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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Miller | Pathway Financial Advisers | Auburn | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Beatrice Tiberii | Family Fiduciary Services | Beverly | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Beau Woodward | Woodward Diversified Capital | Bakersfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ben McCollum | Pacific Point Wealth Management | Carlsbad | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Benjamin Fischer | Waterfront | Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Benjamin Hall | Chipser Wealth Management | Destin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Benjamin Wilson | Wilson + Boucher | Fairfax | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Blake Harris | Windward Private Wealth Management | Kansas City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brad Sorensen | The Norden Group | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bradley Ferney | The Norden Group | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bradley Horn | Saffron Capital | Minneapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bradley Price | Moonstone Asset Management | Northbrook | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Braiden Miller | Corundum Group | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brandon Lockwood | Lockwood Wealth Strategies | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brandy Ward | Windward Private Wealth Management | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brent Cochran | The Norden Group | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brent Lee | Dodds Wealth | Greenwood Village | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brett Chipser | Chipser Wealth Management | Destin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Caine | CSJ Wealth Management | Solana Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brian Laurie | Green Peaks Planning | Surprise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Smith | Southeast Financial Advisors | Greenville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Vendig | MJP Wealth Advisors | Farmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brittany Glendenning | StackStone Wealth | Dubuque | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bruno Larocca | RDM Capital | Red Bank | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Caleb Richmond | Woodward Diversified Capital | Bakersfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cameron O'Neill | Family Fiduciary Services | Beverly | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carlos Rodrigues | Fortune Financial | Livingston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Caroline Hedges | Fairfield Financial Advisors | Wellesley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Caroline Mason | Cascade Financial Partners | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cathie Arthurs | Wayfinding Financial | Lynnwood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chad Naylor | Naylor & Company | Orinda | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Bales | Whitewater Wealth | Eugene | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Crouch | Strong Tower Wealth Management | Franklin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Helme | BH Asset Management | New York | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Charles Holder | Holder Wealth Management | Champaign | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Nedele | Theory Financial | Lakewood | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Berry | Pacific Crest Wealth Management | Elmira | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Boyle | Nordwand Capital | Radnor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Collar | Collar Capital Management | Appleton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Covato | Covato Capital Management | Naples | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Kline | Capstone Wealth Management | Lakeland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Mettee | Pace Financial Advisors | Hillsboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Patton | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christy Pater Schmitt | Fortitude Family Office | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cody Hutchinson | The Norden Group | St. George | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cole Stevens | Burkart & Stevens, CPAs and Advisors | San Luis Obispo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Collin Bryce | Pacific Crest Wealth Management | Eugene | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Collin Osbahr | Beck Capital Management | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Colter Yde | The Norden Group | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Conner Krantz | StackStone Wealth | Dubuque | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
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.