# Financial advisors for founders in Kentucky > For founders in Kentucky, talk to a fee-only planner who has worked through a liquidity event, ideally well before you sign anything. The most valuable decisions, like QSBS eligibility and gifting shares, usually have to be made ahead of the sale. Records to start with include Amy Stuber of Saling Wealth Advisors, Christopher McCrea of Legacy Financial Independent Advisors and Cameron Hamilton of Ballast. Page: https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/founders-pre-exit/kentucky/ 34 fee-only advisors listed; data last updated October 30, 2026. Fee-only means paid only by clients, never by commissions. ## Which financial advisor should I talk to as a founder in Kentucky? For founders in Kentucky, talk to a fee-only planner who has worked through a liquidity event, ideally well before you sign anything. The most valuable decisions, like QSBS eligibility and gifting shares, usually have to be made ahead of the sale. Records to start with include Amy Stuber of Saling Wealth Advisors, Christopher McCrea of Legacy Financial Independent Advisors and Cameron Hamilton of Ballast. - [Amy Stuber](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/amy-stuber/), Saling Wealth Advisors, Louisville. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, fixed fees. - [Christopher McCrea](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/christopher-mccrea/), Legacy Financial Independent Advisors, Louisville. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly. - [Cameron Hamilton](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/cameron-hamilton/), Ballast, Lexington. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly. - [Derek Schmidt](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/derek-schmidt/), Altus Wealth Management, Ft. Mitchell. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly. - [Brandon Smith](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/brandon-smith-7972265/), Wallace Hart Capital Management, Lexington. Fees on file: percentage of assets, performance-based fees. - [Robert McKay](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/robert-mckay/), Nautical Star Financial, Fort Mitchell. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly. ## How many fee-only financial advisors in Kentucky work with founders? The Wellspent public graph lists 34 fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky, at 6 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of October 2026. ## Where are fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky located? Of the 34 fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky, 15 are in Louisville, followed by 13 in Lexington and 5 in Ft. Mitchell. ## How do fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky charge? The most common fee among fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky is a percentage of assets, used by 100% of the 34 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 71% charge fixed fees and 59% charge by the hour. ## What credentials should a financial advisor for founders have? For founders, look for the CFP and CFA. In Kentucky, 56% of the 34 advisors listed hold the CFP. - CFP (56% of advisors listed): The CFP covers life after the exit, not only the sale. - CFA (3% of advisors listed): The CFA helps with investing a large sum at once. ## How do Kentucky advisors for founders compare with the rest of the US? 56% of fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky hold the CFP, compared with 41% of the 3,000 listed across the US. That's the largest difference in the Wellspent public graph between the two groups. ## Does Kentucky tax income on top of federal tax? Yes. Kentucky has a state income tax, so a financial plan for a Kentucky resident should project it alongside federal tax. ## Is there a local income tax in Kentucky? Yes. In Kentucky, many cities and counties add an occupational tax. ## What happens to stock pay if you move to or from Kentucky? States often tax stock pay based on where you worked between grant and vesting, so a move to or from Kentucky can split that income across states. Tell any advisor about moves during a vesting period. ## What should I ask a financial advisor as a founder in Kentucky? - How many clients have you taken through an exit, and at what size? - How would you check whether my shares qualify for QSBS? - What should I do before a term sheet that I can't do after? - How would you invest the proceeds in the first year? - How do you account for local income tax where I live and work? - If I move before my grants vest, which states can tax them? ## How current is this list of fee-only advisors for founders in Kentucky? Wellspent last checked these records against SEC records in October 2026 and firm websites in October 2026. Each advisor's page shows the date for that record. ## Advisors | Advisor | Firm | Location | Credentials | Fees | |---|---|---|---|---| | [Amy Stuber](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/amy-stuber.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Andrew Reynolds](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/andrew-reynolds.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Brian Burton](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/brian-burton.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Cameron Hamilton](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/cameron-hamilton.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Christian Doyle](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/christian-doyle.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Christopher McCrea](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/christopher-mccrea.md) | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Eric Saling](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/eric-saling.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Frank Yozwiak](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/frank-yozwiak.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Jeffrey Gough](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jeffrey-gough.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [John Boardman](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/john-boardman.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Noah Polk](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/noah-polk.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Tendai Charasika](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/tendai-charasika.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Thomas Falkner](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/thomas-falkner.md) | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Trent Lakes](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/trent-lakes.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Andrew Hermes](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/andrew-hermes.md) | Altus Wealth Management | Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Austin Stinson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/austin-stinson.md) | Altus Wealth Management | Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Derek Schmidt](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/derek-schmidt.md) | Altus Wealth Management | Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Jason Stuber](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jason-stuber.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Steven O'Connor](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/steven-o-connor.md) | Altus Wealth Management | Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [William Doepker](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/william-doepker.md) | Altus Wealth Management | Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Bruce McCrea](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/bruce-mccrea.md) | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Bryan McCrea](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/bryan-mccrea.md) | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Catherine Richmond](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/catherine-richmond.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Jeffrey Lehmann](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jeffrey-lehmann.md) | Ballast | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Kody Williams](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/kody-williams.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Megan Dant](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/megan-dant.md) | Saling Wealth Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Sheree Bollinger](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/sheree-bollinger.md) | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Zachary Gutermuth](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/zachary-gutermuth.md) | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Robert McKay](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/robert-mckay.md) | Nautical Star Financial | Fort Mitchell, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Brandon Smith](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/brandon-smith-7972265.md) | Wallace Hart Capital Management | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees | | [Darren Williams](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/darren-williams.md) | Wallace Hart Capital Management | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees | | [Jeremy Wallace](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jeremy-wallace.md) | Wallace Hart Capital Management | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees | | [Jessica Bedell](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jessica-bedell.md) | Wallace Hart Capital Management | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees | | [Michael Hart](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-hart.md) | Wallace Hart Capital Management | Lexington, Kentucky | | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees | ## Related - [Retirement planning in Kentucky](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/retirement-planning/kentucky.md) - [Estate planning in Kentucky](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/estate-planning/kentucky.md) - [Tax planning in Kentucky](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/tax-planning/kentucky.md) - [Pre-retirees in Kentucky](https://find.wellspent.co/audiences/pre-retirees/kentucky.md) - [Retirees in Kentucky](https://find.wellspent.co/audiences/retirees/kentucky.md) - [Small business owners in Kentucky](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/small-business-owners/kentucky.md) ## About this data Sources and verification: https://find.wellspent.co/methodology/ Query the directory programmatically: https://api.wellspent.co/mcp (MCP, read-only, no auth).