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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin Wallace | Mascoma Wealth Management | Burlington | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jorden Bastien | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Anderson | Colonial Trust Company | Spartanburg | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Cefalu | Downtown Wealth Studios | Miami | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Chrisman | Monograph Wealth | Manhattan Beach | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Jennings | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Lawrence | ARIA Wealth Management | Huntsville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Graham | Westview Investment Advisors | Burlington | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Shaffer | Trinity Financial Advisors | Columbus | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Julie Purcell | Wissahickon Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Justin Souder | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kaitlin Jordan | Stone Pillars Wealth Management | Franklin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Katherine Davis | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kathleen Carbone | Parcion Private Wealth | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kathleen Cefalu | Downtown Wealth Studios | Ipswich | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kathryn Lester | Vandalia Wealth | Indianapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kathryn Smith | Colonial Trust Company | Greenville | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kaylan Adams | BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions | Birmingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keley Petersen | Willow Grove Advisors | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kelly Snider | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kelsey Sullivan | Choate Wealth | Boston | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Blocker | Linkside Financial | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Lindley | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kevin Penner | Parcion Private Wealth | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kevin Schwall | Tillman Hartley | Denver | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kevin Swanson | Potentia Wealth | San Jose | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Khristopher Torres | RiversEdge Advisors | San Antonio | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberly Overby | Lindsey & Lindsey Wealth Management | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kody Williams | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kraishylea Agboaye | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kristine Pattison | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kurt Gunter | Lake Hills Wealth Management | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kyle Neese | Sunpointe Investments | St. Louis | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Laleeta Hill | Noesis Capital Management | Boca Raton | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Laura Kohler | Willow Grove Advisors | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Laura Martin | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lauren Desmarteaux | Preserve Private Wealth | Port St. Lucie | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lauren Fine | Beatrice Advisors | Cleveland | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lauren Truer | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lelamarie Kelly | Life UnLocked Partners | Venice | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Lily Evans | Evans Wealth Management | Duluth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Linda Yu | Lindsey & Lindsey Wealth Management | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lindsey Johns | Zuckerman Investment Group | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Lloyd Wong | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lois Crichton | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lucas Cheatham | Diamond Client Group | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Luke McClure | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| M'Lissa Brillhart | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Madison Carleton | Heritage Wealth Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Makenna Flagg | Makenna & Company | Darien | CFP | 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.