# Financial advisors for founders in Tennessee > For founders in Tennessee, 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 Michael Shea of True Equity Wealth Management LLC, Jaime Ruff of HB Wealth and David Scully of Duncan Williams Asset Management. Page: https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/founders-pre-exit/tennessee/ 74 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 Tennessee? For founders in Tennessee, 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 Michael Shea of True Equity Wealth Management LLC, Jaime Ruff of HB Wealth and David Scully of Duncan Williams Asset Management. - [Michael Shea](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-shea/), True Equity Wealth Management LLC, Nashville. Holds the EA and CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, one-time planning fee. - [Jaime Ruff](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jaime-ruff/), HB Wealth, Nashville. Holds the CPA and CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, flat fee or retainer. - [David Scully](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/david-scully/), Duncan Williams Asset Management, Memphis. Holds the CFP and CFA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, hourly. - [John Phillips](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/john-phillips/), Red Door Wealth Management, Memphis. Holds the CFP and CFA. Fees on file: percentage of assets, fixed fees. - [Roland McIntyre](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/roland-mcintyre/), Mountaintop Wealth LLC, Chattanooga. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets, one-time planning fee. - [Mitchell Anderson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/mitchell-anderson/), EFinancial Alliance, Franklin. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: one-time planning fee, percentage of assets. ## How many fee-only financial advisors in Tennessee work with founders? The Wellspent public graph lists 74 fee-only advisors for founders in Tennessee, at 32 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of October 2026. ## Where are fee-only advisors for founders in Tennessee located? Of the 74 fee-only advisors for founders in Tennessee, 33 are in Memphis, followed by 11 in Nashville and 9 in Franklin. ## How do fee-only advisors for founders in Tennessee charge? The most common fee among fee-only advisors for founders in Tennessee is a percentage of assets, used by 97% of the 74 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 53% charge fixed fees and 45% charge by the hour. ## How much do fee-only financial advisors charge in Tennessee? Fee-only financial advisors in Tennessee charge a median of $4,200 a year for ongoing planning. We found this across the published prices of 13 Tennessee firms. ## How much does a one-time financial plan cost in Tennessee? A one-time financial plan from a fee-only firm in Tennessee has a median price of $2,000. We found this across the published prices of 15 Tennessee firms. ## What credentials should a financial advisor for founders have? For founders, look for the CPA, EA and CFP. In Tennessee, 43% of the 74 advisors listed hold the CFP. - CPA (1% of advisors listed): CPAs can model deal structure and the tax on proceeds. - EA (1% of advisors listed): Enrolled agents bring tax depth for multi-year planning. - CFP (43% of advisors listed): The CFP covers life after the exit, not only the sale. - CFA (12% of advisors listed): The CFA helps with investing a large sum at once. ## Does Tennessee have a state income tax? No. Tennessee has no state income tax, so federal tax drives most financial planning for residents. ## What happens to stock pay if you move to or from Tennessee? States often tax stock pay based on where you worked between grant and vesting, so a move to or from Tennessee 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 Tennessee? - 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? - If I've worked in other states, what could I still owe there? - If I move before my grants vest, which states can tax them? ## How current is this list of fee-only advisors for founders in Tennessee? 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 | |---|---|---|---|---| | [Jaime Ruff](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jaime-ruff.md) | HB Wealth | Nashville, Tennessee | CFP, CPA/PFS, MBA, CFDS | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer | | [Mitchell Anderson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/mitchell-anderson.md) | EFinancial Alliance | Franklin, Tennessee | CFP, MBA | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets | | [Alex Crouch](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/alex-crouch.md) | Tech Financial Planning | Spring Hill, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee | | [Roland McIntyre](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/roland-mcintyre.md) | Mountaintop Wealth LLC | Chattanooga, Tennessee | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee, Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee | | [Shaun Melby](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/shaun-melby.md) | Melby Wealth Management, LLC | Nashville, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee | | [Christopher Hodges](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/christopher-hodges.md) | Hodges Financial Group | Nashville, Tennessee | CFP, CPFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Michael Shea](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-shea.md) | True Equity Wealth Management LLC | Nashville, Tennessee | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee | | [Christopher Flis](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/christopher-flis.md) | Resilient Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee, Hourly, One-time planning fee | | [Kyle Kuyat](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/kyle-kuyat.md) | Defining Wealth | Franklin, Tennessee | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets, Hourly, Subscription | | [Justin Follmer](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/justin-follmer.md) | Coastal Wealth Advisors | Nashville, Tennessee | CFP | One-time planning fee | | [Skee Orr](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/skee-orr.md) | Kinetic Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | AIF, ATP, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Celeste Pryor](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/celeste-pryor.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Connor Cox](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/connor-cox.md) | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [John Phillips](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/john-phillips.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Jonathon Jordan](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jonathon-jordan.md) | Stone Pillars Wealth Management | Franklin, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Peyton Klawinski](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/peyton-klawinski.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [William Allen](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/william-allen.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [David Scully](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/david-scully.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Jacob Eason](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jacob-eason.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [James Chaney](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/james-chaney.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [James Copper](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/james-copper.md) | Skinner Copper & Ehmen | Monroe, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Kyle Gowen](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/kyle-gowen.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Peyton Wade](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/peyton-wade.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [David Goodson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/david-goodson.md) | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Gregory Davis](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/gregory-davis.md) | RBG Wealth Advisors | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets | | [Justin Lester](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/justin-lester.md) | Allied Investments | Johnson City, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Michael Cermak](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-cermak.md) | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Neil Goodson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/neil-goodson.md) | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Timothy Ellis](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/timothy-ellis.md) | RBG Wealth Advisors | Memphis, Tennessee | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets | | [Anthony Steffan](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/anthony-steffan.md) | HS Wealth Partners | Nashville, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets | | [Frenise Mann](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/frenise-mann.md) | Mann Financial | Chattanooga, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer | | [Jonathan Farrell](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jonathan-farrell.md) | Highmark | Brentwood, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Nicholas Vantrease](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/nicholas-vantrease.md) | Provident Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Christopher Williamson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/christopher-williamson.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Connor Mykleby](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/connor-mykleby.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Connor Wright](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/connor-wright.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Grayson Garvin](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/grayson-garvin.md) | Arrow Alliance | Franklin, Tennessee | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [James Bertram](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/james-bertram.md) | Baynes Investment Counsel | Franklin, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [James Proffitt](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/james-proffitt.md) | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [John Giovannetti](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/john-giovannetti.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Jonathan Stambaugh](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jonathan-stambaugh.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Kaitlin Jordan](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/kaitlin-jordan.md) | Stone Pillars Wealth Management | Franklin, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Michael Seelman](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-seelman.md) | ProffittGoodson Private Wealth | Knoxville, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [Patrick Elliott](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/patrick-elliott.md) | Uprise | Knoxville, Tennessee | CFP | Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Paul Brown](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/paul-brown.md) | Clearstone Wealth Management | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Ryan Redmond](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/ryan-redmond.md) | Stone Pillars Wealth Management | Franklin, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly | | [William Hiatt](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/william-hiatt.md) | Red Door Wealth Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [William Martin](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/william-martin.md) | Steel Grove | Memphis, Tennessee | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees, Performance-based fees | | [Colby Ring](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/colby-ring.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Edwin Bennett](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/edwin-bennett.md) | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis, Tennessee | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | Showing the first 50 of 74. The full list, page by page: https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/founders-pre-exit/tennessee/?page=2 ## Related - [Estate planning in Tennessee](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/estate-planning/tennessee.md) - [Retirement planning in Tennessee](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/retirement-planning/tennessee.md) - [Tax planning in Tennessee](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/tax-planning/tennessee.md) - [Family wealth transfer in Tennessee](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/family-wealth-transfer/tennessee.md) - [Retirees in Tennessee](https://find.wellspent.co/audiences/retirees/tennessee.md) - [Small business owners in Tennessee](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/small-business-owners/tennessee.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).