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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conner Young Custom portfolio management catered to outperform the market. We believe in the power of creating true investment portfolios for every client that are completely customized. Our Mission: We want to walk with every client to understand and cater to every individual investment need. With each step we hope to show clients how to invest, spend and gift what they have been given so that there are Baskets left over for others. | Baskets Capital | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Connor Knox | Brandywine Oak Private Wealth | Kennett Square | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Corey Ernisse | Kickstand Wealth Advisors | Pittsford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cort Haber | Xception Family Office | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cory Smith Financial life planning for business owners and the childfree community. | Discretionary Inc. | Reno | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Courtney Hoffman | EverPar Advisors | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Craig Hausz | CMH Wealth Management | Dallas | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Crystal McKeon | TSA Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cynthia Farnsworth | Atlatl Advisers | Madison | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cynthia Miller | Greykasell Wealth Strategies | Danville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cynthia Rosso | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dale Woodward | DW Financial | Anaheim | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dane Czaplicki | Members' Wealth | Media | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Beutel | Council Oak Wealth Advisors | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Cossette | Cambridge Financial Group | Tucson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Dusina | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Fortunato | Meridian Financial Partners | Warrenton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Michalk | Waterway Wealth Management | The Woodlands | CFP, ChFC, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Sullivan | HighMark Wealth Management | St. Paul | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Danny Yu | Hillcrest Wealth Advisors | Holmdel | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dante Coppola | Napier Financial | Braintree | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daphne Richards | Sage Financial Group | West Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Andrews | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Bello | BelloAdvisers | Kailua | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David Chapman | DFS Capital Management | Brea | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Childs | Spartan Planning | Greensboro | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Dick | Financial Plan | Bellingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Eisenhauer | Greykasell Wealth Strategies | Danville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Hodges | Integra Wealth | Chattanooga | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Holwadel | Heritage Wealth Advisors | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Maley | 1102 Partners | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David Manteau | Colman Knight | Acton | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David McDougall | Highwind Wealth Management | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Meucci | Phase Change Wealth Management | Sebastopol | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Quinn | Pine Harbor Wealth Management | Fairfax | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| David Rabinowitz | Equilibrium Wealth | Jerusalem, Israel | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Scully | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Davis Gardner | Omega Wealth Management | Arlington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dean Catino | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Debora May | Councilor | Fenwick Island | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Debra Neiman | Neiman & Associates Financial Services | Watertown | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Derek Thomsen | RED Seven Wealth Management | La Palma | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Devyn Little | Kickstand Wealth Advisors | Pittsford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Dionna Poluch | Brandywine Oak Private Wealth | Kennett Square | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Don Hilario | Hilpan Moxie Wealth Management | Irvine | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Donald McCarty | Financial Decision Partners | Snellville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Douglas Ambrose | Journey Wealth | Cleveland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Douglas Bean | Private Advisory Group | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Douglas English | ACT Advisors | Asheville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Douglas Newport | Our Investment Guy | Clinton Twp | CFP | 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.