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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhonda Carter | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Hapanowicz | Hapanowicz | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Hapanowicz | Hapanowicz | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Johnson | Linkside Financial | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Rodrigo Nevado | Amoretti Capital Management | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Skalberg | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ronald Whitley | Acorn Financial Services | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rush Imhotep Financial Planning practice servicing founders and investment professionals located in Atlanta GA. | Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC | ATLANTA | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Bellis | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Kolstad | AP Investment Management | Mountain View | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Ryan Robertson | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Tyler | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samuel Liebman | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Starks | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sarah Contino | CAM Investor Solutions | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Smith | Willow Grove Advisors | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Green | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Kearney | Amvoy Wealth | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Paddock | Wealth Dimensions Group | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Tyll | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seongsoo Lee | New Insight Wealth Advisors | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seth Bittner | Stillwater Private Wealth | Allentown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Shannon Ware | Acorn Financial Services | Harrisonburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shanon Tate | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shawn Pacanowski | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Steven Brandt | Acorn Financial Services | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stuart Herzog | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Theron Weimer | KFA Private Wealth Group | Tyson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Cefalu | Downtown Wealth Studios | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tony Tran | Wissahickon Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Trevor Martin | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tricia Lepofsky | KFA Private Wealth Group | Tyson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Troy Veldkamp | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Weston Bryan | Accruent Wealth Advisors | Winston-Salem | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Brilliant | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Taylor | Kirk Capital Advisors | Vienna | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Yoo Chung Chang | Upstart Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Adam Brown | Castle Coast Wealth | La Jolla | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adenikke Soremekun | Chemistry Wealth Management, LLC. | New York | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Alexander Bateh | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexander Potenza | Skyview Financial Group | Ponte Vedra Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexander Potenza | Skyview Financial Group | Ponte Vedra Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexandra Day | Council Oak Wealth Advisors | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alfred Cheung | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Allisha Curtis | THOR Wealth Management | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Amy McGinnis | Capital CS Group | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ana Abreu | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andre Luiz Paiva | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Graham | Jackson Square Capital | San Francisco | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Krout | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
Guides
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.