Pension planning
Pension planning is its own corner of retirement work: lump-sum versus annuity elections, survivor-benefit choices, federal employee FERS and CSRS coordination, military retirement integration, corporate pension freezes and buyouts, and the cash-flow modeling required to integrate a pension stream with Social Security and portfolio drawdown. Specialty advisors here run the irreversible elections through several lenses before the deadline closes.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 391 fee-only financial advisors focused on pension planning at 214 firms, most in Columbus, Milwaukee and Orem. 54% hold the CFP certification. Of the 386 with fees on file, 82% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 391
- Firms
- 214
- Cities
- 190
- Hold the CFP
- 54%
- Other credentials: CFA 6% · CPA 3% · EA 2%
- How they charge (of 386 with fees on file): percentage of assets 82% · fixed fees 35% · hourly 31% · one-time planning fee 23%
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 pension planning
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominic Garris | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dustin Latham | Alternative Capitalis | Wrentham | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dylon Woolwine | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Elizabeth Stamatakos | A to Z Financial Planning | Oak Creek | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Emma Hostetler | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Evan Ryan | Marathon Mission | Latham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Fradel Barber The World Changers empowers individuals and businesses with financial education, tools, and strategies to build wealth and secure their future. | The World Changers | Miami | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Jacob Hagen-Erickson | Fortress Financial Group | Rochester | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Dongelewic | Marathon Mission | Latham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Sevy | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Jesse Celeste Artistic Wealth was created for endowments, entrepreneurs, and pre-retirees/retirees who want custom tailored planning, a wealth partner who listens and acts in the best interest of the client. | Artistic Wealth | Red Bank | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| John McNamara | Highball Advisors | Simsponville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Nicholas | Fortress Financial Group | Rochester | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joshua Richardson | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kristen Hudspeth | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Laura Sodorsky | Marathon Mission | Latham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Luke Kroeplin | Fortress Financial Group | Horace | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Gulbransen | Pine Grove Financial Group | Woodbury | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Hampton | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Kelley | Cornerstone Wealth Management | Westlake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Kelly | Canopy Financial Solutions | Sanford | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Kaplan | Cornerstone Wealth Management | Westlake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nino Pavan | Financial Designs | Claremont | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Owen Bosworth | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Wolynski Helping people retire and save taxes. | Calculated Wealth | Madison | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Richard Cullen | Inland Financial Planning | Spokane | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Deal | LifeFocus Financial Advisors | Walla Walla | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ryan Key | Pine Grove Financial Group | Woodbury | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Samuel Nordquist | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Muhlestein | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Seth Deal | LifeFocus Financial Advisors | Walla Walla | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Taylor Thompson Putting the clients goals and objectives first and foremost. | Thompson Family Office | Gilbert | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Thomas Challis | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Tony Escobar Purpose-based financial planning for your business and personal needs. | Exponent Group | Morton | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Tyler Nichols | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tyler Purcell We handle the heavy-lifting of navigating investment, tax, estate and financial planning so you can focus on the things that you love with the people you love. | Balance Wealth | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Vaughn Heydel | Financial Designs | Claremont | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zachary Swenson | Peterson Wealth Advisors | Orem | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Abigail Demirovic | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexander Amundson | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Anne Claire Nornhold | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Annika Mitchell | 1 North Wealth Services | Annapolis | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ashley Owens | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Beverly Patton | Syrios Wealth Management Group | La Jolla | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bonnie Chadwick | Paratus Financial | Dallas | Not listed | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| Callum Raymick | Trinity Strategic Wealth | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Carl Christensen | Avion Wealth | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Nibley | Nibley Financial | Heber | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dimitri Sfakiyanudis | 1 North Wealth Services | Annapolis | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Elizabeth Brady | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
Guides
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Pension commuted value: take the lump sum or keep the pension?
Leaving a defined benefit pension in Canada usually means choosing between a monthly pension for life and a lump sum you invest yourself. Only part of the lump sum can move tax-free, and the choice can't be undone. Here's how to decide, and what a fee-only planner charges to check it.
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Pension income splitting: how it works and what it saves
Couples can move up to half of eligible pension income to the lower-income spouse on their tax returns each year. For a retired couple with C$110,000 and C$30,000 of income, splitting C$40,000 saves about C$4,180 in federal tax and OAS repayment in 2026.
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Pension lump sum or monthly payments: how to decide
A pension lump sum is the plan's price for your monthly payments, set with IRS interest rates. The test is what that money would have to earn to pay you as much, for as long, and who carries the risk.
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Divorce and money in Canada: property, pensions and CPP
Divorce is federal law, but how property is divided depends on your province, and whether you were married. A fee-only planner can show what a settlement is worth after tax, at a median C$250 an hour or C$1,900 for a one-time plan.
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Financial advisors for teachers, federal employees and tech workers
Each of these jobs comes with its own rulebook: 403(b), 457(b) and a pension for teachers, FERS and the TSP for federal workers, RSUs for tech. The right advisor knows yours. Fee-only planners charge a median $300 an hour or $2,000 for a one-time plan.
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Military retirement and transition planning
The choices with the most money in them come in your last year of service: the Survivor Benefit Plan, the Blended Retirement System lump sum, your TSP and your VA claim. A one-time plan from a fee-only planner has a median of $2,000.