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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William March | Spring City Partners | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Zaheer Poptani | Asempa Wealth Advisors | Baton Rouge | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Zaineb Sohail | Kaizen Financial Strategies | Pleasanton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zealan Hoover | Torrey Growth & Income Advisors | Washington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adarsh Shyamsundar | Polaris Capital Management | El Dorado Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Amy Showalter | Arbor Private Wealth | Ashburn | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrew Waymire | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Beth Carrington | Perceptive Edge | Wayzata | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brandon Cruz | Adaptive Wealth Engineering | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Carrington | Perceptive Edge | Wayzata | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Carter | Pierson Wealth Management | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carlos Carriedo Samaniego | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Corbin Hixson | Alpha Squared Capital | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Steinbrink | St. Clair Advisors | Mayfield Heights | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Benning | Logan Park Wealth Management | Minneapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Freisner | Konza Global Wealth Group | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Hall | Stride Financial Planning | Madera | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Miller | Auctus Advisors | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Sommer | St. Clair Advisors | Mayfield Heights | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dean Julian | Fischer Investment Strategies | Westlake Village | Not listed | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Dipit Gupta | Finomenon | Kirkland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Drake Wright | WebsterRogers Financial Advisors | Florence | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Elchanan Abramowitz | Able Wealth Management | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Elena Hawk | Hawk Advisory | San Francisco | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Fionn Allen | Adaptive Wealth Engineering | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Fred Botek | St. Clair Advisors | Mayfield Heights | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gene Rice | Wealth Preservation Advisors | Chattanooga | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Gil Berman | Gil Berman Financial Adviser | Boulder | Not listed | Hourly |
| Griffin Leahy Can handle all of your financial needs from banking, investments, mortgages, to estate planning. | Not listed | Evanston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Bailey | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Ridgeway | Leeward Financial Partners | Bellevue | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Sexton | Phillip James Financial | Plymouth | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jessica Ash | Fischer Investment Strategies | Westlake Village | Not listed | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jessica Harrington | WebsterRogers Financial Advisors | Florence | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jon McGraw | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kaden Ludlow | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Karo Kochounian | Elevate Capital | Fishers | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Katherine Kochounian | Elevate Capital | Fishers | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Lettie Sihota | Capstone RIA | Sumas | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Lisa Spradling | Fischer Investment Strategies | Westlake Village | Not listed | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Mallen Bruggeman | Auctus Advisors | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Ravenscroft | Adaptive Wealth Engineering | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Maximillian Morgan | Lookahead Wealth | West Linn | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Tanney | Pereon Wealth | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Myles Brady | Hegdahl Investment Management | Fairbanks | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nina Strozak | Wealth Preservation Advisors | Chattanooga | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Paige Moon | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Patrick Peters | Wealth Preservation Advisors | Chattanooga | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Rebekah Adams | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Remington Conte | Adaptive Wealth Engineering | Las Vegas | 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.