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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Kidd | Kidd Financial Planning | Livonia | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Larocca | RDM Capital | Red Bank | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Lucas | Fortitude Family Office | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Miller | Elevate Investment Management | Scottsdale | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Powers A modern estate planning firm combining technology with expert attorney support | Steward | San Francisco | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Max Diefenthaler | Simonet Financial Group | Kyle | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| McCrary Lowe | Gibraltar Capital Management | Tulsa | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Megan Hammann | Wealthquest | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Melanie Husk | MEL Consulting | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Brady Approachable planning, without compromise. Many have accounts, if you have a plan. | Clarity Advisors | Buffalo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Michael Chisum | Ankerstar Wealth | Leander | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Michael Christian | EverPar Advisors | Tulsa | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Hampton | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Kelly | Canopy Financial Solutions | Sanford | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael O'Keeffe | MOK Financial Planning & Tax | Millis | PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Riney | Wealthquest | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Ruffing | Integrated Wealthcare | Durham | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Shields | Waterfront | Advisors | Overland Park | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Smith | Kiker Wealth Management | Jasper | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Soroudi | DAiM | Palm Beach Gardens | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Stoner | True North Financial Advisors | Hilliard | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Tilatti | Tilatti Wealth Management | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Topley | Lansing Street Advisors | Ambler | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Vazza | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Younkman | Ankerstar Wealth | Leander | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Michaelyn Andress | The Investment Counsel Company of Nevada | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mitchell Kahl | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Mitchell Moore | Strong Wealth | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Molly McCarthy | LD Lowe Wealth Advisory | Richardson | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nam Phan | Phan Capital Management | San Antonio | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Natalie Dewindt | Cascade Financial Partners | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nathan Lovelle | Council Oak Wealth Advisors | Tulsa | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathan Powell | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nathan Rosell | The Norden Group | Provo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Naveen Sharma | Nicollet Investment Management | Minneapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Butler | Butler Financial Services | Westlake Village | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Nicholas Cavanaugh | Roble Belko & Company | Sewickley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nicholas Hartley | Windward Private Wealth Management | Overland Park | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nicholas Sowell | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nicholette Hamel | Dougherty Investment Advisors | Pinson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicklaus Mattingly | Heritage Investment Group | Tampa | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Noah Damsky | Marina Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Noah Rankin | Green Leaf Advisors | New Bethlehem | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Norman Alvis | Altus Wealth Group | Colorado Springs | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nyle Bayer | Up Capital Management | Bulverde | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Olivian Pitis | CSJ Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Omar Dinar I work with a select group of professionals and business owners to make the complexities of their financial lives easy to understand. | Riehl, Dinar & Associates | Stamford | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Owen Bosworth | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Parker Mayo | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Patrick Manconi | Dougherty Investment Advisors | Spring Hill | Not listed | 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.