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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Hilton | Sonas Financial Planning, LLC | Atlanta | CFP, MBA, MSFP, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brandon Seibel | Oasis Wealth Planning Advisors, LLC | Philadelphia | CFP, CPA, JD, LLM | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Breanna Sykes | Copper Leaf Financial, LLC | Rutland | CFP, CPA/PFS | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Brian Tegtmeyer | Truly Prosper Financial Planning | Dublin | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Britton Wellington | Real Agency Wealth | Beaverton | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Bryan Haggard | RetireMitten Financial LLC | Milford | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Cameron Willcox | Willcox Wealth Management | Denver | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Charles Horonzy | Focused Up Financial, LLC | La Grange | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Charles Thomas | Intrepid Eagle Finance | Clover | CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Chloe Moore | Financial Staples | Atlanta | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Chris Mullis | NorthStar Capital Advisors | Charlotte | CFP, PhD | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chris Shoup | Southshore Financial Planning | Tampa | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Chris Woods | Silvis Financial | Charlotte | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Lazzaro Plan For It Financial delivers personalized, actionable financial advice and education empowering you to make informed decisions about your future with confidence. | Plan For It Financial, LLC | Salem | ChFC, RICP | One-time planning fee, Subscription |
| Christopher Wells | Flourish Financial Planning | Grapevine | CFP, CKA, MS, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Chuck Clifton | Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC | Charlotte | CDFA, CFP, MBA | Hourly |
| Clint Gossage | CMG Financial Consulting, LLC | Scottsdale | CFA, CFP, CPA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Cole Williams | Vessel Financial Planning | Plano | BFA, CFP, CIMA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Dan Amiot | Wrought Iron Financial, LLC | Canal Fulton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Frankel | WealthCollab | Bellevue | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Danielle Harrison | Harrison Financial Planning | Columbia | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Uhlmann | Synergos Advisory LLC | Seattle | AAMS, CFP, MS, APMA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Deaton Smith | Thayer Financial | Hickory | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| Debbie Price | Price Planning, LLC | Powell | CFP, CPA, JD | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Diane Esser Fee-only retirement planning and education for pre-retiree couples and Federal employees moving into the next phase of life. | Direction Financial Management, LLC | Germantown | CFP, CPA, RICP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Dillon Kenniston | REWealth Financial Planning | Sinking Spring | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Elise Huston | JNBA Financial Advisors | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Eric Franklin | Prospero Wealth | Seattle | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Niergarth | Retirement Roadmap Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Erik Nero | First Step Wealth Planning, LLC | Wilton | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ethan Pepper | Orchard City Wealth Management, LLC | Los Gatos | CFP, EA, RLP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Evan Luongo | NoDa Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Evan Marquis | Milestone Financial Planning, LLC | Bedford | CFP, EA, RICP, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gabriel Anderson | Crafted Wealth Management, LLC | Los Angeles | CFP, ChFC, CLU | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gabriel Motta | Inclinevest® | Plano | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| George Kao | Reach One Teach One Financial | Phoenix | CFP, ChFC, CKA, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gordon Achtermann | Silverstone Financial | Owings Mills | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jackson Xu | X AND Y ADVISORS, INC. | El Segundo | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Jacob Molina | Styra Wealth Management | Phoenix | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jacquelin Liautaud | One Wild Life Advisors, LLC | Chicago | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| James Charles | Sanctuary Financial Planning, LLC | Charlotte | CDFA, CFA, CFP, MS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jane Young | More than Your Money, Inc. | Colorado Springs | CFP, EA, MBA | One-time planning fee |
| Jared Jameson | WJ Interests, LLC | Sugar Land | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jay Abolofia | Lyon Financial Planning, LLC | Waltham | CFP, PhD | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jay Zigmont | Childfree Wealth | Mount Juliet | CFP, PhD, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeffrey Schlotterbeck Water Street Wealth Management is an independent financial advisory firm providing personalized financial planning, investment management, tax strategies, and estate planning for individuals, families, and businesses. | Water Street Wealth Management | Tampa | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Walters Hourly, fee-only advice on planning, taxes and investments for DIY investors who want to keep managing their own portfolios. | Advisia Financial Planning, LLC | Bellevue | CFP, EA | Hourly |
| Jeremy Eppley | Silverstone Financial | Owings Mills | CFP, CPWA, APMA, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Wilson | J Wilson Wealth Management | Davison | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jessica Merino | Merino Wealth Management | Chicago | 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.