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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micah Gibson | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Santa Rosa Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael McCabe | Kera Capital | Bend | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Munson | MYeCFO | La Jolla | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michelle Francis | Life Story Financial | Arvada | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Mitchell Towne | LeClair Wealth Partners | Dublin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Nathan Tonsager | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Joseph | Sentinel Wealth Management | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick Latta | ACT Advisors | Asheville | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Patrick Mauney | Mauney-Pitt Financial Management | Shelby | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Peter Gillis | Pallas Capital Advisors | Oak Bluffs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Praveena Naduthota | Pallas Capital Advisors | Westford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Mayo | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Randal Trinidad-Ambar | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Richard Mueller | Peak Investment Advisors | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Mullen | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Pitt | Mauney-Pitt Financial Management | Shelby | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Roger Chen | MYeCFO | New York | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Roman Skurdal | Ceva Advisors | Beavercreek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ruchi Sengar | Better Financial Services | Federal Way | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Mendoza | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Rogers | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Samuel Eilbaum | Chemistry Wealth Management, LLC. | New York | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Samuel Tidd | Scratch Capital | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sara Craven | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Behr | Simplify Financial Planning | San Francisco | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Saul Greene | Kaizen Financial Strategies | Pleasanton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Allison | Kera Capital | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Bell | Gross Domestic Product | Playa Del Rey | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Scott Bennington | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Rogers | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sean Meunier | Holden Family Office | North Palm Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Planchard | Torrey Growth & Income Advisors | Del Mar | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seth Maier | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Santa Rosa Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Shaina Englund | Ceva Advisors | Woodinville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shannon Castaneda | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Shaunak Tripathi | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Shayne Cooper | Fiduciary Financial Group | Rohnert Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shivani Patel | DeDora Capital | Napa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Spencer Kelly | Regatta Capital Group | El Segundo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Heitzmann | Bauer Heitzmann | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Kylander | Pallas Capital Advisors | Warren | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steve Maconi | Brandywine Oak Private Wealth | Kennett Square | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Terri Cavagnaro | DeDora Capital | Napa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Neja | Capital CS Group | Corona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Vogelheim | Fiduciary Financial Group | San Rafael | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Todd Carbone | Capital CS Group | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Todd Vandam | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tristan Smith | Bauer Heitzmann | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Tyler Kiepke | Holden Family Office | North Palm Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Vincci Ma | Kera Capital | Daly City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Walter Thomas | GoalFusion Wealth Management | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Becker | DeDora Capital | Napa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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.