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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Belmonte | SummitView Advisors | Belmont | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Clark | Redwood Money | San Jose | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeffrey Hilliard | CRA Financial | Haddonfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jessica Lanning | Lanning Financial | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| John Kenny | Illumination Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jonathan Horst | The Horst Group | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joseph McCaffrey | CRA Financial | Haddonfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Williams | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Kent Hickey | Ubequity Wealth Management, LLC | Round Rock | CFP, CPWA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberly Nickel | Illumination Wealth Management | La Grange | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kristin McKenna | Darrow Wealth Management | Needham | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kyle Kuyat | Defining Wealth | Franklin | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Lantz Bowman | Precedent Wealth Partners | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Marisa Bradbury | Sigma Investment Counselors | Lake Mary | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Mark Buchanan | Canopy Wealth Management | Middleton | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew McCreary | Darrow Wealth Management | Needham | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Reynolds | CRA Financial | Northfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Mullenax | Sigma Investment Counselors | Northville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Mitchell DeWitt | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nancy Metzger | MAPT Capital | Madison | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Nathan Mateer Helping people understand their financial situation and showing them the real-world impact it has on their lives | Generations Financial Management | Heath | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Nathaniel Sarkar | Redwood Money | Sunnyvale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicholas Maratta | Occidental Asset Management | Winter Springs | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Norman Mangina | Illumination Wealth Management | Palm Springs | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Olivia Knapp | Colleen Weber CPA | Chanhassen | CFP | Fixed fees |
| Philip Tompkins | CRA Financial | Northfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Preston Cherry | Concurrent Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Farmer | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robert Hamilton | Integrity Investment Advisors | Fort Collins | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Martin | CRA Financial | Haddonfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Nelson | RLN Wealth | Plymouth | CFP, CPA, MBA, MS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sara Gawick | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sean Kelleher | Riverchase Wealth Management | Flower Mound | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stacia Bearden | Wurz Financial Services | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Pitchford | Towerpoint Wealth | Sacramento | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Tammy Trenta | Family Financial | Manhattan Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Thomas Little | Yeti Wealth Management Group | Highlands Ranch | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Thomas Van Spankeren | RISE Investments | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Tom Taylor | Chesapeake Financial Advisors | Towson | CPA/PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Vincent DeCrow | RISE Investments | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Wenma Gorman | Sigma Investment Counselors | Northville | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| William Nunn | Ninety West Global Wealth | New Orleans | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zachary Benton | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Aaron Freeman | Snake River Investment Counsel | Idaho Falls | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Addison Delage CAPTRUST is a leading independent investment research and advisory firm providing comprehensive wealth management services to individuals and institutions. | CAPTRUST | Raleigh | CFA, CFP, CPA | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Alfred Au | DiversiFi Capital | Los Altos | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Anton Bayer | Up Capital Management | Bulverde | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ashley Bleckner | Ellevest | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Beth Lundberg | Hawthorne Wellman Financial Planning | Tyngsboro | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Bjorn Amundson A systematic approach to financial planning and investment overview | Quarry Hill Advisors | St Paul | CFP | Percentage of assets |
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.