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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Michels | Michels Family Financial | Fort Worth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nicolas Drury | Baynes Investment Counsel | Fort Worth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Noah Shidlofsky | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Paige Ryan | NorthStar Asset Management | Charlottesville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Panos Grivakis | Lakewood Financial Group | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Patricia Slocum | ArborFi Advisors | Ann Arbor | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Paul Babij | Sundial Wealth | Delray Beach | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Paul Broomell | Vantus Wealth | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Paula Allgood | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Perrin Jones | BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions | Birmingham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Peter Besel | Parcion Private Wealth | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Boyle | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Peter Dizdar | Palumbo Wealth Management | Great Neck | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Sowden | Atwood & Palmer | Kansas City | CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| R. Christopher Wiegand | Newbridge Wealth Management | Bryn Mawr | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Randall Zaharia | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rankin Starkey | SSB&T Wealth | Fredericksburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Raul Sonza | Cabildo Capital | Washington | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Reuben Moldowan | Pacifica Partners | Surrey | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rhonda Carter | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Richard Hughes | Arlington Financial Advisors | Santa Barbara | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Morgan | SSB&T Wealth | Bee Cave | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Richard Turgeon | Wellspring Family Office | Cleveland | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Burke | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Cardenas | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Johnson | Linkside Financial | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Nistendirk | WNA Wealth Management | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Rizarri | Heritage Wealth Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Roger Gewecke | Clifford Swan | Pasadena | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Skalberg | Beaird Harris | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ronald Whitley | Acorn Financial Services | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Yolles | Diversified Portfolios | Bloomfield Hills | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Russell Carlson | ARIA Wealth Management | Dunwoody | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Bellis | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Kotys | Kotys Wealth Professionals | Valparaiso | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Redmond | Stone Pillars Wealth Management | Franklin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Tyler | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samuel Baynes | Baynes Investment Counsel | Fort Worth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Liebman | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Starks | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samuelson Drumond | Drumond Wealth Management | Katy | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Contino | CAM Investor Solutions | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Smith | Willow Grove Advisors | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Lefebre | Seneca Financial Advisors | Rochester | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Miller | Linch Financial | Plano | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sean Green | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Tyll | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shannon Schulz | S. Harris Financial Group | San Antonio | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shannon Ware | Acorn Financial Services | Harrisonburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shanon Tate | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | 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.