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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Starr | Corundum Group | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Heflin | Yes Wealth Management | Mahtomedi | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Jackson | The Investor Advisory Group | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Keller | Aspen Capital Management | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Loewe | Wealthquest | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Loveless | ABG Consultants | Cottonwood Heights | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Moore | Wealthquest | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Smith | Emerald Advisors | Bellevue | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Stamos | MJP Wealth Advisors | Farmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Testa | Naylor & Company | Orinda | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Trekas | Meridian Business Group | River Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Urpi | Emergent Financial Services | Charlottesville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Whitson | Financial Management | Ardmore | Not listed | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Michel Bethea | Covato Capital Management | Naples | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michele Vendig | MJP Wealth Advisors | Westport | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michelle Emmons | Southeast Financial Advisors | Greenville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michelle Rey Lutein | Resnick Wealth Alliance | Palm Beach Gardens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mike Mers | Aspen Capital Management | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mikela Rapattoni | Price Financial Group | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Molly Lazor | Chipser Wealth Management | Destin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Monte Grissom | Waterfront | Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Monte Resnick | Resnick Wealth Alliance | Palm Beach Gardens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Morgan Freund | Family Office Research | Bethesda | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Morton Potoff | MJP Wealth Advisors | Longboat Key | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Naomi Roberts | Yarger Wealth Strategies | Westerville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Natalie Ford | Dodds Wealth | Greenwood Village | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathan Bauer | Pace Financial Advisors | Hillsboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathan Burman | Aspen Capital Management | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nathan Travis | Nicollet Investment Management | Minneapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Neil Scott | American Family Legacy Group | Temple Terrace | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Drew | Drew Wealth Management | Portsmouth | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Frattali | HS Wealth Partners | Encino | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Heyer | Nicollet Investment Management | Minneapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Rutz | Powers Advisory Group | Highland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Nick Konakis | Read & Powell Financial Services | Elko | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nick Splinter | StackStone Wealth | Dubuque | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Noah Hannon | ABS Legacy Partners | Hickory | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Pamela Vasquez | Waterfront | Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patrick Berch | Waterfront | Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patrick Collar | Collar Capital Management | Appleton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick Greenhalgh | Lansing Street Advisors | Ambler | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick McGinnis | Nordwand Capital | Radnor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick Stuart | Saddock Wealth | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Paul Kiker | Kiker Wealth Management | Jasper | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Pete Henderson | HS Wealth Partners | Albuquerque | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Peter Nrekic | MJP Wealth Advisors | Farmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Philip Tetley | Tetley Investments | Park Ridge | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Philip Tetley | Tetley Investments | Park Ridge | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Pritam Dhavale | Wealth Compounders | Wesley Chapel | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Quinn Longhurst | Andina Advisors | Logan | 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.