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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Odum | Southeast Asset Advisors | Thomasville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Pacini | Soulence Wealth Management | Pleasant Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jacob Siani | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Simons | The Rice Partnership | Honolulu | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jaime Cutter | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jake Mossing We provide unbiased annuity guidance with no fees, no obligations. | Annuity Answers | Toledo | CFA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Jake Murphy Helping busy med professionals reduce taxes and pay off debt faster without burning out. | TrueClarity Wealth | Wayne | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Subscription |
| James Armstrong | Henry H. Armstrong Associates | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Bertram | Baynes Investment Counsel | Franklin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Carr | Keystone Global Partners | Denver | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Fiske | Colonial Trust Company | Greenville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Proffitt | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Rouse | Pin Oak Investment Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Simmons | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Skubik | Provident Investment Management | Novi | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Jared Quereau | Baldwin Management | West Conshohocken | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Bruxvoort | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jason Kooyer | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jason Lunsford | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jason Traff | Bisonwood Investments | Austin | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Jaycee Carroll | Three Seasons Wealth | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Borman | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Emrich | Vantus Wealth | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Martin | RPO Wealth Partners | Charlotte | Not listed | Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Nowell | Mascoma Wealth Management | Hanover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Petersen | Willow Grove Advisors | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Migdal | Cove Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Bardin | Elevate Capital | San Francisco | CFA | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Jessica Grande | TFC Financial | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jiaxuan Zhuang | MZ Capital | Bethesda | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joel Petersen | Sound Legacy Wealth Advisors | Kirkland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Bell | Thryve Wealth Management | Santa Barbara | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Bowers | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Dwyer | Sunpointe Investments | Clayton | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Giovannetti | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Imbusch | BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions | Birmingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Jones | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Lorenz | Arlington Financial Advisors | Santa Barbara | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Merrill | Tanglewood Total Wealth Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Palmer-Kamprath | Generational Legacies Wealth Management | Coeur D'Alene | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Simms | Piedmont Trust | Greenboro | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Vanderburgh | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Jolie Tixier | Westwind Capital | Las Cruces | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jonas Rees | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jonathan Cottrell | Mascoma Wealth Management | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan Cox | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Kline | Lakewood Financial Group | Tafton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan McGraw Bentley | Choate Wealth | Boston | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Stambaugh | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jonathan Stirling | Westwind Capital | Centennial | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
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.