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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Diandrea | WealthUnite Advisors | Manhasset | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jackson Mazzei | Trinity Strategic Wealth | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jacob Sheaf | LRC Aviation Advisors | Milwaukee | ChFC | Percentage of assets |
| Jake Murphy Helping busy med professionals reduce taxes and pay off debt faster without burning out. | TrueClarity Wealth | Wayne | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Subscription |
| Jeffrey Venables | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jessica Champion | Jessica Champion Investment Services | Chittenango | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Hollie | Avion Wealth | Shenandoah | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Milchling | 1 North Wealth Services | Annapolis | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Justin Garritt | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Karla Saez | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kathryn Putek | 1 North Wealth Services | Annapolis | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lily Evans | Evans Wealth Management | Duluth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mary Hughes | 1 North Wealth Services | Annapolis | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Megan Beaufays | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Mezheritskiy | Milestone Asset Management Group | Avon | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Nalby Nouh | Prestige Wealth Management Group | Flemington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah McIvor | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Leise | Sanders Retirement Planning | Omaha | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Scott Nasca | Generation Capital Management | Pittsford | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Taylor Bennett | Trinity Strategic Wealth | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tyler Weerden | Layered Financial | Arlington | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Andrew Huber | Magnolia Wealth | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bogdan Niciu | 4-C Wealth | Creve Coeur | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Fetzer Crockett | 4-C Wealth | St. Louis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James ONeill | Magnolia Wealth | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Chandler | Magnolia Wealth | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Joshua Oder | Oder Investment Management | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Juliana Guerra | Dean Roland Russell Family Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Keith Gunther | RED Seven Wealth Management | Escondido | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kristina Allardice | RED Seven Wealth Management | Laurel | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lucas Franco | Oder Investment Management | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Paul Banks | Worley Banks Group | Creve Coeur | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert McCARTHY | Alternative Capitalis | Wrentham | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Priske | Robert Priske | Honolulu | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rosario Scappaticci | RED Seven Wealth Management | Escondido | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Russ Thornton I help women aged 55-75 retire with clarity, comfort, & confidence | Wealthcare for Women | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Shane Bilski | Magnolia Wealth | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Steven Zorn | Oder Investment Management | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Timothy Banks | Worley Banks Group | Creve Coeur | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Y Shih | Oder Investment Management | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Wacker | Convergence | Omaha | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Benjamin Kebbekus | LRC Aviation Advisors | Milwaukee | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brent Schneider | LRC Aviation Advisors | Milwaukee | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carter Abbott | LRC Aviation Advisors | Milwaukee | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Colton Koehler | Convergence | Omaha | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Corbin Hixson | Alpha Squared Capital | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Sigeti | CES Investment Strategies | Lititz | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Derek Pawlak | LRC Aviation Advisors | Milwaukee | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Elise Henderson | Spectrum Advisors | Plano | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Eric Linger | Sherwood Investments | Redmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
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.