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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Jordan | Greater Gifts Family Office | Fort Myers | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberly Cushman | BentOak Capital | Katy | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kirsten Hollander | Schaefer Financial Management | Centennial | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kishore Shah | Lynx Investment Advisory | Vienna | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kristen Hudspeth | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Kristian Blom | Blom Levy & Co | Santa Barbara | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kristopher Hicks | Paragon Advisors | College Station | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kyle Erickson | Elevate Investment Management | Scottsdale | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Kyle Hammerschmidt Helping Self-Made 401(k)/IRA Millionaires Avoid The 7 Hidden Tax Surprises | MOKAN Wealth Management | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Kyle Ray | Ridgeback Wealth Management | Peachtree City | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kyle Watkins | CF Financial | Fort Worth | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Kylee Adamson | The Norden Group | Provo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lance Spencer | Prosper Private Wealth | Provo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Laura Kido | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Laura Sodorsky | Marathon Mission | Latham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lauren Gabele | Cascade Financial Partners | San Diego | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| Lavea Thomas | Aspen Capital Management | Boise | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lawrence York | ProActive Advisors | Lexington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Leonard Golub | New Capital Management | Houston | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lily Taft | Main Street Research | Lakeville | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Linda Gillespie | Real World Financial Planning | Chestnut Hill | Not listed | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Linda Walden | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Lindsey Mazzola | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lisa Donnelley | Harris Wealth Management | Twin Falls | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lisa Kelly | Federmann Financial Advisors | Rocky Point | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lloyd Flood | Nicholas Hoffman & Company | Atlanta | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Logan Ben | StackStone Wealth | Dubuque | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Loren Sherman | Integrity Wealth Management | Waukee | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lori Slaughter | Millennial Wealth Management | Amarillo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Louis Nistico | MJP Wealth Advisors | Farmington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lowell Hansen | Schaefer Financial Management | Englewood | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Luke McQuade | Full of Grace Financial | Roanoke | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Luke Nordman | Wealthquest | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lynda Kommel-Browne | Round Rock Advisors | Wilton | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mallory Sise | Integral Wealth Management | Turlock | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Marc Hadley | Nicollet Investment Management | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Marcos Murillo We build custom, comprehensive plans, so you can live retirement boldly on your terms. | Vantage Point Financial | Lisle | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Marcus Mattern | Mattern Wealth Management | Lawrence | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Bates | Wealthquest | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mark Kidd | Kidd Financial Planning | Livonia | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Miller | Gibraltar Capital Management | Irving | PFS, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Starosciak | Infinium Investment Advisors | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Zywiol | Stonebrook Private | Northville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Martin Miller | MA Private Wealth | San Carlos | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mary Bolton | Live Oak Private Wealth | Rocky Mount | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Amsberry | HighPoint CPAs | Laramie | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Bower | Clayton Financial Group | St. Louis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Buehler | Erenda Capital Management | Glendale | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Gulbransen | Pine Grove Financial Group | Woodbury | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Harrison | Attessa Capital | Tucson | CFP, CFA | 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.