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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donna Savastani | CRA Financial | Northfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Dustin Irish | Irish Capital | Olathe | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Elijah Lyons | Lookahead Wealth | West Linn | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Emily Bushong | Kaizen Financial Advisors | Canyon Lake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Larson | Sigma Investment Counselors | Northville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Eric Showalter | Arbor Private Wealth | Ashburn | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Erica Nortman | Capitol Family Office | Beaverton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ernest Moosherr | Canopy Wealth Management | Middleton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Evan Darr | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Federico Londono Castillo | Occidental Asset Management | Altamonte Springs | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Frederick Moosherr | Canopy Wealth Management | Birmingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Geovanni James | Occidental Asset Management | Burlingame | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Grace Trewartha | MAPT Capital | Madison | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Hannah Farrow | RightWise Wealth | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Hannah Spillman | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Hart Williams | Cloud Capital Management | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Heidi Arneson | Precedent Wealth Partners | Katy | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Henry Preston | Veteran Wealth Planning | Ferrisburgh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ian Beardsley | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jacob Bossert | Konza Global Wealth Group | Chicago | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Brilliant | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jarman Reilly | CRA Financial | Northfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Foster | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Marsh | Cognition Financial | Dublin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeffery Sutton | Logan Park Wealth Management | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Wu | Red Crane Wealth | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Colon | CRA Financial | Northfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Hughes | CRA Financial | Northfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Levangie | Darrow Wealth Management | Needham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Wilbourne | Occidental Asset Management | Bellevue | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Jonathan Crantz | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Eschleman | Towerpoint Wealth | Sacramento | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Justin Ramirez Business appraisals to help owners plan their next move | Insight Valuations, LLC | Houston | CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Keith Poniewaz | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kellen Thayer | Advisor.com | Charleston | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Kirti Bhanushali | Dversify | Georgetown | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Kory Lackey | Cloud Capital Management | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kristy Groth | Precedent Wealth Partners | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kyle McGrath | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kyle Smith | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Laurie Klein | Kaizen Financial Advisors | Kirkland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Manuel Apolonio | Hanke & Apolonio Wealth Advisors | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Manuel Ortiz Aquino | Occidental Asset Management | Burlingame | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Mark Burka | Mendel Money Management | Northbrook | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Nortman | Capitol Family Office | Beaverton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Mary Jo Staniszewski | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Dellovo | BFA Wealth Management | Delray Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Matthew Liebman | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Rinkey | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Megan Miller | Towerpoint Wealth | Sacramento | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
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.