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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Planell | Round Rock Advisors | Wilton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Purrington | Armor Investment Advisors | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Richardson | RED Seven Wealth Management | Escondido | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Schniepp | Cascade Financial Strategies | Bend | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Sion | Sage Financial Group | West Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Wanvig | White Lighthouse Investment Management | Bedford | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John York | White Lighthouse Investment Management | Aurich, Germany | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Johnathan Krueger | Krueger Asset Management | Rogers | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Jon Moores | Ascension Capital Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jonathan Grebosky | Gibson Capital | Wexford | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan Hall | Warburton Capital Management | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan Lachowitz | White Lighthouse Investment Management | Bedford | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Lopez Experienced entrepreneurs helping business owners pay less in taxes and build wealth. | Truvize Financial Planning | El Paso | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Jonathan Moore | Ironwood Wealth Management | Chandler | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jonathan Roby | asendo wealth | Columbus | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Swanburg | TSA Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan Wielenga | Gibraltar Capital Management | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Gibbs | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Clark | Praetorian Guard Wealth Management | Carmel | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Colman | Colman Knight | Baltimore | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joseph Fernandez | Invenio Wealth Partners | Coral Gables | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Gauvin | Stonehearth Capital Management | Danvers | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Hendrickson | PCM Encore | Folsom | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph McCabe | Vestpointe Wealth Management | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Smith | StillBlue Financial Partners | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Sweeney | Sweeney & Michel | Chico | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Bailey | Muirfield Wealth Advisors | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Devereaux | Stage Harbor Financial | Westwood | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Glenn | Private Advisory Group | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Joshua Jakubovitz | Warburton Capital Management | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Joshua Salway | Full of Grace Financial | Roanoke | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joy Schlie | Harvest Financial Advisors | West Chester | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Judith Barnhard | Councilor | Bethesda | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Julia Zakarias | GenFi Family and Fiduciary Services | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Julie Hetland | Financial Planning Navigators | Maple Grove | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Justin Best | Kooman & Associates | Altoona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Justin Gross | Financial Plan | Bellingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Justin Mayo | Sierra Wealth Strategies | El Cajon | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Neuwirt | Neu Wealth Group | New Albany | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Sanderson | Sanderson Wealth Management | Buffalo | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Justina Welch | Integrity Wealth Solutions | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Katelyn Mahon | Peddock Capital Advisors | Braintree | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kathleen Adams | Second 50 Financial | Manhattan Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kathryn Starkey | Kooman & Associates | Altoona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Katie Macdonald | MacDonald Wealth Management | Mansfield | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keith Wander | Roble Belko & Company | Sewickley | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kelley Schubert | Corus Family Wealth Advisors | Mckinney | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kelsey Ardies | Gibraltar Capital Management | Edmond | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kelsey Doren | Barlow Wealth Partners | Louisville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kelsey Martin | Financial Plan | Bellingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
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.