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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Woodard | THOR Wealth Management | Cincinnati | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Anthony Craun | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Arynton Hardy I work with tech employees, founders, and high-performers navigating equity, liquidity events, and non-traditional income. | Savvy | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Ashwini Patil | GoalVest Advisory | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brad Heindel | 46 Peaks Investment Advisory Group | Newtown | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Braden DeForge | GoalVest Advisory | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brenda Vingiello | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Dombkowski | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Ferrin | MA Private Wealth | San Carlos | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brianna Shealey Helping clients find clarity of their financial future while humanizing the financial planning experience. | Buena Vista Financial Planning LLC | Decatur | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Britt Joyce | Regatta Capital Group | El Segundo | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cassandra Golden | May Hill Capital | Stuttgart, Germany | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Dunn | Intergy Private Wealth | Colorado Springs | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christina Light | Emissary Wealth | Hackensack | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Cacchiola | Emissary Wealth | Hackensack | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Gauthier | Stonehearth Capital Management | Danvers | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Clayton Gardner Award-winning modern wealth management firm for high earning professionals. | Titan | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Cody Vanderhagen | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Colby Davis | RHS Financial | San Francisco | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Cole Durkin | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dane May DePaolo & May Strategic Wealth is a modern, boutique financial advisory firm helping high earners and high net-worth individuals grow and protect their wealth through personalized investment strategies and forward-thinking planning. | D&M Strategic Wealth | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Meyers | Adventure Wealth | Ridgway | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Armstrong | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| David Juliano | Stonehearth Capital Management | Danvers | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Nelson | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Derek Jones | Scratch Capital | Boise | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dylan Stockwell | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Emily Green | Ellevest | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Emily Richard | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Erica Arroyo | MA Private Wealth | San Carlos | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Erik Mosholt | 46 Peaks Investment Advisory Group | Newtown | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Felicia Greenwald | Financial Futures | Brielle | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Geoffrey Schaefer | Intergy Private Wealth | Colorado Springs | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gina DiGirolamo | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Harish Prabandham | Rubric Advisors | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Harry Martin | GoalVest Advisory | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Hayden Kibbey | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Henri Moudi | Mission Creek Capital Partners | San Francisco | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Smith | Invest | Lexington | CFP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| James Stechschulte | THOR Wealth Management | Cincinnati | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jan Schalkwijk | JPS Global Investments | West Linn | CFA | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Jared La Blue | DiversiFi Capital | Los Altos | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Jesse Celeste Artistic Wealth was created for endowments, entrepreneurs, and pre-retirees/retirees who want custom tailored planning, a wealth partner who listens and acts in the best interest of the client. | Artistic Wealth | Red Bank | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Joseph Somerset | Beantown Financial Advisors | Jefferson | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Williams | Williams Wealth Management | Hopkinton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Julia Shaw | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Julie Betoni | Ignite Financial | Ponte Vedra Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Keely McLeod | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kristina Joy Torrealba | Jackson Square Capital | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kyle Dandurand | Chemistry Wealth Management, LLC. | New York | CFA | Ongoing 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.