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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Drennan | D'Arcy Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Prentice | Prentice Financial Planning | Olympia | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrew Randisi | Pennsylvania Capital Management | Pennsauken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Reynolds | Ballast | Lexington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anthony Ogorek | Ogorek Wealth Management | Williamsville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Antonette Grimm | TFC Financial | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| April Kriha | Tenere Financial | Sammamish | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Ariana Alisjahbana | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Arpy Raval | Shah Wealth Advisors | Chino Hills | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ashley Israel | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ashley Stewart | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Austin McLaughlin | Retirement Planning Services | Knoxville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Austin Moore | TradeWinds | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bailey Thornton | Kinloch Capital | Glen Allen | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Barry Glassman | Glassman Wealth | Washington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Benjamin Anderson | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Benjamin Lopez | PecuSavvy Financial | El Paso | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Bert Bennett | West Fork Wealth Management | Chapel Hill | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Beth Watts | Financial Avenues, LLC. | Kansas City | CFP | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| Bethany Steinhaus | Breakwater Investment Management | Seattle | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Billy Desai | Analog Capital Partners | Houston | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Brad Tinnon | B.E.S.T. Wealth Management | St. Louis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Bradley Mendel | Mendel Money Management | Northbrook | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bradley Sayre | Shared Vision Wealth Group | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brandon Cabaniss | Telos Partners | Greenville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brandon Cox | Coastline Complete Wealth | Bluffton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brett Lozowski | Life Planning Partners | Jacksonville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Brian Burton | Ballast | Lexington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Carney | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Jones Systems-based financial planning for teachers, DIYers and FIRE enthusiasts, from a former high school science teacher and coach. | Your Everyday ROI | Howells | Not listed | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Brian Kozel | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Brian Mars | MarsJewett Financial Group | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Brian McKinney | Collective Wealth Partners | Aurora | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Merrill | Tanglewood Total Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Brian Seay | Capital Stewards | Huntsville | CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brian Sheahen | Hudson Oak Wealth Advisory | Hoboken | CFP, PFS | Ongoing planning fee |
| Brock Alvord | Tanara Wealth Management | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brooks Slaughter | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bruce Ohrenich | Stillwater Private Wealth | Allenton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Bryan Theall | Shared Vision Wealth Group | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bryan Zschiesche | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Caleb Casto | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Calvin Chanski | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Calvin Lo | Keystone Global Partners | Monrovia | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Cameron Hamilton | Ballast | Lexington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Candace Lee | Glassman Wealth | Vienna | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Carol Dixon | Your Planning Partner | Palm Beach Gardens | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carol Lane | The Financial Resource Center | Carmel | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carolina Ortiz | Shared Vision Wealth Group | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carolyn McClanahan | Life Planning Partners | Jacksonville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
Guides
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.