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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Jones | Boulevard Money | Nashville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| William Keen | Keen Wealth Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Kelly | Generous Wealth Management | Hull | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Levay | FCA | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Martinet | Monograph Wealth | Manhattan Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Nelson | Financial Gravity Asset Management | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| William Petty | Estabrook Capital Management | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Pittenger | Redbud Advisors | Austin | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| William Shaheen | Whitney & Company | Rochester | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Shaheen | Whitney & Company | Rochester | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Thacker | Balentine Wealth Advisors | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Zachariah Wood | ENZI Wealth | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zachary Haberman | C.H. Dean | Beavercreek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Zachary Levine | HWC Financial | Manchester Center | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zachary Roberts | Blue Heron Capital | Englewood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zakariya Wahdan | Absher Wealth Management | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam Easley | Live Oak Private Wealth | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam McLaughlin | River Raisin Investment Partners | Monroe | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Adam Meyer | Moonstone Asset Management | Brookhaven | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Adam Wachob | Pace Financial Advisors | Hillsboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ahlin Hafen | The Norden Group | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Aiden Dunne | StackStone Wealth | Dubuque | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alan Rubin | Targeted Financial Services | Seminole | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alec Abbott | The Norden Group | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alec Berens | Attessa Capital | Tucson | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alex Holtmeier | Union Strategic Advisors | Blue Ash | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alex Zubak | Sikorski Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexander Campbell | A.G. Campbell Advisory | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Campbell | A.G. Campbell Advisory | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Cooke | Optimist Capital | Palm Beach Gardens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Strauss | RDM Capital | Red Bank | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexander Urpi | Emergent Financial Services | Charlottesville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexis Stathis | Attessa Capital | Tucson | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Allen Bynum | Financial Management | Ardmore | Not listed | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Allen Montgomery | Capstone Wealth Management | Lakeland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alysia Harrick | StackStone Wealth | Marquette | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Amanda Miars | Live Oak Private Wealth | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Amanda Wray | Next Up Wealth Advisors | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ana Rebora De Luchau | Global Kandor | Miami | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andre Toce | Toce Financial Group | Mandeville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrea Whitmire | Pacific Crest Wealth Management | Eugene | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Fisher | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Jensen | Zermatt Wealth Advisors | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Angela Thorstenson | Naylor & Company | Orinda | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Anne Maclean | Heritage Investment Group | Pompano Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Anthony Allen | Andina Advisors | Providence | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anthony Visintin | Federmann Financial Advisors | Tampa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anthony Walther | Pace Financial Advisors | Hillsboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ashley White | Federmann Financial Advisors | Rocky Point | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Atticus Lavelle | Fortitude Family Office | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, 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.