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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carsten Hood | Redbud Advisors | Austin | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Catharine Betzig | Diversified Portfolios | Bloomfield Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Chani Katzman We help our clients live a life by design, not default. | Not listed | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Coleman | Pasadena Private Wealth | Pasadena | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Jackson | Southeast Asset Advisors | Tallahassee | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Pouliot | Wealth Effects | West New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Shiver | Arkos | Milton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christen Biddlestone | Trinity Financial Advisors | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christian Becnel | Steel Grove | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christie Markham | Beck Bode | Dedham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Barr | Bluestone Private Wealth | Cleveland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Ricketts | Ricketts Financial | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Topolewski | Wick Capital Partners | Wayne | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Clay Skurdal | RiskBridge Advisors | Norwalk | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Clayton Williams | Steel Grove | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cliff Demarest | Consilium Wealth Advisory | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Clifton Dortch | Balentine Wealth Advisors | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cody Gunn | Arrowstone Wealth | Malaga | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Connor Williamson | TrueNorth Wealth & Impact | Joplin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cortright Wetherill | Wick Capital Partners | Wayne | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cory Capps | Collegiate Capital Management | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cory McPherson | ProActive Capital Management | Topeka | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Dawson | Arkos | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Craig Lukin | Heritage Investors Management | Bethesda | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Pfeiffer | RiskBridge Advisors | Norwalk | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Sneed | Steel Grove | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cynthia Curtis Nelson | Eagle Bay Family Office | San Juan | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cynthia-Elaine Schlanger | Onyx Bridge Wealth Group | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dallas Wheeler | Plan Group | Oklahoma City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Danette Harfst | Harfst and Associates | Sheridan | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Botti | Peregrine Asset Advisers | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Gamache | KilterHowling | Littleton | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Speirs | Cerro Pacific Wealth Advisors | San Luis Obispo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Zuckerman | Zuckerman Investment Group | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Danielle Bailey | Balentine Wealth Advisors | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Huber | Grant Street Asset Management | Canonsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Miller | Auctus Advisors | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Pankiw | CUBIC Advisors | Wayne | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Ringler | Onyx Bridge Wealth Group | Tarrytown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Traff | Bisonwood Investments | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Young | Summit Family Office Services | Woodinville | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Deanna Rens | Petros Family Wealth | Bloomington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dennis Blodgett | Blodgett Wealth Advisors | Brentwood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dennis Fulmer | Beese Fulmer | Canton | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Derek Liberti | Wealth Effects | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Derek Stone | Heritage Investors Management | Bethesda | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Derek Walker | Collegiate Capital Management | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Diana Malcom | Choate Wealth | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dimitri Gnall | Riggs Asset Management | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Douglas Kuhlman | Paradigm Wealth Management | Westlake | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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.