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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan Mendoza | Mendoza Private Wealth | North Miami | CFP, ChFC, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jack Hallier | Patrick M Sweeney & Associates | Libertyville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jack Marino | Lake Hills Wealth Management | Longview | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Duke | Rivertree Wealth | Little Rock | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jacob Preston | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| James Belliston | Tanara Wealth Management | St. Augustine | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Moore | Campbell Financial Partners | Bradenton | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| James Munchbach | BayRock Financial | Friendswood | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Patterson | KFA Private Wealth Group | Tyson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Rice | Capital Asset Management | Columbus | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| James Rogers | Aurelius Family Office | Shreveport | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Sherrard | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jameson Holehouse | Destiny Capital | Detroit Lakes | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jamie Stolz | TandemGrowth Financial Advisors | Alpharetta | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jamie Stone | Means Wealth Management | Greenville | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jamison White | Paller Financial Services | Centennial | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jana Hovey | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jane Barney | TFC Financial | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jared Brock | Brock Hill Wealth Management | Newton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jared Haubenstock | Regimen Wealth | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jarrett Morris | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jarrod Musick | Destiny Capital | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jason Clevlen | Lake Hills Wealth Management | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jason Epps | KFA Private Wealth Group | Tyson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jason Gong | Lifelong Wealth Management Group | Lake Oswego | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Lina | Golden Bell | Alpharetta | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Siperstein | Eliot Rose Wealth Management | Providence | CFP, CFA | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Jeffery Albaneze | Atlantic Edge Wealth | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Brimhall | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Goering | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Gough | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Viksjo | Ogorek Wealth Management | Williamsville | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Williams | Fairscale Capital | Nashua | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Wright | Teamwork Financial Group | Houston | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| Jennifer Regan | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jennifer Stewart | Glassman Wealth | Washington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jennifer Strong | Kate Capital Group | Westlake Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Busch | Keystone Financial Services | Loveland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeremy Kovacevich | Kaiyo Wealth | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeremy Lott | Trinity Strategic Wealth | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeremy Mocek | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Welch | Burton Enright Welch | Walnut Creek | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jerry King | The Financial Resource Center | Carmel | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jessica Sherrill | Sherrill & Hutchins | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jhonny Merida Soto | Glassman Wealth | Arlington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jill Tripp | Pathfinder Financial Planning | Missoula | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jodi Vleck | Beta Wealth Group | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| John Boardman | Ballast | Lexington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Bubello | Compass Retirement | Old Saybrook | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| John Burns | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | 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.