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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Kotys | Kotys Wealth Professionals | Valparaiso | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Redmond | Stone Pillars Wealth Management | Franklin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Robertson | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Tyler | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samaya Patel | Blume Capital Management | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Armour | Armour Wealth Advisors | Tumwater | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Samuel Baynes | Baynes Investment Counsel | Fort Worth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Liebman | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Starks | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samuel Sweitzer | Anson Analytics | Tyrone | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sanay Patel | Purpose Wealth | Longmont | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sandra Thomas | S.C. Thomas & Associates, CPA | Medina | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Brandon | Rebalance | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sarah McIvor | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Bramwell | Eiger Wealth Management | San Diego | PFS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Lefebre | Seneca Financial Advisors | Rochester | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Miller | Linch Financial | Plano | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Puritz | Rebalance | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sean Green | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Kearney | Amvoy Wealth | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean McGuirk | Lincoln Capital | Uxbridge | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Mullaney | Mullaney Financial & Tax | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Sean Paddock | Wealth Dimensions Group | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Tyll | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seongsoo Lee | New Insight Wealth Advisors | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seth Bittner | Stillwater Private Wealth | Allentown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Shannon Ware | Acorn Financial Services | Harrisonburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shanon Tate | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shawn Pacanowski | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shengde Liu | Access Wealth Group | Powell | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sheree Bollinger | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sherif Othman | Poise Investment Advisors | Germantown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Siria Terry | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stacey Young | Means Wealth Management | Bangor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Stelianos Elenis | High Pass Asset Management | Denver | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephanie Nehmens | North Berkeley Wealth Management | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Chambers | Linch Financial | Southlake | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Chang | Acts Financial Advisors | Mclean | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Engel | Palumbo Wealth Management | Great Neck | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stephen Islander | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Jimenez | Peerless Wealth | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Kriha | Tenere Financial | Sammamish | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Palmer | Pennsylvania Capital Management | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Ross | TradeWinds | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Steven Brandt | Acorn Financial Services | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Campeas | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Dumstorff | KEB – Kerber, Eck & Braeckel | St. Louis | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Hutchison | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Nassoura | CMH Wealth Management | Portsmouth | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Stuart Quint | Ambassador Wealth Management | Vancouver | CFA | 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.