Family wealth transfer
Family-wealth-transfer planning sits one layer beyond estate documents: it's the ongoing intra-family work of governance, education, gifting strategy, family meetings, dynasty trusts, and the relationships between three or four generations of a household. Advisors here treat the family system as the client, not just the senior generation.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 2,754 fee-only financial advisors focused on family wealth transfer at 776 firms, most in Boston, Houston and Atlanta. 36% hold the CFP certification. Of the 2753 with fees on file, 97% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 2,754
- Firms
- 776
- Cities
- 576
- Hold the CFP
- 36%
- Other credentials: CFA 13% · CPA 1% · EA 1%
- How they charge (of 2753 with fees on file): percentage of assets 97% · fixed fees 65% · hourly 43% · performance-based fees 8%
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 family wealth transfer
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross King | Waterway Wealth Management | The Woodlands | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Russell Wood | Nicholas Hoffman & Company | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Deters | Grand Wealth Management | Grand Rapids | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Ryan Leary | asendo wealth | Columbus | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Deane Financial advice for startup founders and tech employees with equity compensation. | Rora Wealth | Atlanta | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Sarah Creath | BCK Partners | Corning | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sarah Huie | Oak Advisors | Bluffton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Simmer | Heritage Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Cawood | Arbor Investment Advisors | Winston Salem | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Jones | Arbor Investment Advisors | Winston Salem | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shane Farina | Box Hill Private Wealth | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shawn Hsieh | Highline Wealth Partners | Sherman Oaks | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Spencer Wynant | Peak Planning Group | Centennial | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Detweiler | Whelan Financial | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stephen Peterson | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Reeves | Private Advisory Group | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Tanner Merritt | Keen Capital | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Taylor Whelan | Whelan Financial | Fresno | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tesa Williamson | Doyenne Wealth Advisors | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Thomas Fletcher | Napier Financial | Braintree | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Gore | Keen Capital | Chapin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Grunbeck | J. R. Prunier Capital Management | Holden | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Thomas Kopelman We help high net income/ high worth business owners manage their entire financial life. | AllStreet Wealth | Carmel | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Thomas Schulte | Napier Financial | Santa Clarita | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Smith | Vita Wealth Advisors | Manhattan Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Timothy Dillow | Dillow Wealth Management | Oak Brook | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Timothy Domino | Sanderson Wealth Management | Buffalo | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Timothy Kingsbury | Veris Wealth Partners | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Timothy Ziemba | IRON Financial | Northbrook | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Todd Senter | Woodard & Company Asset Management Group | Bermuda Run | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Tracy McGuire | Brandywine Oak Private Wealth | Kennett Square | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Trent Colledge | Sunset Retire | Provo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tucker Weppner | Sanderson Wealth Management | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Tyler Harris | ARX Private Wealth | Lancaster | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tyler Hunt | Sunset Retire | Provo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tyler Stearns | Castle Coast Wealth | La Jolla | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Vincent Whelan | Whelan Financial | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Vinnie Maliakkal | Wavvest | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| William Fan | Paulson Wealth Management | Wheaton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Hollan | Arbor Investment Advisors | Winston Salem | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Lefavor | Stage Harbor Financial | Westwood | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Litton | Castle Coast Wealth | Incline Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Steinberg | Kelman-Lazarov | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Wang | HFG Trust | Kennewick | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zachary Whitchurch | Solidarity Wealth | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| 5T Wealth Management Financial advisory firm in Napa with a focus on clients needing comprehensive financial planning and sophisticated investment solutions. | 5T Wealth Management | Napa | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Abraham Amador-Lindner | Noesis Capital Management | Boca Raton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Adam Reinking | Redbud Advisors | Austin | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Adam Scholl | Henry H. Armstrong Associates | Pittsburgh | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Ajbinder Sull | Pacifica Partners | Surrey | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
Guides
-
Family office vs wealth manager: what's the difference?
A single family office works for one family and is exempt from SEC adviser registration; the ones in UBS's 2025 survey managed an average of $1.1 billion. A multi-family office is a registered wealth manager with more household services. Fee-only wealth managers charge a median 1% of assets.
-
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.
-
Financial advisor for an inheritance: what to do first
Don't rush. Park the money, learn the tax rules for what you inherited, then get a plan. A one-time plan from a fee-only planner costs a median $2,000; most inheritances owe no federal tax at all.
-
Inheriting money in Canada: tax, RRSPs and what to do first
Canada has no inheritance tax. The estate settles the tax on the final return before you're paid, and most inheritances aren't income to you. A one-time plan from a Canadian fee-only planner costs a median C$1,900.
-
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.
-
Charitable giving strategy: stock, donor-advised funds and QCDs
In 2026, giving appreciated stock avoids the capital gains tax, a donor-advised fund lets you bunch several years of gifts to clear the $32,200 standard deduction, and from 70½ an IRA gift of up to $111,000 stays out of income entirely.