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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Miles | Cooper Capital Group | Encinitas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathan Rollins | Highmark | Brentwood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Willenbring | MD Wealth Partners | Westlake Village | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Nicole Kustok | Evansbrook Capital Management | Bolingbrook | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Noah Hannon | ABS Legacy Partners | Hickory | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Parker Johnson | Cooper Capital Group | Encinitas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patrick Greenhalgh | Lansing Street Advisors | Ambler | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick McGinnis | Nordwand Capital | Radnor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick Sheppard | Atlantic Retirement & Wealth Advisors | Johns Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patrick Stuart | Saddock Wealth | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Paul Magovern | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Paul Thompson | TwinFocus | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Paula Pienkowska | Riverview Capital Advisers | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Peter Dixon | Howland Capital | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Quinn Longhurst | Andina Advisors | Logan | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rafael Quiros | HFM Wealth Management | Hartford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Raony Zica de Carvalho | Carvalho Investment Group | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Bond | Highbrook Capital Partners | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Mordesovich | Sonoma Private Wealth | Novato | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Miller | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Wurster | Legacy Advisors | Plymouth Meeting | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Bartosh | Guyasuta Investment Advisors | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ronald Johnson | Corundum Group | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Becker | Legacy Advisors | Plymouth Meeting | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Crooks | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Hartung | MWS Capital Consultants | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Knabusch | Old Mission Investment | Traverse City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Lynch | Prowell Financial Management | Exton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Freund | Family Office Research | Bethesda | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shane Hiller | Sonoma Private Wealth | San Juan Capistrano | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Galvin | Galvin, Gaustad & Stein | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Gaustad | Galvin, Gaustad & Stein | Sewickley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Saddock | Saddock Wealth | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Topley | Lansing Street Advisors | Ambler | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stephen Wilchins | Family Fiduciary Services | Beverly | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Steven Abernathy | The Abernathy Group II Family Office | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Wiggins | Indelible Wealth Group | Berthoud | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stuart Park | Park Miller | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Susan Arnold | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sylvia Gilmore | Aletheian Wealth Advisors | Bellevue | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Thomas Leidner | QP Wealth Management | Haven | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tony Gordon | Covato Capital Management | Naples | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Abolghassem | Firethorn Wealth Partners | Augusta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Alt | MWS Capital Consultants | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| William Waldrip | TwinFocus | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Abigail Miller | Parcion Private Wealth | Bellevue | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alex Goldstein | Atlas Financial | West Palm Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexandra Dorfman | NorthStar Asset Management | St Louis | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Macken | 7Two | Denver | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrew Mazzola | M3 Advisory Group | Boston | 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.