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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Williamson | Advisor.com | Charleston | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Milo Hanke | Hanke & Apolonio Wealth Advisors | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mitchell Gasbarro | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathan Billigmeier | Towerpoint Wealth | Sacramento | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Nathan Condon | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nathan Walsh | Occidental Asset Management | Burlingame | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Neal Stephenson | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Noel Bennett | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Olivia Kriscunas | Paratus Financial | Dallas | CFA | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| Pamela Hinton | Precedent Wealth Partners | Fredericksburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Patrick Beaird | Beaird Harris | Dallas | PFS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Paul Merrick | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Paul Warholak Jr | Sigma Investment Counselors | Northville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Paulina Price | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Peter Hedberg | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Peter Hughes | Telos Partners | Cottonwood Heights | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rachael Graf | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Randa Hoffman | RADIANT Wealth Planning | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Randol Curtis | Thryve Wealth Management | Jackson | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Reyn Eichenlaub | Canopy Wealth Management | Birmingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Pick | RightWise Wealth | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robert Pierson | Pierson Wealth Management | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Ronald Bates | St. Clair Advisors | Mayfield Heights | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rupesh Goyal | Alphanso | Rochester | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ryan Melnyk | Manzanita Wealth Management | West Sacramento | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Samantha Swiderski | CRA Financial | Northfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sarah Williams | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Dunlap | Human Capital Wealth Management | Fishers | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sean Sternbach | Cloud Capital Management | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sloane Bennett | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sophia Berglund | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stephanie Bunn | Capstone Global Advisors | Wedowee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tahlia Micoley | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tatum Duffie | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Taylor Bell | Aequitas Financial | Santa Ana | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Terry Robinette | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Theodore Fischer | Fischer Investment Strategies | Westlake Village | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Thomas Reynolds | CRA Financial | Northfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Todd Moerman | Integrity Investment Advisors | Fort Collins | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Travis Wurz | Wurz Financial Services | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Trent Hinton | Canopy Wealth Management | Middleton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Trigg Williamson | Advisor.com | Charlotte | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Wanda Williams | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| William Hardaway | WebsterRogers Financial Advisors | Florence | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Yoel Kaplowitz | Able Wealth Management | Toms River | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Aaron Randak | Golden Acre Wealth Management | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Adam Larkin | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alex Kozlowski | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrea Cloutier | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Molnar | THOR Wealth Management | Cincinnati | 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.