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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Henzes | Open Wealth Network | Pottstown | CFP, EA, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Mike Staman | Delaware Financial Planning, LLC | Newark | CFP, CAP, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Morgan Ranstrom | Trailhead Planners, LLC | Portland | CEPA, CFA, CFP, RLP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Morris MacLeod | Strategos Group | Halifax | MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nannette Belt | Inspiration Financial Planning LLC | Carlsbad | CFP, RICP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Nathan Goodman | Family Investment Center | Lenexa | CFP, CFA, CTFA, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nathan Swab | Alexander Financial Planning, Inc. | Columbus | AWMA, CFP, MSFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nathaniel Baim | Pursuit Planning and Investments, LLC | Beaverton | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nestor Vargas | AlignPoint Wealth | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicholas Faulkner | Testament Wealth Management | Cary | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Nicholas Hui | VAVE Financial Planning | Markham | CFP, TEP, MBA, P.Eng | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Nick Murphy | Counterweight Private Wealth | Raleigh | CFP, MBA, RICP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicola Cyr | Five8 Financial LLC | Rogers | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets |
| Patrick King | Prana Wealth | Atlanta | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Paul Coleman Iii | Free Time Financial LLC | Orchard Park | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Philip Rutterer | Rutterer Planning, LLC | Nashville | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Pijus Bulvinas | Wealth and Plan | Cypress | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Quentara Costa | Powwow, LLC | North Andover | CFP, MSFP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ralph Ted White | Arrivity Financial Planning | Seattle | CFP, CIMA, MBA | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Raquel Hinman | Hinman Financial Planning, Inc. | Erie | CFP, CDFA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rebecca Meats | Clear Insight Wealth Management | Spokane | CPA, AFC, CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rianka Dorsainvil | YGC Wealth | Lanham | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Salmen | Family Investment Center | St. Joseph | CFP, CFA, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rick Spillane | Spillane Financial Planning, Inc. | Lebanon | CFP, CPA | Hourly, Percentage of assets |
| Rob Schulz | Schulz Wealth | Irving | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert DeLucas | Afton Advisors, LLC | Nashville | CFP, ChFC, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robert Eifert | Cahaba Wealth Management, Inc. | Birmingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Holman | Holman Wealth Management, LLC | Dallas | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Robert Machado | Compass Rose Financial Planning & Investment Management | Palm Springs | BS, CFP, MBA, MSFP | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Riedl | Endowment Wealth Management, Inc. | Chicago | AWMA, BS, CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Robin Kizito | Addax Bridge Financial | North Bethesda | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ross Dugas Data-driven, transparent planning for curious investors who want to understand their plan, from a former chemical engineer. | Scientific Financial | Pearland | PhD, CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Ross Miller | ClearPoint Wealth Management | Colleyville | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Townsley | Town Capital | Bel Air | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Veldhuizen | Catalyze Wealth Management | Carmel | CFP, MSFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sam Wagner | WealthGuides LLC | Indianapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sanjay Pamurthy | Artham Advisors LLC | Dallas | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Sarah Kang | UAK Diversified Wealth Advisors | Minnetonka | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Scott Brooks | Brooks Wealth Management | Westlake Village | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Leavitt | Financial Life Advisors | San Antonio | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Wellens | Fortress Planning Group | Pewaukee | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sean Gerlin | Envision Financial Services & Asset Management | Maitland | CFP, ChFC, CPWA, CLU | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Wilson | Moraine Wealth Advisory | Calgary | CIM, CFP | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Shane Mason | Brooklyn FI | Brooklyn | CFP, CPA/PFS, CPWA, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Shannon Pope | SFMG Wealth Advisors | Plano | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shawn Perkins | Genuine Wealth Solutions LLC | Richmond | AWMA, CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Shirley Stacy Sanchez | Pioneer Wealth Management Group | Austin | CFP, MS, AAMS, CRPS | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Stanton Burns | Oakview Wealth Solutions LLC | St. Charles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Lay | Curtain Wealth Planning | Park City | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Steve Cruice | Simply Steward, LLC | Highlands Ranch | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
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.