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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Hutchins | Sherrill & Hutchins | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Johnson | White Pine Investment Co | Livonia | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| William McDonald | Retirement Planning Solutions | Nolensville | BS, CPA/PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Zachary Greiner | Kirr, Marbach & Company | Columbus | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Zakriah Gardezy | Wealthstone Private Wealth Management | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Zuzana Brochu | Mascoma Wealth Management | Hanover | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Aaron Karas | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Aaron Tice | Delphi Wealth Partners | Grand Junction | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Abigail Rose | Keeler & Nadler | Dublin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam Boor | Pursuit Wealth Strategies | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam Drake | Highland Investment Advisors | Ponte Vedra | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Adam Leavitt | Castlepoint Wealth Advisors | Oklahoma City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Adam Oerther | B&C Financial Advisors | Ponte Vedra Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Adam Smetzer | Sky Vision Wealth | Columbus | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Adam Wilkins | Boldin | Mill Valley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Adrienne Stark | Boldin | Mill Valley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ajoke Esomo | Mills Wealth Advisors | Southlake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alek Wyatt | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Alex Offerman | Model Wealth | Wheaton | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Alexander Boeri | Miller Avenue Advisors | Mill Valley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexander Goldberg | McIlrath | Eck | Anaheim | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alicia Klein | Cambridge Financial Group | Tucson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alison Shannon | Corvus Wealth Advisors | Templeton | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Alixandria Tucci | PCM Encore | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Allan Cohen | B&C Financial Advisors | Ponte Vedra Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Allison De Graaf | Peak Planning Group | Centennial | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Allison Miller | Armor Investment Advisors | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Amy Jones | Barlow Wealth Partners | Louisville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anders Natter | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Barnes | Traction Financial Partners | Encampment | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Barton | Boldin | Mill Valley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Beil | StrongBox Wealth | Lee'S Summit | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Crone | Yahara Wealth Management | Madison | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Froelich | Macco Financial Group | Green Bay | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrew Keeler | Keeler & Nadler | Dublin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Nelson | Praetorian Guard Wealth Management | Carmel | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Pool | Paradigm Wealth Management | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Russell | Dean Roland Russell Family Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Zender | Financial Plan | Bellingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andy VandenBerg A boutique wealth management firm focused on holistic support for business owners and entrepreneurs. | VDB Wealth | Savannah | CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Anna Wunderlich | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anne Chernish | Anchor Capital Management | Ithaca | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ansley Nicholson | B&C Financial Advisors | Ponte Vedra Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Anthony Corsino | Zen Financial Planning | Andover | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Anthony Cortina | Lynx Investment Advisory | Washington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Anthony Leonti | Corvus Wealth Advisors | Templeton | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Anthony Weaver | THOR Wealth Management | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| April Lowery | Kelman-Lazarov | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ara Oghoorian | ACap Advisors & Accountants | La Verne | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Audrey Mines | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets |
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.