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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Mathews | Ascension Capital Advisors | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jose Colmenarez | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Barrios | Heritage Financial Counselors | Oyster Bay | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Hardeman | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Hoffman | Gibraltar Capital Management | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Hosler | Auour Investments | Woburn | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Lopresti | Arlington Wealth Management | Arlington Heights | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Schwartz | Markle Financial | Fort Collins | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Betancourt | Quantum Capital Investments | Elmwood Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Chandler | Magnolia Wealth | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Mclain | Sunset Retire | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Moeller | Hill Island Financial | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Oder | Oder Investment Management | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Juan Dager Vancampenhoud | TitanRex | Arlington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Juliana Guerra | Dean Roland Russell Family Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Julie Dant | Nearside Advisors | Indianapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Julie Hebert | Ascension Capital Advisors | Liberty | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Julie Jason | Jackson, Grant | Stamford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Lunt | Scratch Capital | Boise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Justin Warfel | Wagner Wealth Management | Conyngham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kara Lilian | Lynx Investment Advisory | Washington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Karla Lema | Concord Financial Group | Sheridan | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Karle Simmons | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kate Brunori | PCM Encore | Tampa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Katelin Mahoney | Corvus Wealth Advisors | Templeton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Katherine Ludeman | Private Advisory Group | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Kathryn Atkins | Corus Family Wealth Advisors | Mckinney | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Katie Junk | Sweeney & Michel | Chico | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Katie Martin Hewitt | Cascade Financial Strategies | Bend | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kaylee Johnson | Kilter Group | Webster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Keith Crenshaw | Crenshaw Capital Management | Los Angeles | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Keith Gunther | RED Seven Wealth Management | Escondido | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kelsey Plummer | Pursuit Wealth Strategies | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kendall Borchardt | Cardea Capital Advisors | Vero Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kenneth Blaschke | HeadInvest | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kerri Musgrove | EverPar Advisors | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kevin Davidson | DW Financial | Anaheim | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Kennedy | Flying Point Financial | North Andover | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Laman | Lattice Wealth Advisors | Chattanooga | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Leeds | Vision Retirement | Maywood | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Kevin Myhre | Oak Advisors | Bluffton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Phillips | Verus Capital Partners | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Pizzotti | LTG Capital | Framingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Toler | Hill Island Financial | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kimberly Camarda | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberly Newsome | TSN Wealth & Tax Management | Brownsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kira Topeka | Meridian Financial Partners | Warrenton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kristi Thompson | Wealth Management Partners | Tucson | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kristina Allardice | RED Seven Wealth Management | Laurel | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kristina Downing | AIRE Advisors | Beverly Hills | 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.