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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Todd | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jen Nowitzke | HFM Wealth Management | West Hartford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Eastman | Birchbrook | Bangor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Garskof | HFM Wealth Management | West Hartford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jessica Rickert | Novare Capital Management | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jill Johnson | Corundum Group | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jimil Wilson | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Gutierrez | Indelible Wealth Group | Berthoud | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Pennington | Andina Advisors | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Pate | TwinFocus | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Galvin | Galvin, Gaustad & Stein | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Birch | Legacy Wealth Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joseph Foley | Fortiter Wealth Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Pendenza | Greater Gifts Family Office | Fort Myers | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Barnes | Legacy Advisors | Plymouth Meeting | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Julie Brim | Spiegelman Wealth Management | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Justin Leveille | Corundum Group | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Karen Natkin | Moonstone Asset Management | Northbrook | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Katherine Brabenec | Firethorn Wealth Partners | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keith Olshove | Old Mission Investment | Traverse City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kelly Hansen | Legacy Advisors | Plymouth Meeting | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kenneth Simpson | Firethorn Wealth Partners | Augusta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kenneth Templeton | Ulta Wealth Management | Las Vegas | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Bonacci | Riverview Capital Advisers | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Quiros | HFM Wealth Management | West Hartford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Sweeney | Firethorn Wealth Partners | Augusta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberli Marino | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kurt Schuler | Old Mission Investment | Traverse City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lawrence Gale | Indelible Wealth Group | Berthoud | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lawrence Miller | Family Fiduciary Services | Newton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Lisa Heerwagen | QP Wealth Management | Summerland Key | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lisa MacEwen | Howland Capital | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lori Hartman | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Lucie Estabrook | Birchbrook | Bangor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lynn Elliott | Fortiter Wealth Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Mark Prowell | Prowell Financial Management | Exton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mark Scott | A.G. Campbell Advisory | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Wendell | MD Wealth Partners | Westlake Village | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Marti Brust | West End Wealth Management | Denver | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matt Williams | Williams Financial Group | Mobile | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Marsallo | TwinFocus | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Shapiro | MWS Capital Consultants | Glenview | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Soucy | Family Fiduciary Services | Beverly | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Topley | Lansing Street Advisors | Ambler | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Megan Keenan | Lansing Street Advisors | Yardley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Melissa Starr | Corundum Group | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Meredith Nowell | Williams Financial Group | Mobile | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michel Bethea | Covato Capital Management | Naples | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mitchell Poirier | SMP Financial Planning | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Morgan Freund | Family Office Research | Bethesda | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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.