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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmett Gustafson | HighMark Wealth Management | St. Paul | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Enrique Perez | Mission Park Capital | Cambridge | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Ephimia Coumanakos | Concord Financial Group | Allen | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Benz | Fox Hill Wealth Management | Dedham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Eric Cortez | Verus Capital Partners | Hermosa Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Dieckhoff | ARCAP Partners | Plainview | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Eric Penz | Private Advisory Group | Redmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Erik Boehm | Stone Bridge Asset Management | Chattanooga | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Evan Barnes | Traction Financial Partners | Encampment | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Evan Carey | Beacon Hill Wealth Management | Victoria | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Evan McMordie | Golden Spread Wealth | Canadian | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Evan Teeple | TSN Wealth & Tax Management | Brownsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Evelyn Ovando-Flores | Omega Wealth Management | Arlington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Fadoua Arif | Lynx Investment Advisory | Washington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Fetzer Crockett | 4-C Wealth | St. Louis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Forrest Knopps | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Francisco Salaverry | Tanglewood Legacy Advisors | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frank Barlow | Barlow Wealth Partners | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frank Jolley | Live Oak Private Wealth | Rocky Mount | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Franklin Waung | Watts Capital | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Fred Goodman | Verus Capital Partners | Chandler | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frederick Hinkley | Manchester Capital Management | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| G-Woon Choe | Kera Capital | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gabriel Martin | Pelican Family Office | Covington | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Garrett Edson | Clarus Group | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Garrett Thompson | Sky Vision Wealth | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Garrett Williams | Corus Family Wealth Advisors | Mckinney | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Garrick Russell | HFG Trust | Kennewick | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Garry Bishop | ProFocus | Phoenix | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gary Downie | Wealth Pinnacle | Centerville | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gary Mitchell | Sage Financial Group | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gary Schlaffer | Alexander Randolph Advisory | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gary Stoller | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gary Whitehurst | Brighter Investing | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gavin Gamboa | Fiduciary Financial Group | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Geoffrey Tran | Fortitude Family Office | Scottsdale | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| George Chacko | Convexity Wealth Management | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| George Harris, III | Sage Financial Group | West Conshohocken | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gerald Howell | Arlington Wealth Management | Arlington Heights | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gianna Mossotti | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gloria Jones | Sweeney & Michel | Chico | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Greg Pyne | Red Oak Financial Group | Towson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gregory Boyle | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gregory Bryson | Wealth Management Partners | Tucson | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Gregory Clifford | The Clifford Group | Wayland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Gregory Luke | THOR Wealth Management | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Griffin Eberly | Mills Wealth Advisors | Southlake | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Guillermo Monge | Wealth Management Partners | Tucson | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Harry Armon | ARCAP Partners | Plainview | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Harshvardhan Ved | Guardant Wealth Advisors | Southampton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
Guides
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.