian and owes a fiduciary duty throughout. Fee-only RIAs charge a median 1% of assets.
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Is Goldman Sachs fee-only? How Goldman Sachs is paid and what it costs
No. Goldman Sachs Ayco charges planning and advisory fees, but its advisors are also Goldman Sachs brokers and can be paid on commissions, insurance and referrals. Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management sits inside Goldman Sachs & Co., a broker and an adviser in one firm.
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Company stock in your 401(k): when NUA saves tax
If your 401(k) holds your employer's stock, the NUA rules can tax most of its growth as a long-term capital gain instead of income. It pays off when the plan's cost basis is low. Ask for the basis before you roll anything over.
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Planning for a concentrated stock position
When one stock is a large share of what you own, the plan is a schedule for bringing it down while keeping the tax manageable: sales spread over years, shares given to charity, and for large holdings, exchange funds or hedges. A one-time plan from a fee-only planner has a median of $2,000.
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Do I need a financial advisor?
You probably don't need one for a simple situation you're happy managing. You likely do when money decisions get complex, large or hard to undo.