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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine King | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kathy Weese | Nora Wealth | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Kay Kidwell | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keith Fenstad | Tanglewood Total Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Keith Van Dyke | Trinity Strategic Wealth | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kellie Gamino | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kelly Randall | Burton Enright Welch | Walnut Creek | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kelly Trageser | Sea Clear Financial Planning | Brielle | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kenneth Melotte | Melotte Financial Advisors | Green Bay | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Burns | Navwell Advisors | Garden City | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kevin DeAngelis | Breakwater Investment Management | Seattle | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Kolson | Family Wealth Leadership | Irvine | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Nelson | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Schnell | Schnell Financial Group | Sedalia | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberly Owen | Prostatis Group | Hanover | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Krysta Kelly | D'Arcy Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kyle Cote | TFC Financial | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kyle Jones | Lindsey & Lindsey Wealth Management | Culver City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lafe Blobaum | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Laura Addington | Addington Financial Group | Cypress Springs Village | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Lawrence Blau | LL Financial Services | Ossining | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Leann Sullivan | TFC Financial | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Leland McCullough | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Liam Toohey | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lisa Bowers | RPO Wealth Partners | Charlotte | CFP | Fixed fees |
| Louis Dagen | Auspicious Financial Planning | San Ramon | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| Lucas Baker | MarsJewett Financial Group | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Madalyn Dow | Mascoma Wealth Management | Hanover | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Maria Kelly | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mario Zumbo | Preserve Private Wealth | Bethesda | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mark Eggleston | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Fonville | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Mark Paller | Paller Financial Services | Centennial | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Schiller | WS Wealth Management | Fargo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Sheerin | Sherrill & Hutchins | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Wesson | BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions | Birmingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Berhow | All Star Financial | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Brennan | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Reston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Cobas | Kaiyo Wealth | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Dattilio | Mascoma Wealth Management | Hanover | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Gatt | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Henry | Topsail Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Jude | Rebalance | Sacramento | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Kunnen | JVL Wealth Strategies | Wyoming | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Ohrenich | Stillwater Private Wealth | Allenton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Matthew Snipes | Topsail Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Maxwell Elsasser | Glassman Wealth | Washington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Meagan Niese | Teamwork Financial Group | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Megan Waters | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Melodie Ace | Canopy Wealth Management | Middleton | ChFC | Percentage of assets |
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.