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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert McDonald | Fairway Capital Advisors | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sara Hutman | Able Wealth Management | Toms River | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Seth Hodes | Able Wealth Management | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Shabrish Menon | Finomenon | Kirkland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shaun Mutch | Fairway Capital Advisors | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Simcha Goldberg | Able Wealth Management | Toms River | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Skyler Eubank | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Tara Newton | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Timothy Bock | Adaptive Wealth Engineering | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Travis Schaat | Perspective Wealth Partners | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Tyler Ryan | Capstone RIA | Bellingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Vincent Pastorino | Buttonwood Financial Group | Kansas City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Ginsburg | Pierson Wealth Management | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| William Miles | WebsterRogers Financial Advisors | Columbia | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Promes | Austin Creek Capital | Mill Valley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cole Anderson | Intergy Private Wealth | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Danny Colburn | Colburn Wealth Management, LLC. | Grove City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Edward Daniels | Colburn Wealth Management, LLC. | Grove City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| George Pierce | Invest | Lexington | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ian Fraley | Mission Creek Capital Partners | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jack McRoskey | Jackson Square Capital | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Lloyd | QP Wealth Management | Boca Raton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Thompson | Invest | Lexington | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jamie Edwards | MYeCFO | Edgewood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Ellisor | Convergent Financial Group | Mount Pleasant | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Thompson | Invest | Lexington | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joseph Marshall | Coastal Capital Advisors | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lawrence Hing | Mission Creek Capital Partners | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lisa Heerwagen | QP Wealth Management | Summerland Key | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lorena Moudi | Mission Creek Capital Partners | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Erickson | Convergent Financial Group | Mount Pleasant | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Max O'Rourke | Jackson Square Capital | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Cordano | Jackson Square Capital | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Paul Chapman | Colburn Wealth Management, LLC. | Grove City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Gabel | Colburn Wealth Management, LLC. | Grove City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Leidner | QP Wealth Management | Haven | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Yuliana Mendez | MYeCFO | La Jolla | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alison Cornwell | Silicon Valley Capital Partners | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Combs | Silicon Valley Capital Partners | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cynthia Combs | Silicon Valley Capital Partners | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Deana Moncayo | Silicon Valley Capital Partners | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Elizabeth Dye | LoneTree Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Faraz Sattar | Accretive Wealth Management | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Beard | LoneTree Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Julianne Jeffrey | Silicon Valley Capital Partners | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kian Nobari | Integrous | San Rafael | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathaniel Lane | ClearPath Capital Partners | Menlo Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tejpartab Anand | Accretive Wealth Management | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Troy Larson | ClearPath Capital Partners | Keller | 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.