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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celeste Pryor | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Chad Kelley | Means Wealth Management | Bangor | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Chad Soukup | JVL Wealth Strategies | Wyoming | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Lawson | Heritage Financial Network | Concord | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christian Doyle | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christie Whitney | Rebalance | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Christina Brown | Andrews Advisory Associates | Honolulu | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christine Sakraida | White Aspen Capital | Henderson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Battreall | Precision Wealth Strategies | St. Louis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Gauthier | Proactive Financial Solutions 360 | North Attleboro | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Hughes | Burton Enright Welch | Walnut Creek | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher June | Sweeney Financial Advisors | Bedford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Mallon | Pennsylvania Capital Management | Huntingdon Valley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher McBee | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher McCrea | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Snyder | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Stakley | Steffes Financial | Overland Park | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Sternau | Altere Financial | The Woodlands | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Clark Hayden | Lockshield Partners | Glasgow | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Claudia Bellars | Bellars Harris Wealth Management | Mount Pleasant | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cody Makela | Arlington Financial Advisors | Santa Barbara | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Coleman Pollard | Steelhead Wealth Management | Glen Allen | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Colin Gerrety | Glassman Wealth | Vienna | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Colin Higgins | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Colton Owen | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Connor Cox | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Courtney Kenning | Destiny Capital | Golden | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Curtis Burch | Destiny Capital | College Station | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Cynthia Mittlestaedt | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dana Sippel | Glassman Wealth | Vienna | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Heidel | Integritas Wealth Strategies | Charleston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Huffman | Cornerstone Financial Planning | Other | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Phillips | Michels Family Financial | Fort Worth | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Tripp | Redwood Grove Wealth Management | San Rafael | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Daniel Weinstein | KFA Private Wealth Group | Tyson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Danielle Barbato | Milestone Asset Management Group | Avon | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Darby Armont | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Chenet | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Cunningham | LW Advisors | Des Moines | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Dedman | Pulse Wealth | Lexington | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Espineira | Burton Enright Welch | Walnut Creek | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David Hinshaw | BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions | Huntsville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Hutchison | Triad Investment Management | Newport Beach | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| David Levitt | Glassman Wealth | North Bethesda | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Lloyd | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Peloquin | Main Street Advisors | Westminster | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Ritrovato | Bluesphere Advisors | East Norriton | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Snyder | Sweeney Financial Advisors | Bedford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Denise Farkas | Sigma Investment Counselors | Northville | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Dianne Duva | Arlington Financial Advisors | Santa Barbara | CFP | 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.