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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Caswell | Integrated Wealth Strategies | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Austin Franks | Financial Independence Advisors | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Austin Miller | Pathway Financial Advisers | Auburn | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| B. Brose | Integrity Wealth Partners | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Beau Woodward | Woodward Diversified Capital | Bakersfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ben McCollum | Pacific Point Wealth Management | Carlsbad | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Benjamin Fischer | Waterfront | Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Benjamin Hall | Chipser Wealth Management | Destin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Beth Smyth | MWS Capital Consultants | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Blake Flint | Amicus Financial Advisors | Lubbock | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bradley Harsch | StratiCo | Sacramento | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bradley Horn | Saffron Capital | Minneapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brandon Lockwood | Lockwood Wealth Strategies | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brandon Simpson | Aspen Wealth Advisors | Dallas | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brent Chavez | Aequitas Equitas Wealth Management | Riegelsville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brett Chipser | Chipser Wealth Management | Destin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brett Sohns | LifeGoal Investments | Saratoga Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Baylis | Bell Investment Advisors | Orinda | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Laurie | Green Peaks Planning | Surprise | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Smith | Southeast Financial Advisors | Greenville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brian Voss | Voss Wealth Management | Endicott | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brit Inman-Swanson | Amicus Financial Advisors | Lubbock | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bruno Larocca | RDM Capital | Red Bank | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cain Martin | MB Generational Wealth | Spokane | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Caitlin Appleton | South Shore Capital Advisors | Boston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Caleb Richmond | Woodward Diversified Capital | Bakersfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cam McClellan | Palisade Wealth | Draper | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carl Kielbasa | Phoenix Rising Wealth Management | State College | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carlos Feliciano | CAF Investments | Guaynabo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carlos Rodrigues | Fortune Financial | Livingston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Caroline Hedges | Fairfield Financial Advisors | Wellesley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Carshon Rodgers | Indelible Wealth Group | Berthoud | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Casey Bibb | Martin Wealth Solutions | Christiansburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cesar Murillo | Emergent Global Investments | Coral Gables | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Bales | Whitewater Wealth | Eugene | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Crouch | Strong Tower Wealth Management | Franklin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Helme | BH Asset Management | New York | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Charles Holder | Holder Wealth Management | Champaign | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Levinson | Sage Investment Advisers | Wappingers Falls | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Charles Nedele | Theory Financial | Lakewood | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Chase Redd | Narus Financial Partners | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Berry | Pacific Crest Wealth Management | Elmira | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Coffin | OverRidge Wealth Advisors | Fort Worth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Grasmick | Vickerman Investment Advisors | Spokane | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Kline | Capstone Wealth Management | Lakeland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Christopher Lamb | Old Mission Investment | Traverse City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Mettee | Pace Financial Advisors | Hillsboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cole Anderson | Intergy Private Wealth | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cole Hofmann | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cole Myers | Stonebridge Financial Group | St. Louis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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.