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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Alexander | Kiker Wealth Management | Watkinsville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Coleman | Live Oak Private Wealth | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Cosgrove | Kingsman Wealth Management | Ooltewah | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Degan | Harbor Advisory | Portsmouth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Gutierrez | Indelible Wealth Group | Berthoud | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Kirkgard | J. Dyhr Capital | Paso Robles | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Lavasseur | Five Corners Financial Services | Easton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| John Lui | Chatham Wealth Management | Chatham | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Mendrysa | Sgroi Wealth | Albany | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Mumper | Patina Wealth | Richmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| John Persico | PERSICO Asset Management | Severna Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Smith | Optimist Capital | Palm Beach Gardens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Thompson | Invest | Lexington | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| John Verducci | Verducci Asset Management | Agawam | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jon Sobotkin | Blue Bell Private Wealth Management | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Dash | Dash Investments | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan Hendler | Phoenix Rising Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Melehan | Phoenix Rising Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Miller | Blue Bell Private Wealth Management | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Wiley | Wiley | Greenwich | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jonathan Yarger | Yarger Wealth Strategies | Westerville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jordan Curtis | Curtis Wealth Management | Henderson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Galvin | Galvin, Gaustad & Stein | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Johnson | Pinelight Financial | Estero | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Pfister | Pathway Financial Advisers | Auburn | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jordan Rench | Relevance Capital Management | Denton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jorge Aroche | Globalinvest Financial Services | Coral Gables | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jorge Gullon | Emergent Global Investments | Coral Gables | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jose Linares Blasini | CAF Investments | Guaynabo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Asrat | Amicus Financial Advisors | Lubbock | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Bourque | Worcester Advisors | Worcester | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Guarneri | Sage Investment Advisers | Wappingers Falls | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Nix | Nix Wealth Management | Sacramento | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joshua Helman | SmartPlan Investing | Juno Beach | Not listed | Not listed |
| Joshua Snoddy | High Road Wealth Advisors | Coos Bay | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joshua Stroud | Reign Wealth | Eugene | Not listed | Fixed fees |
| Julie Brim | Spiegelman Wealth Management | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Justin Capetola | Blue Bell Private Wealth Management | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Exposito | Price Financial Group | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Lero | Phoenix Rising Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Simmons | Beck Capital Management | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Kara Buss | HN Buss Investing | Thousand Oaks | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Katherine Brabenec | Firethorn Wealth Partners | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Katherine McGee | Shepherd Street Advisors | Larkspur | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Katie Kingsman | Kingsman Wealth Management | Pensacola | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Katrina Robertson | Phoenix Rising Wealth Management | Hot Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Keith Olshove | Old Mission Investment | Traverse City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Kelly Cappello | Argo Wealth Advisory | Mclean | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Kelly Eggleston | Calder Financial Group | Ada | Not listed | One-time planning fee |
| Kelly Rench | Relevance Capital Management | Denton | 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.