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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorri DeFoor | Sustain Financial Inc. | Lacey | CFP, AFC, MA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Malcolm Ethridge We offer financial planning and investment management services to senior managers and executives in tech. | Capital Area Planning Group | Washington | CFP | Subscription, Flat fee or retainer |
| Marcus Waddell | Ascension Advisors | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mark Pingree | Fog City Advisors, LLC | Albany | CFP, CPA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Etzler Etzler Financial Advisors is a fee-only fiduciary firm providing comprehensive, conflict-free financial planning on a time-based model, helping clients make informed decisions and achieve peace of mind without sales or asset-based fees. | Etzler Financial Advisors, LLC | Red Bluff | CFP | Hourly, Subscription |
| Matthew Hawk | Cambridge Capital Management, LLC | O Fallon | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Sexton | Clear Harbor Asset Management | New York | CFP, CIMA, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Max Novak Flat-fee. Fiduciary. Life-centered planning. | Novak Financial Partners | Carterville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Subscription |
| Michael Dayoub | Alpha Financial Management, Inc. | Savannah | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michelle Crumm | Present Value, LLC DBA Belle Eve Financial, LLC | Dexter | CFP, CPA, MBA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Cattapan Affordable, objective advice-only planning for individuals and families at any stage of life or level of wealth. | Abundo Wealth | Chicago | Not listed | Subscription |
| Mindy Crary | Creative Money LLC | Seattle | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Monique Madan | UPotential | Toronto | CFP, FMA | Not listed |
| Murray Child | Opus Wealth Advisors Inc. | Waterloo | CFP, RFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nate Tomkiewicz | Tomkiewicz Wealth Management, LLC | Wynantskill | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas LaVerghetta | NCM Capital Management, LLC | Long Beach Island | CFP | Hourly |
| Nicholas Pihl | Pihl Financial Planning | Milwaukie | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nick Reiber | Reiber Wealth Advisory Services, LLC | Madison | CFP, CPA, CPA/PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Owen Winkelmolen | PlanEasy Inc. | London | QAFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Pamela Chen | Refresh Investments LLC | Santa Monica | BS, CFA, CPA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Randall Avery | Deasil Wealth Management, LLC | Decatur | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Riki Cooke Low-cost, conflict-free planning for millennials and travel lovers who want their money to support what matters to them. | Abundo Wealth | Fishers | CFP | Subscription |
| Rob Lyman | Johnson Lyman Wealth Advisors | Los Altos | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Finley | Virtue Asset Management | Chicago | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Stowe Flat-fee, advice-only retirement planning for STEM professionals and educators who want to keep control of their own accounts. | Foxholm Financial | Atlanta | AAMS | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Ryan Hughes You work hard for your money. We’ll work hard to help you capitalize on what you’ve earned. Bull Oak is a full-service financial advisory firm. We provide investment management, financial planning, tax strategy, tax preparation and filing, and estate planning. Our all-inclusive service frees up your time and gives you an optimal wealth management experience with harmony between all aspects of your financial life. | Bull Oak | Rancho Santa Fe | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Sandra Mann | Money Coaches Canada | Burlington | MBA, CPA, CGA, QAFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sarah Dickenson Planning that helps people gain clarity on their finances, from a former creative small business owner with a love of psychology. | Abundo Wealth | Providence | Not listed | Subscription |
| Shehara Wooten | Your Story Financial, LLC | Phoenix | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Stephen Hassell | Hassell Wealth Management | Metairie | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Steven Balch Helping you organize your financial life so you can focus on what truly matters | Not listed | Ramsey | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Steven Jefferys | Arch Financial Advisors, LLC | Bethesda | CFA, CFP, MBA | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| Stuart Coats | Coats Financial Planning, Inc. | Louisville | BBA, CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Susan Goodell | Otto & Associates, Inc. | Norwich | BA, CFP, M.Ed. | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Susan Moore | Moore Financial Advisors, Ltd. | Watertown | CFP, MS | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Taylor Schulte Tax-smart retirement planning for investors with a $2MM+ nest egg. | Define Financial | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Tiffany Bergland | Bergland Wealth Management, Inc. | Ridgeland | AIF, CFP, MSPFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Timothy Massie | Timepiece Financial Planning, Inc. | Spokane | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Timothy Quinn | Quinn Financial Planning, LLC | Orland Park | CFP, CPA/PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Vladimir Kouznetsov | Retegy LLC | Irvine | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Whitney Kelley | Pathways Advisory Group, Inc. | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Carrington | Carrington Financial Planning, LLC | Fletcher | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Abel Soares | Hui Malama Financial Advisors LLC | Waianae | CFP, CPA, PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam Gruber | AMG Wealth Management | Land O Lakes | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Aiden Boorstein | RockCrest Financial | Turnersville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Albert Dean | Riverchase Wealth Management | Flower Mound | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexis Miranda | Ducere Wealth Management | Las Vegas | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Alicia Duong | Wealth Engineers | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Alicia Vande Ven | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Allan Buckingham (they/iel or il/he) | Outdoor Life Planning | Banff | QAFP | 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.