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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Klefsaas | All Star Financial | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Leahy | MFC Portfolios | Darien | CFP, ChFC | Hourly |
| Robert Mestjian | Alliance Private Wealth | North Reading | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Severdia | Nest Financial Planning | Hood River | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Roger Lowe | Tanara Wealth Management | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Price | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Rosana Nguyen | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Mason | Mason Wealth Strategies | Cumming | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Morrissey | Morrissey Wealth Management | North Haven | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Samuel Graham | Sweeney Financial Advisors | Bedford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Samuel McPherson | McPherson Financial Advisors | New York | CFP | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Samuel Wood-Bednarz | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sanjay Pawar | Bluesphere Advisors | East Norriton | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Warntz | Topsail Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sarah Rioux | TFC Financial | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Bennett | IWR Advisors | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Demaagd | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Garbutt | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Jewett | MarsJewett Financial Group | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Scott Lieberwirth | Westwind Capital | Las Cruces | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Pearring | Seek First | Campbell | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Sandee | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Tonai | Andrews Advisory Associates | Honolulu | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Udkler | Promus Advisors | Dallas | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Van Den Berg | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Hilliard | Rivertree Wealth | Wake Forest | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Set Carpintero | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shane Holcomb | JVL Wealth Strategies | Wyoming | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shannon Lemon | Elmwood Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shaun Mize | Rivertree Wealth | Little Rock | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shawn Landis | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sonja Breeding | Rebalance | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sophia Zundel | Tower View Wealth Management | Shorewood | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Spencer Funk | Precision Wealth Strategies | St. Louis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Spencer Hall | Retirement Planning Services | Knoxville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stacey Panenhanouvong | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stefanie Porter | White Pine Investment Co | Livonia | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Stephanie Williams | TradeWinds | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stephen Esposito | Accretive Wealth Partners | Parsippany | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Sanders | Life Planning Partners | Jacksonville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Steven Nelson | Faith Investor Services | Scottsdale | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Stone Churby | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stuart Schiffman | Compound Wealth Advisors | San Diego | CFP, ChFC | One-time planning fee |
| Sylvain Michelin | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | CFA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tammy Billadeau | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tanner Banister | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tanya Steinhofer | Redwood Grove Wealth Management | San Rafael | CFP, CFA | One-time planning fee |
| Tara Hefty | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Taylor Heininger | Cloud Capital Management | El Segundo | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Taylor Kovar | 11 Financial | Lufkin | 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.