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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Kelly | Palm Valley Wealth Management | Saint Augustine | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| J Brett Martinson | Parallel Wealth Financial Group | Langley | CFP, CLU, B.Eng Mgt | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Jaime Ruff | HB Wealth | Nashville | CFP, CPA/PFS, MBA, CFDS | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jake Northrup | Experience Your Wealth, LLC | Providence | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jared Andreoli | Simplicity Financial, LLC | Milwaukee | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jared Paul | Capable Wealth | Albany | CFP, CIMA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jason Heath | Objective Financial Partners Inc. | Markham | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jeff McCartney | Objective Financial Partners Inc. | Markham | CFP, CFDS, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jim Pan | Panorama Financial Planning | Vancouver | CFP, MFA-P | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jirayr Kembikian | Citrine Capital | San Francisco | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Joanne David | Keybase Financial Group | Edmonton | CFP, FCSI | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| John Bell Comprehensive and hourly advice-only planning for DIY investors and families who want help with retirement, taxes, estates and giving. | Free State Financial Planning | Clarksville | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| John Boyd | MDRN Wealth | Venice | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| John Gugle | Gugle Wealth Advisory LLC | Indian Land | CFP, CDFA, CRPC, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| John McGowan | Mandala Financial Advisors | Salida | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John O'Callaghan | Impact Financial Life Planning LLC | Baltimore | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jonathan Wride | Crafted Finance, LLC | Seattle | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Jordan Banning | Crafted Financial Planning | Glendale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jordan DeBoer | Calibration Financial | Milaca | AWMA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Julia Chung | Spring Financial Planning | Surrey | CFP, CLU, FEA | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kathleen Connors Dowdy | EP Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFP, EA, CLU, MS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keith Hensley Clear, actionable plans for pre-retirees and retirees, offered through an ongoing flat-fee relationship or a one-time project. | Florida Financial Planning | Winter Garden | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Kenneth Doll | Alberta Financial Planner | Calgary | CFP, CLU, TEP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kevin Rademacher | Lifetime Financial Planners LLC | San Antonio | CFP, CRPC, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Kiersten Peshek | Citrine Capital | Columbus | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Kyle Martins | Parallel Wealth Financial Group | Langley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Lance Elrod | Next Step Financial Transitions | Cypress | CFP, CDFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lauren Way | Elwood & Goetz Wealth Advisory Group, LLC | Atlanta | CFP, CFA, PhD, CRC | Percentage of assets |
| Linda Rogers | Planning Within Reach | Virginia Beach | CFP, EA, MSBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Lindsay Elwood | Elwood & Goetz Wealth Advisory Group | Athens | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Lindsey Young | Quiet Wealth LLC | Baltimore | CFP, MBA, TPCP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Liz Plot | Primas Financial Planning | Columbia | CFP, ChFC, AFC, EA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Mai Yang | Heartworth Financial | Saint Louis Park | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Marcus Miller | Mainstay Capital LLC | Lakeland | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Mark Stancato | VIP Wealth Advisors | Decatur | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| MaryAnne Gucciardi | Wealthmind Financial Planning LLC | Cambridge | CFP, RICP, BA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Cooley | Inspire Wealth Partners | Boise | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Dennis | Parallel Wealth Financial Group | Langley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Matthew Pogirski | Unburdened Financial Planning | Wasilla | AAMS, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Showley | Creative Capital Management Investments LLC | San Diego | CFP, MBA, BFA, CeFT | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Melissa Leonard Fiduciary, advice-only planning that helps young professionals and families live intentionally and enjoy experiences now, not only in retirement. | Cairn Financial Planning | Seattle | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Meri-Li Forrest | Be Wealthy Financial Coaching Inc. | Oakville | CFP, CIM | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Michael Barichello | Parallel Wealth Financial Group | Kitchener | CFP, CLU, FMA, CHS | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Michael Rausch | North River Wealth Advisors | Pittsburgh | ASA, CFA, CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Miguel Gomez | Sophronia Wealth Advisors, Inc. | El Paso | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Miguel Gomez Garcia | Sophronia Wealth Advisors, Inc. | El Paso | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Davis | Legs Financial | Greensboro | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Morton | Morton Financial Advice | Harvard | CFP, ChFC, RLP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Nancy Grouni | Objective Financial Partners Inc. | Markham | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Nate Willardson | Currents Wealth Strategies | Chandler | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
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.