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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Eder | HFG Trust | Kennewick | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Mayo | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Wilkie | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Quinn Vicars | Financial Plan | Bellingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rachel Benton | B.I.G. Investment Services | Dover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ralph Cetrulo | Sage Financial Group | West Conshohocken | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Randall Ruggaard | Ruggaard & Associates | Hudson | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Raul Shah | DocShah Financial | Ellicott City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Rebecka Pratt | Hill Island Financial | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Reilly Skorupski | Meridian Financial Partners | Warrenton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Renee Michel | Sweeney & Michel | Chico | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Arbury | My Financial Coach | Midland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Colman | Colman Knight | Acton | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Dexter | Spartan Planning | Greensboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Richard Lakin | IRON Financial | Northbrook | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Richard Matthias | Matthias | Winter Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Mueller | Peak Investment Advisors | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Mullen | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Roscelli | Cardea Capital Advisors | Vero Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Rob Sigler | Westshore Wealth | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Alston | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Atkins | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Carroll | Jackson, Grant | Stamford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Featherstone | Solidarity Wealth | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Robert Goggin | Atticus Wealth Management | Palm Beach Gardens | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Krimmel | Kooman & Associates | Altoona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert McKay | Nautical Star Financial | Fort Mitchell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Napolitano | Napier Financial | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Nelson | Sunset Retire | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Patrick | Solidarity Wealth | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Robert Pitt | Mauney-Pitt Financial Management | Shelby | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Priske | Robert Priske | Honolulu | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Robinson | Cosmos Wealth | El Segundo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Roper | Kroon & Mitchell | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Strange | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Teague | Markle Financial | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Warmkessel | Grange Capital | Beaverton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Whitehead | HeadInvest | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Willis | Gibraltar Capital Management | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robin Austin | Mills Wealth Advisors | Southlake | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robyn Kreuer | Verus Capital Partners | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rodney Weeks | WLTH Capital Management | Chandler | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Roman LeFebure | Main Street Research | Lakeville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Roman Skurdal | Ceva Advisors | Beavercreek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Smith | Blue Ocean Capital | West Palm Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rosario Scappaticci | RED Seven Wealth Management | Escondido | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Roxanna Guinan | Cardea Capital Advisors | Coral Gables | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Roy Bodinus | CBG & Company | Fishers | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ruchi Sengar | Better Financial Services | Federal Way | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Ahrens | Green Ocean Global | San Francisco | Not listed | 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.