Retirement planning
Retirement planning covers the transition from accumulation to distribution: income strategy, withdrawal order, Social Security timing, bridge income before Medicare, Roth conversion runway, sequence-of-returns risk, long-term-care planning, and the tax coordination that determines whether a retirement plan actually survives 30+ years of drawdown.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 7,304 fee-only financial advisors focused on retirement planning at 3,218 firms, most in Houston, San Diego and Austin. 46% hold the CFP certification. Of the 7281 with fees on file, 87% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 7,304
- Firms
- 3,218
- Cities
- 1,467
- Hold the CFP
- 46%
- Other credentials: CFA 8% · CPA 2% · EA 2%
- How they charge (of 7281 with fees on file): percentage of assets 87% · fixed fees 47% · hourly 45% · ongoing planning fee 15%
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 retirement planning
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Richardsdon | Spring Financial Planning | Kenora | QAFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kate Wilusz | Fiat Lux Financial Planning | San Francisco | CFP, CRPC | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Katheryn Lindquist | Lindenwood Financial LLC | Madison | ABFP, AWMA, CFP, MPAS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kathryn Hankard | Fiscal Fitness, LLC | Verona | CFP, MS, RICP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Kathy Longo | Flourish Wealth Management Inc. | Edina | CAP, CDFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keith Spencer | Spencer Financial Planning, LLC | Spokane | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Kelly Klingaman | Kelly Klingaman Financial Planning | Austin | CFP, RLP | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Kerry Prazak | The Mather Group | Chicago | CFP, CRPC, MBA, RFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kevin Lao | Imagine Financial Security | Chattanooga | CFP, RICP | Percentage of assets |
| Kevin Michels | Medicus Wealth Planning, Inc. | Draper | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kimberly Wirtz | John E. Sestina and Company | Columbus | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kody Brown | Sequoia Financial Group | Pasadena | CFP, CRPS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kris Draper | Northern Lights Advisors Inc | Seattle | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kristine McKinley | Beacon Financial Advisors, LLC | Kansas City | CFP, CPA | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Krystal Fortner Simple, no-nonsense advice-only planning for clients at any savings level, starting with a plan and twice-yearly check-ins. | Krystal Fortner | Richmond | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Kyle Simmons | Simmons Investment Management | Louisville | CFP, CRPC | One-time planning fee |
| Lance Ludwig | Kingdom Financial | South Bend | CFP, CKA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lei Deng Efficient financial plans and investing for busy skilled trades professionals | Core Planning, LLC | Saint Louis | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Lew Christman | Christman Fiancial Advisors LLC | Macungie | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Liz Griffiths | Intera Financial Planners LLC | Avon Lake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Liz Schieck | New School of Finance | Toronto | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Logan Valentine | Valentine Wealth Management | Seymour | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lori Curtiss | A Money Maker Mindset | Calgary | CFP, CFBS | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lorne Abramson | Abramson Financial Planning, LLC | Burlingame | CFA, CFP, CTEC, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Lucas Wennersten | 49th Parallel Wealth Management | Vancouver | CFA, CFP (Canada), CFP (U.S.) | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Luke Van de Loo | Sullivan Mermel, Inc. | Chicago | CFP, CPA, MA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Maggie Klokkenga Former CPA who starts with cash flow to help clients align their money with what they truly value. | Abundo Wealth | Houston | CFP, AFC, CPA | Subscription |
| Marcus Blanchard | Focal Point Financial Planning, LLC | Pleasant Grove | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Humphries | Sentinel Financial Planning, LLC | Edgewater | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Whitaker | Retirement Advice LLC | Provo | CFP, MSFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Marlene C. Buxton | Buxton Financial For Retirement | Toronto | CFP, CLU, RRC, Chartered Financial Planner | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Martin Lundgren | Northern Lights Advisors Inc. | Seattle | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Marty O'Leary | Stadium Financial LLC | Orlando | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Massi De Santis | Desmo Wealth Advisors, LLC | Lakeway | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Johnson | Defining Legacy Financial Advisors LLC | Greensboro | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Laciskey | Hyland Lake Partners, LLC | Edina | CFP, EA, ChFC, ChSNC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Will | Wealth Accel LLC | Dayton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Ferrell | MADE Financial Design | Land O Lakes | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Kelley | Gold Medal Waters, Inc. | Boulder | AAMS, AIF, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew McCoy | Southbound Wealth LLC | Rock Hill | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Ramos | Mpower Wealth Management, LLC | Drexel Hill | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Melissa Estrada | Fidela Wealth | Calabasas | CFP, CIMA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Haubrich | Financial Service Group, Inc. | Mount Pleasant | CFP, CSA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Hunsberger | Next Mission Financial Planning | Saint Charles | CFP, ChFC, CCFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Nemick | Thrive Retirement Specialists | Dearborn | CFP, CFA, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Michael Powers | Manuka Financial, LLC | Richmond | CFP, CPA, PFS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Tarascio | Tarascio Financial Planning, LLC | Mesa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michelle Vargas | Waymaker Financial Planning | Fort Worth | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Mike Bayer | Strategic Analysis Capital Management Inc. | Mississauga | CFP, CIM, FCSI | Hourly, Percentage of assets |
| Mike Hartman | Hyperion Financial, LLC | Shillington | CFP, RICP | Ongoing planning fee |
Guides
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Downsizing in retirement: the tax and money decisions
Up to $250,000 of gain on your main home is tax-free, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, if you've owned and lived in it for two of the last five years. The bigger questions are how much the move really frees up, and what the sale does to your taxes and Medicare premiums.
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Planning an early retirement (FIRE)
The hard part of retiring early is the gap before 59½ and 65: reaching your savings without the 10% additional tax, paying for health insurance, and spending in low tax brackets. A one-time plan from a fee-only planner has a median of $2,000.
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Financial advisor for retirement: what to look for
A retirement advisor's real job is the income plan: when to claim Social Security, which accounts to draw first, and how to keep the tax bill down for 30 years. Fee-only planners charge a median $4,500 a year.
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How much can I withdraw in retirement?
About 4% of your starting balance, raised each year for inflation, is the historical baseline for a 30-year retirement: $40,000 on $1 million. Fees, taxes, a longer horizon and a rigid spending rule all push it lower; a willingness to cut back after bad years pushes it higher.
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HSA investing strategy: your HSA as a retirement account
For 2026 you can put $4,400 (self-only) or $8,750 (family) into an HSA, plus $1,000 at 55. Invested and left alone, it's the only account that's tax-free going in, growing and coming out for medical costs.
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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.