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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Nelson | Measured Money Maneuvers LLC | Solana Beach | CFP, ChFC, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Alex Caswell | Wealth Script Advisors | San Francisco | CFP, CFA, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Alex Caswell-Yatsenko | Wealth Script Advisors | San Francisco | CFA, CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Alex Crouch | Tech Financial Planning | Spring Hill | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Mitchell I'm a wealth advisor who helps entrepreneurs and business owners make smart financial decisions; whether it's managing a windfall, funding a business venture, or building generational wealth so they can invest in themselves, their communities, and their passions. | Fiduciary Financial Advisors | Grand Rapids | CFP | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Angela Dorsey | Dorsey Wealth Management | Torrance | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ariadne Horstman | Tamarind Financial Planning | Palo Alto | CFP, RLP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Audrey Emerson Planning with no minimums for newlyweds, freelancers and creative millennials, usually through a four- to five-month integrated process. | AdviceOnly | Bellingham | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Brian Seymour Guiding First-Generation Wealth Builders | Prosperitage Wealth | Mcdonough | CFP, ChFC, RICP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Bryan Minogue | Kardinal Financial | Madison | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Cameron Willcox | Willcox Wealth Management | Denver | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Carolyn Masline | CareGen Wealth Management | San Mateo | CDFA, CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Chloe Moore | Financial Staples | Atlanta | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Chris Woods | Silvis Financial | Charlotte | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Cole Williams | Vessel Financial Planning | Plano | BFA, CFP, CIMA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Curtis Crossland | Suttle Crossland Wealth Advisors, LLC | Scottsdale | CFP, CFA, MBA, EA | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Frankel | WealthCollab | Bellevue | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Danielle Harrison | Harrison Financial Planning | Columbia | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Uhlmann | Synergos Advisory LLC | Seattle | AAMS, CFP, MS, APMA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Dustin Suttle | Suttle Crossland Wealth Advisors, LLC | Scottsdale | CFP, MBA, AAMS, CRPC | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Emilie Goldman | Tamarind Financial Planning | Palo Alto | CFA, CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Eric Franklin | Prospero Wealth | Seattle | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ethan Pepper | Orchard City Wealth Management, LLC | Los Gatos | CFP, EA, RLP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Evan Luongo | NoDa Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Evan Marquis | Milestone Financial Planning, LLC | Bedford | CFP, EA, RICP, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gabriel Motta | Inclinevest® | Plano | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Greg Crofton | Adap Tax Financial, Inc. | Pleasanton | CFP, EA | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Gustaf Rounick | Westlight Wealth | Venice | BA, CFP, MSC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Holly Davis Planning for busy families with active outdoor lives balancing competing goals, plus equity compensation guidance for tech workers. | Alta Via Financial Planning LLC | Seattle | CFP, CPA | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Jackson Xu | X AND Y ADVISORS, INC. | El Segundo | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeff Burke | 7th Street Financial | Chaska | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Schlotterbeck Water Street Wealth Management is an independent financial advisory firm providing personalized financial planning, investment management, tax strategies, and estate planning for individuals, families, and businesses. | Water Street Wealth Management | Tampa | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Walters Hourly, fee-only advice on planning, taxes and investments for DIY investors who want to keep managing their own portfolios. | Advisia Financial Planning, LLC | Bellevue | CFP, EA | Hourly |
| Jessica Merino | Merino Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joe Forish | Fortrove Partners | New York | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joel Cundick I am part of a team that transforms personal and financial dreams into goals, and goals into reality, working to build one million ideal futures for our clients, our team, and the communities we serve. | Savant Wealth Management | Phoenix | AIF, CFP, CPA/PFS, CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jonathan Harner | Wichita Wealth Management, LLC | Wichita | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Joshua Short | OptimalPath Advisors, LLC | Church Hill | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Josue Luque De Julio | Next Gen Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Horowitz Advice-only planning for environmentally and socially conscious people who want to align their money, investments and values. | Just Advising | Raleigh | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Kelly Palmer Planning for millennial parents with equity compensation, through a series of meetings that bring structure and clarity to family finances. | The Wealthy Parent LLC | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Kevin Jacobs | Step By Step Financial LLC | Tulsa | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Leah Coleman | Orchard Financial Group | Austin | CFP, AAMS | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Lynn Chen-Zhang | Zhang Financial | Bloomfield Hills | CFP, CPA, MBA, MS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthias Giezendanner | San Francisco Wealth Planning LLC | Petaluma | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Zeiter | Foundations Financial Planning | Carthage | CFP, CPA, PFS | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Otto Rivera | Mindful Wealth LLC | St Louis | CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Paul Carriere | Carriere Financial Planning | Colorado Springs | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Rachel Lawrence | Reverie Wealth | Rochester | CFP, MSFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Rafael Melendez | Next Gen Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | 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.