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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudia Fitch | Fitch Financial Advisors | San Francisco | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Clint Thomas | Integrity Wealth Solutions | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Colin Arnold | Atticus Wealth Management | Palm Beach Gardens | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Colleen Echausse | Heritage Financial Counselors | Bedminster | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Conner Young Custom portfolio management catered to outperform the market. We believe in the power of creating true investment portfolios for every client that are completely customized. Our Mission: We want to walk with every client to understand and cater to every individual investment need. With each step we hope to show clients how to invest, spend and gift what they have been given so that there are Baskets left over for others. | Baskets Capital | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Corey Ernisse | Kickstand Wealth Advisors | Pittsford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cory Smith Financial life planning for business owners and the childfree community. | Discretionary Inc. | Reno | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Courtney Hoffman | EverPar Advisors | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Craig Hausz | CMH Wealth Management | Dallas | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Crystal McKeon | TSA Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Cynthia Farnsworth | Atlatl Advisers | Madison | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cynthia Miller | Greykasell Wealth Strategies | Danville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cynthia Rosso | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Damian Palfini | Cavalot Capital | Incline Village | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dane Czaplicki | Members' Wealth | Media | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Anderson | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Beutel | Council Oak Wealth Advisors | Tulsa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Cossette | Cambridge Financial Group | Tucson | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Daniel Dusina | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Fortunato | Meridian Financial Partners | Warrenton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Frost | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Sullivan | HighMark Wealth Management | St. Paul | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Danny Yu | Hillcrest Wealth Advisors | Holmdel | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Andrews | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Bello | BelloAdvisers | Kailua | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David Chapman | DFS Capital Management | Brea | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Childs | Spartan Planning | Greensboro | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Dick | Financial Plan | Bellingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Eisenhauer | Greykasell Wealth Strategies | Danville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Hammer | Hammer Advisory Services | Woodbury | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| David Hodges | Integra Wealth | Chattanooga | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Holwadel | Heritage Wealth Advisors | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Jacoby | Remote Financial Planner | Palm Beach Gardens | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| David Kozlowski | Verus Financial Partners | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David Maley | 1102 Partners | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David McDougall | Highwind Wealth Management | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Meucci | Phase Change Wealth Management | Sebastopol | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Quinn | Pine Harbor Wealth Management | Fairfax | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| David Rabinowitz | Equilibrium Wealth | Jerusalem, Israel | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Scully | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dean Catino | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Debra Neiman | Neiman & Associates Financial Services | Watertown | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Dennis Brawley | Boldin | Johnstown | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Dennis Coon | Transcend Wealth | Woodmere | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Derek Thomsen | RED Seven Wealth Management | La Palma | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Devyn Little | Kickstand Wealth Advisors | Pittsford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Diane Klein | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Don Hilario | Hilpan Moxie Wealth Management | Irvine | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Donald McCarty | Financial Decision Partners | Snellville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Donald Sienkiewicz | J. R. Prunier Capital Management | Holden | CFP | 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.