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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton Leicht | Beta Wealth Group | Park City | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brendan Koors | Athyra Financial Partners | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brendon Johnson | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brenton Bersin | Linkside Financial | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brett Grossman | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Beckman | Hermosa Wealth Management | Torrance | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Canet | Prostatis Group | Hanover | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Cheatham | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Heath | Conviction Wealth Management | Austin | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brian Jones | NextGen Financial Advice | Elko New Market | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Rettig | Denver Private Wealth Management | Denver | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Shepardson | James Investment | Xenia | CFA, CIC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Tumpane | Cedar Capital Advisors | Glen Ellyn | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brian Vandenbrink | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brian Williams | Northshire Consulting | Southington | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Brianna Aviles | Palisades Hudson Financial Group | Fort Lauderdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brianna Pradia | SSB&T Wealth | Fredericksburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brittany Anderson | Wealth Analytics | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brock Mackenzie | MarsJewett Financial Group | Bellevue | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Brooks Rarden | Gilpin Wealth Management | Las Vegas | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bruce McCrea | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bruno Krenn | Pacific Capital | Corona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bryan Belew | LeConte Wealth | Maryville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Bryan Linn | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bryan McCrea | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cade Johnson | Petros Family Wealth | Bloomington | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Caeden Goering | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cagatay Koc | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Caleb Graybeal | Strong Retirement Solutions | Bloomington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Callum Raymick | Trinity Strategic Wealth | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cameron Malekuti | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carl Christensen | Avion Wealth | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Carlos Lowenberg | Masterpiece Capital | Austin | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Carol Clark | OnCenter Financial Advisors | Beachwood | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carrie Carr | ARIA Wealth Management | Little Rock | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carson Brown | Soulence Wealth Management | Pleasant Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carter Hansard | Barnett & Company | Chattanooga | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Catherine Richmond | Ballast | Lexington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chace Cannon | Cannon Capital Management | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Chad Evans | Altere Financial | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chad Kunc | CPK Wealth Management | Fort Myers | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Chad Willardson | Pacific Capital | Corona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Chadwick Oldenburg | Denarius Wealth Management | Appleton | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Caravati | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Davis | Hapanowicz | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Gibbons | KFA Private Wealth Group | Tyson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles McAteer | ARIA Wealth Management | Saratoga | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charlotte Anten | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chelsea Weiss | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christian Paterok | Noesis Capital Management | Boca Raton | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
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.