Estate & legacy planning
Estate and legacy planning covers the coordination of wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, lifetime gifting, generation-skipping and dynasty planning, and the implementation work that sits between the attorney's documents and the household balance sheet. Advisors listed here coordinate closely with trusts-and-estates counsel and carry the plan forward through life events.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 6,173 fee-only financial advisors focused on estate & legacy planning at 2,325 firms, most in Houston, San Diego and Austin. 44% hold the CFP certification. Of the 6162 with fees on file, 91% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 6,173
- Firms
- 2,325
- Cities
- 1,184
- Hold the CFP
- 44%
- Other credentials: CFA 9% · CPA 2% · EA 1%
- How they charge (of 6162 with fees on file): percentage of assets 91% · fixed fees 54% · hourly 44% · ongoing planning fee 12%
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 estate & legacy planning
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Woodward | Blend Wealth | Indianapolis | CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Todd Kephart | Retirement Income Solutions, Inc. | Ann Arbor | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Tom Massie | Massie Financial Planning | Alexandria | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Tomas Geoghegan | Beacon Hill Private Wealth | Summit | CFP, CIMA, CPWA, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Tommy Blackburn | Mason & Associates | Newport News | CFP, CPA, PFS | Ongoing planning fee |
| Travis Ray | By Design Financial Planning | Greensboro | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Trent Porter | Priority Financial Partners | Denver | CFP, CPA, MAcc | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Trevor Ausen | Authentic Life Financial Planning | Minneapolis | CFP, RICP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Trevor Winter | New Heights Planning, LLC | Houston | CFP, CRPC | Ongoing planning fee |
| Vincent Renaut | Pier 42 Advisors | South Dennis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Arnold | AVID Planning | Saint Petersburg | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Zach Barton | Barton Financial Group LLC | Kyle | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Aaron Hector | Doherty & Bryant Financial Strategists | Calgary | CFP, RFP, TEP | Not listed |
| Alex Jankowski | Timeless Wealth, LLC | Phoenixville | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ali Criss | Financial Insights | Tacoma | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anna Knight | Simplicity Financial | mississauga | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Bob Knode | Knode Wealth Management | Plano | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brendan O'Rourke | Greenway Financial Advisors LLC | Burlington | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brenna Baucum | Collective Wealth Planning, LLC | Salem | CFP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brenna Jensen-Baucum | Collective Wealth Planning | Salem | CFP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brent Hamilton | WBH Financial Services, LLC | Lake Oswego | CDFA, CFP, EA, MS | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Charles Edson | Wealth Being Advisors | Hermosa Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Cherise Berman | Bespoke Financial Consulting Inc. | Toronto | CA, CFP, RFP, TEP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Chris Mamula A former physical therapist and consumer advocate offering low-cost, advice-only planning to working families pursuing financial independence. | Abundo Wealth | Ogden | CFP | Subscription |
| Christopher Hodges | Hodges Financial Group | Nashville | CFP, CPFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Claire Thornton | Hyla Financial | Scottsdale | CFP, MST | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dale Shafer Ii | Life Moves Wealth Management, LLC | Scotttsdale | CFP, APMA, CDFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Dan Stous | Flagstone Financial Management | Lincoln | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Kopp | Wise Stewardship Financial Planning | Lakewood Ranch | CFP, MSFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Danny Clare | Flagstone Financial Management | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Darren Koch | Steigerwald, Gordon & Koch Inc. | Leesburg | CEPA, CFP, CRPS, Other | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Miller | Rule72 Financial | Potomac Falls | CFP, MSC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Shotwell | Shotwell Rutter Baer, Inc. | Lansing | CFP, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Deb Meyer | WorthyNest LLC | Punta Gorda | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Drew Feutz | Migration Wealth Management, LLC | Avon | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Dwayne Reinike | Valiant Financial Planning | Kirkland | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Edmond Fhima | Tulett, Matthews and Assoc. | Kirkland | C.Adm.F.P., CFP, RFP | Not listed |
| Ella Taylor | Ella Financial Advising | Oakland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Stutzman | Selkirk Wealth Advisors | Spokane | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| G. Christian Mauser | ATLas Investment Advisors | Alpharetta | CFP, CIMA, CRC, CRPC | Percentage of assets |
| Germaine Weldon | Inspired Financial Planners, LLC | Gulfport | CFP, CPA/PFS, Certified Student Loan Professional, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Glen Smith | GDS Wealth Management | Flower Mound | CFP, CRPC | Percentage of assets |
| Grant Joiner | Vineyard Wealth Group | Vineyard Haven | CFP, AAMS, EA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Greg McCall | Eagle Financial Planning | Eagle | CFP, ChFC, RICP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Heather Comella | Folsom Wealth Advisors | Folsom | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Heather Holjevac | Heather Holjevac, The Holjevac Group | Mississauga | CFP, CDFA, EPC, FP Canada Fellow Distinction | Not listed |
| James Ashby | Mustard Seed Wealth Management | Magnolia | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Davis | Partnership Financial LLC | Columbus | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| James Estep Iii | Everest Financial Advisors | Cooper City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James McDougal Project-based, advice-only equity compensation planning for professionals who want plain-English analysis while staying in control of their decisions. | HiFi Planning | Long Beach | CFP, ECA | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
Guides
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Estate attorney vs financial planner: who does what in an estate plan
An estate attorney drafts and signs the legal documents: wills, trusts, powers of attorney. A financial planner works out what those documents should do and keeps beneficiaries, accounts and taxes lined up. Most people need the attorney for the documents and a planner for the rest.
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Estate planning in Canada: what you need and what it costs
A Canadian estate plan is a will, two powers of attorney, up-to-date beneficiary designations and a plan for the tax due at death. The documents come from a lawyer or notary; a one-time plan from a fee-only planner costs a median C$1,900.
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Setting up an estate plan: the documents and the order
A basic estate plan is a will, a durable financial power of attorney, a healthcare directive and up-to-date beneficiary forms, plus a revocable trust for many families. Federal estate tax starts at $15 million in 2026, but some states tax estates from $1 million. A one-time plan from a fee-only planner costs a median $2,000.
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After a death in the family: the first 90 days
In the first 90 days, get death certificates, secure the home and accounts, find the will and let the deadlines set the order. Most money decisions can wait. A few can't, including Social Security paid for the month of death and, for estates that need one, an estate tax return due 9 months after the death.
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How to review your beneficiary designations
Beneficiary forms decide who receives your retirement accounts, life insurance and transfer-on-death accounts, whatever your will says. Check every form after a marriage, divorce, birth or death. A divorce doesn't reliably remove an ex from a workplace plan, and a 401(k) generally goes to your spouse unless they sign a witnessed waiver.
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Financial planning for a blended family
In a second marriage, the default rules often leave everything to the new spouse and nothing to children from before. Beneficiary forms, trusts and a written agreement fix that. A one-time plan from a fee-only planner costs a median $2,000.