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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Cheatham | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Fraser | Canyon Creek Investment Advisors | Fruita | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Vandenbrink | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brianna Pradia | SSB&T Wealth | Fredericksburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bruce McCrea | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bruno Krenn | Pacific Capital | Corona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bryan Linn | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bryan McCrea | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cade Johnson | Petros Family Wealth | Bloomington | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Caeden Goering | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Caleb Smoes | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Carlos Butcher | Birch Capital Management | Dallas | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carrie Carr | ARIA Wealth Management | Little Rock | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carson Brown | Soulence Wealth Management | Pleasant Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Chad Willardson | Pacific Capital | Corona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Caravati | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Corkery | PUREfi Wealth | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles McAteer | ARIA Wealth Management | Saratoga | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Poe | Grand Central Investment Group | Tampa | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Tricomi | Greenwich Wealth Management | Greenwich | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charlotte Anten | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chelsea Weiss | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christian Paterok | Noesis Capital Management | Boca Raton | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Anderson | Soulence Wealth Management | Pleasant Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Culbertson | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Dion | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Fry | Capital Asset Management | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Huston | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Leary | Argos Wealth Advisors | Saint Helena | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Williamson | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Clarissa Candelario | Private Asset Management | Kirkland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Clayton Earle | Elevate Wealth Group | San Francisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Clifford Kolson | Family Wealth Leadership | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Clinton Simmons | Vantus Wealth | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Coleman Shwayder | 7Two | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Connor Mykleby | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Connor Wright | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cort Barrett | White Aspen Capital | Henderson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Craig Harvey Field | Alluvial Wealth Management | Matthews | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dalin Jewett | Tanara Wealth Management | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Boyle | Provident Investment Management | Novi | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel De Mille | Three Seasons Wealth | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Estes | Pin Oak Investment Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Goldberg | Diversified Portfolios | Bloomfield Hills | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Howard | Zuckerman Investment Group | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Reuben | Parcion Private Wealth | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel White | Sestante Family Office | Coronado | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Witherspoon | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| David Berg | Acorn Creek Capital | Fort Collins | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Doll | Sequent Asset Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
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.