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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Ledbetter | Colonial Trust Company | Greenville | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Timothy Ballard | Steel Grove | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Timothy Macguire | Eagle Bay Family Office | Maplewood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Timothy McGukin | Arkos | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Timothy Wood | Foster & Wood | Lake Oswego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Todd Thompson | Rogue Advisors | Grants Pass | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tony Sigmon | Collegiate Capital Management | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Tracy Shackelford | Tenzing Financial | Williamsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Trevin Harris | Avondale Wealth Advisors | West Lake Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Trevor Harris | Arkos | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Trevor Schimschock | KilterHowling | Boulder | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Troy White | Hoodoo Financial | Oakland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tuyet Nguyen | NorthStar Asset Management | Boston | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Vahan Janjigian | Greenwich Wealth Management | Wayland | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Vicki Aycock | Austin Money Management | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Victor Gitau | Balentine Wealth Advisors | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Vincent Savio | Beck Bode | Dedham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Wade Tapp | Family Wealth Partners | Matthews | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Walter Robertson | Brockenbrough | Richmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Warner Wayne | Wealth Effects | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Wil Dedmon | Krowten Equities | Birmingham | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Wilfred Henderson | Legacy Wealth Management | Ridgeland | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| William Dagley | Private Wealth Partners | Mill Valley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Davidson | Park Wealth Management | Greensboro | Not listed | Hourly |
| William Draper | Craner Capital | Bountiful | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Dunn | Charter Research & Investment Group | Southport | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Gardner | Arkos | Milton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Liberti | Wealth Effects | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| William Martinet | Monograph Wealth | Manhattan Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Petty | Estabrook Capital Management | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| William Pittenger | Redbud Advisors | Austin | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| William Stites | KilterHowling | Boulder | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| William Thacker | Balentine Wealth Advisors | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Yibo Huang | Sicart Associates | New York | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Zachary Cleveland | Parcion Private Wealth | Bellevue | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Zachary Haberman | C.H. Dean | Beavercreek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Abhijeet Mhatre | HappyRich Capital | Monroe Township | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam Meyer | Moonstone Asset Management | Brookhaven | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Adam Szymanski | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alan Arcadipane | Riverview Capital Advisers | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Campbell | A.G. Campbell Advisory | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Campbell | A.G. Campbell Advisory | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Fisher | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Sencindiver | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrew Swanson | Howland Capital | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anthony Allen | Andina Advisors | Providence | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anthony Rossi | Integrated Wealth Advisors | Bellevue | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Arabelle Rachel Restauro | Spiegelman Wealth Management | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Arthur Gordon | Gordon Asset Management | West Palm Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Austin Collins | Integrated Wealth Advisors | Bellevue | 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.