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 Stoll | Financial Design Studio, Inc. | Deer Park | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robert Tull | Tull Financial Group, Inc. | Chesapeake | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robinson Crawford Real, personal, specialized wealth management for families with $3M-$30M in assets run by Robinson Crawford, CFP®. | Montebello Avenue | Phoenix | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Said Israilov | Israilov Financial | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Seth Shepherd "Financial Advisor" didn't make sense to us, so we built Pillar Wealth to reflect people in 2026 instead of 1990. Don't be stuck in the past with an old, outdated formula that incentivizes laziness. Avoid any AUM model. Avoid someone labeled "Financial Advisor" who sells products like insurance. | Pillar Wealth | Franklin | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Shannon Grey | InvestEdge Planning | San Diego | CFP, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Spenser Liszt | Motif Planning | Dallas | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sridhar Krishnan | Encover Personal Finance LLC | Fremont | BS, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Stephan Shipe Flat-fee, team-reviewed planning for DIY investors and families with complex wealth, from equity compensation to business exits. | Scholar Financial Advising | Winston-Salem | CFP, CFA, PhD | Flat fee or retainer |
| Steven Neeley | Fortress Capital Advisors | Carmel | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Stratton Harrison | Vita Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| T.J. van Gerven | Memento Financial Planning | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Theodore van Gerven | Memento Financial Planning | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tim Witham | Balanced Life Planning LLC | Villa Hills | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Travis Allen Fiduciary Financial Planning & Investment Management. | Custom Wealth Planners | Ankeny | CFA, CFP, RICP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Travis McCullough | Forthright Financial Services | Weatherford | BS, CFP, MST | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Trevor Gunter | Four Pines Financial LLC | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Valerie Rivera | FirstGen Wealth | Chicago | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Wade Brittingham | Stock Plan Advisory Group LLC | Alexandria | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Will Steinberger | Think Different Financial Planning | Menlo Park | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Zach Reyes | Circadia Financial Planning | Westlake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Aaron Brickley | Brickley Wealth Management | San Mateo | CFP, CPWA | Percentage of assets |
| Ally Jane Ayers | Brooklyn FI, LLC | Brooklyn | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Anandi Krishnamurthy | AKrish Financial Advisory | Cupertino | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Andrew Mastro | Wrought Financial Planning | Haddonfield | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Barbara Clemons Personal financial planning and money education workshops that address both the technical and emotional sides of financial decisions. | Clemons Financial Education Company | Fairport | CFP, CLU, ChFC, CASL | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Benjamin Geiger | Simplified Planning | Johnston | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Brandon Amaral | Amaral Financial Planning, LLC | San Jose | CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Brian Canning | Brave New Wealth | Westlake Village | AIFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Face | Face 2 Face Financial Planning | Portage | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brittany Brinckerhoff | Hilltop Wealth Advisors, LLC | Chapel Hill | CFP, CSLP | Percentage of assets |
| Brittany Ringo | Autumn Financial Advisors, LLC | Plymouth | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chelsea Ransom-Cooper Zenith Wealth Partners provides a flexible retirement planning and investment management approach that inspires our clients to take financial action. | Zenith Wealth Partners | Philadelphia | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Chris Arnold | Refresh Wealth | University City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Chris Hostetler | Hilltop Wealth Advisors | Chapel Hill | CDAA, CFP, CRPS, Certified Student Loan Professional | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Annello | SAGEbroadview Wealth Management, LLC | Farmington | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Clandine Schrock | Montis Financial | Waltham | CFP, CPWA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cody Cassidy | TCI Wealth Advisors, Inc. | Scottsdale | CFP, CPA, MBA, AAMS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Mahoney | True Square Financial LLC | Atlanta | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Frisch | Frisch Financial Group, Inc. | New York | CFP, CPA/PFS, CFS, CDFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Deirdre Hegarty | Branch & Bloom Financial Planning, LLC | Menlo Park | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Donovan Brooks | Prospurpose Wealth | Saint Joseph | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Edward B. Aufman | Aufman Associates Inc. | Longboat Key | BS, CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Grant Olson | Ronald Olson, Inc. | Lehi | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets |
| Helen Ngo | Capital Benchmark Partners, LLC | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ian Wild | All-Pro Advisors LLC | Gibsonia | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| J. David Principe | SAGEbroadview Wealth Management, LLC | Farmington | CFP, Certified Student Loan Professional, CPA/PFS, RLP | Ongoing planning fee |
| J. Scott Kittrell | Modera Wealth Management, LLC | New York | CFP, CFA, ACA, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jake Skelhorn Tax-smart financial advice for high-earners and pre-retirees | Spark Wealth Advisors | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jason Hoffman | LGBTQ Wealth Planning LLC | Austin | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
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.