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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Kidd | Kidd Financial Planning | Livonia | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Dombkowski | Sand Hill Global Advisors | Palo Alto | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Kopinski | Woodmont Investment Counsel | Nashville | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Brian Vogel | Manchester Capital Management | Manchester | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brianna Shealey Helping clients find clarity of their financial future while humanizing the financial planning experience. | Buena Vista Financial Planning LLC | Decatur | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Brienne Jackson | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brittany Paul | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Calynn Mullins | BentOak Capital | Weatherford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cameron Amos | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cameron Rahbar | Howland Capital | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carey Blakley | Nicholas Hoffman & Company | Atlanta | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Carey Tafelsky | Old Mission Investment | Traverse City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Caroline Baronian | Heritage Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Carolyn Bennett | Woodmont Investment Counsel | Nashville | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Casey Fitchett | Pine Haven Investment Counsel | Fairhaven | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cathy Simmons | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Dann | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Charlise Whiteside | Stonehaven Private Wealth Management | Manchester By The Sea | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christina Cline | Hudock Capital | Williamsport | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Gunster | Fidelis Capital | Greenwich | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Claudia Saia | Friedenthal Financial | Marlton | CFA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Clayton Gardner Award-winning modern wealth management firm for high earning professionals. | Titan | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Corrigan Rayfield | TwinFocus | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Courtney Kauffman | Prowell Financial Management | Exton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dane May DePaolo & May Strategic Wealth is a modern, boutique financial advisory firm helping high earners and high net-worth individuals grow and protect their wealth through personalized investment strategies and forward-thinking planning. | D&M Strategic Wealth | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Hochbaum | Sage Financial Group | West Conshohocken | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Langworthy | Fortress Financial Group | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Trgovich | Waterway Wealth Management | The Woodlands | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Gradzki | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David McNeely | Darden Wealth Group | Ann Arbor | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Thompson | Petra Wealth Management | Fredericksburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Debra Pladsen | Fortress Financial Group | Chanhassen | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Donald Laurence | Naviant Partners | San Antonio | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Douglas Smorag | CM Wealth | Beachwood | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Duncan Miller | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| E Jalenak | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Edgerly Roberts | Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management | Columbia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Elizabeth Brennen | A.G. Campbell Advisory | Baltimore | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Emily Petty | Windward Private Wealth Management | Overland Park | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Endrit Lloshi | Wealthy & Wise Family Office | Columbia | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Stein | Galvin, Gaustad & Stein | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ethan Brown | Cox Capital Management | Andover | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Fradel Barber The World Changers empowers individuals and businesses with financial education, tools, and strategies to build wealth and secure their future. | The World Changers | Miami | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Franklin Hsu | NOMAD Capital Group | Kirkland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frederic Wheeler | Friedenthal Financial | Marlton | CFA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Frederick Kort | Cura Wealth Partners | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frederick Payne | Swiftwater Capital | Lake Oswego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frederick Ravid | Chartered Financial Services | Denver | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frenise Mann | Mann Financial | Chattanooga | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Gary Martin | Nicholas Hoffman & Company | Atlanta | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
Guides
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.