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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lin | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Luedecke | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Lyons | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Peppard | Baldwin Management | West Conshohocken | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Sinclair | Soulence Wealth Management | Pleasant Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Zale | Eagle Bay Family Office | New York | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Denisse Arebalo | Pacific Canyon Investments | Lemon Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dennis Peatrowsky | Virtue Wealth Counsel | Omaha | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Donald Harris | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Donald Heishman | Acorn Financial Services | Harrisonburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Donald Hejna | Stantum | Los Altos | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Donna Zanetti | Pennsylvania Capital Management | Huntingdon Valley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dorsey Tyndall | Vandalia Wealth | Greenville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Drew Echternach | Jefferson Bridge Capital | Nashville | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Drew Vesling | Kotys Wealth Professionals | Valparaiso | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dustin Gordon | Three Seasons Wealth | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dwayne Tyril | Kreitler Financial | New Haven | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Dyllin Moulton | Fairscale Capital | Nashua | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Edward Kolanko | Baynes Investment Counsel | Mason | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Edwin Ryu | Legacy Wealth Advisors | San Jose | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Emmanuel Afolayan | Lindsey & Lindsey Wealth Management | San Jose | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Bergquist | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Eric Stats | Brighton Wealth Management | Cottonwood Heights | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Walton | Westwind Capital | Las Cruces | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Eric Wathen | Provident Investment Management | Novi | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Erik Bagley | Kotys Wealth Professionals | Folsom | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Erin Eliason | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Erin Kerr | Choate Wealth | Boston | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Evan Evans | Onyx Bridge Wealth Group | Exton | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Evan Lang | Atwood & Palmer | Kansas City | CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Frank Greene | Private Wealth Partners | Mill Valley | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frank Mercer | Southeast Asset Advisors | Tallahassee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Frederick Pryor | TFC Financial | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gabriel McMennamy | Soulence Wealth Management | Amarillo | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Gabriel Sedora | Vantus Wealth | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gary Dorfman | Thryve Wealth Management | Santa Barbara | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Gary Harris | S. Harris Financial Group | San Antonio | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gary Lutes | Tillman Hartley | Denver | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gladys Limones | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gracelyn Snider | S. Harris Financial Group | San Antonio | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gregg Auerbach | Meadowbrook Advisors | Bedminster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Gregory Nakano | Pacifica Partners | Surrey | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Guerry Harris | Paragon Capital Management | Overland Park | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Harrison Odaniell | Choate Wealth | Boston | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Henry Ford | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ian Goldey | GoTo Financial | Westlake Village | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ian McIlvaine | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Igor Yukhvidin | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jacob Kidder | Choate Wealth | Boston | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Martin | Soulence Wealth Management | Pleasant Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
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.