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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mallory Kretman | Laurel Wealth Planning | Edina | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Maria Erickson | Freedom Financial & Business Planning | Saint Petersburg | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Mario Posteraro | Roble Belko & Company | Sewickley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mark Boujikian | Keymark Financial | Rolling Hills Estates | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mark Whitman | Highland Investment Advisors | Ponte Vedra | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Marley Wood | BentOak Capital | Weatherford | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Christl | Wise Wealth Partners | Folsom | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Davis | Sherwood Financial Partners | Westlake Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Furlong | Furlong Investment Solutions | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Lee | Paragon Advisors | College Station | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Lewis | TechView Wealth Advisors | San Francisco | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Lusins | Bootpack Wealth Management | Jackson | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew McGahey | Steadfast Financial Services | Altamonte Springs | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Mondoux | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Spradling | Paragon Advisors | College Station | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Maureen Demers | Demers Financial Planning | North Andover | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Maxwell Carlos | Laurel Wealth Planning | Edina | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Melanie Brophy | Next Play Financial Solutions | Ashburn | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Michael Babicz | Pine Grove Financial Group | Woodbury | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Cochran | BentOak Capital | Weatherford | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Hunter | Clearpath Legacy Planning | Arvada | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Macke | Wealth 73 | Jacksonville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Ryan | Marathon Mission | Latham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Tracy | Principium Investments | Boulder | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michele Gawthrop | ONE Advisory Partners | Overland Park | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Michelle Campbell | Pine Grove Financial Group | Woodbury | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michelle Konstantarakis | The Investment Counsel Company of Nevada | Las Vegas | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mitch Hamer The intersection of financial planning, investment management, and life plans for high performers. | Intersecting Wealth | Northbrook | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Myriah Lipke | Stone Pine Financial Partners | Media | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Naoko McKelvey | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nathaniel Harness | BentOak Capital | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Fahrendorff | Pine Grove Financial Group | Minnetonka | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Hickly | The Investment Counsel Company of Nevada | Las Vegas | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nicholas Lombardozzi | Kingdom Wealth Advisers | Gilbert | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nicholas Phelps | Nicholas H. Phelps, CFP® | State College | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Nicholas Wolverton | Peak Financial Management | Broomfield | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patricia Konetzny | The Practical Planner | Groton | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Peter O'Keefe | O'Keefe Stevens Advisory | Rochester | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Ramon Franklin | Capital Focus | Greenville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robb Pryor Helping individuals and small business professionals convert high income to high net worth. | Priority Tax & Financial Planning | Amherst | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Robert Calhoun | Paragon Advisors | College Station | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Curry | Curry Webb Wealth Management | Indianapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Dignan | Highland Investment Advisors | Ponte Vedra | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Gregov | Roche Financial Partners | Hopewell | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robert Steinberg | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Ross Cutler We aim to be readily available to clients at all times. | King Tide Advisors | Stuart | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Ryan Furlong Tax Efficient Wealth Management for families who want to leave a legacy. | Parkwoods Wealth Partners | St Louis | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Lacey | Roble Belko & Company | Sewickley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Moran | Highland Investment Advisors | Brookfield | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Rocuant | Mutual Trust Advisory Group | Estero | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
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.