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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. Robinson We do comprehensive financial planning for individuals and families in the mid-market affluent space. | Financial Planning Hawaii | Honolulu | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Jackson Boyer | Kooman & Associates | Altoona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jacob Blukis | McIlrath | Eck | Arlington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Eason | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Fram | Verus Financial Partners | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jacob Martin | Keeler & Nadler | Dublin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Samuels | Kelman-Lazarov | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacob Schlicht | Kickstand Wealth Advisors | Pittsford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jacob Weatherford | Castlepoint Wealth Advisors | Oklahoma City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jacque Lefore | Womack Wealth and Business Management | Portland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jamel Gordon | Rose Capital Advisors | Miami Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Chaney | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Copper | Skinner Copper & Ehmen | Monroe | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Diacon | Council Oak Wealth Advisors | Tulsa | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Hofman | Hofman Wealth Management | Chesterfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| James Joseph | Sentinel Wealth Management | Reston | CFP, ChFC, PFS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Kaffenbarger | BCK Partners | Corning | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| James Pechin | McLaughlin Asset Management | Lafayette | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| James Pittenger | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| James Runey | Runey & Associates Wealth Management | Mount Pleasant | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| James Twining | Financial Plan | Bellingham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| James Warner | Sanderson Wealth Management | Buffalo | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| James White Jr. Wealth advisory services for high-earning CRE Professionals. | Forty Two Wealth LLC | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jamie Upson | Stonehearth Capital Management | Danvers | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jared McBride | GoalFusion Wealth Management | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jason Hyrne | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jason Jager | Inman Jager Wealth Management | Hattiesburg | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jason Terhune | Capital Advantage | Walnut Creek | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jefferson Rotherham | Sierra Wealth Strategies | Coronado | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Hanson | Breakwater Capital Group | Paramus | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Hoang | Paulson Wealth Management | West Palm Beach | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Pih | Pih Investments | South Pasadena | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Prunier | J. R. Prunier Capital Management | Holden | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Starkey | Kooman & Associates | Altoona | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Thompson | Heritage Wealth Advisors | Cincinnati | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jeffrey Wiyninger | Pathway Advisor | Fallbrook | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Butler | Summit Wealth & Retirement Partners | Eagle | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Jennifer Dougherty | BroadWealth LLC. | Winchester | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Harper | Bridge Financial Planning | Cruz Quebrada - Dafundo, Portugal | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Jennifer Kramer | Jayco Wealth Management | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Odom | Chastain Wealth Management | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Sokolowski | Metis Wealth | Bluffton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jennifer Weber | Weber Asset Management | Lake Success | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jerod Fenton | RED Seven Wealth Management | Escondido | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Jesse Deason | Serene Wealth Planning | Everett | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Jesse Sell | Prevail Financial Partners | Bayport | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jessica Demler | Oxler Private Wealth | Rye Brook | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jessica Gibbs | Monument Wealth Management | Arlington | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jessica Hultberg | Keeler & Nadler | Dublin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jessica Perkins | Heritage Financial Counselors | Bedminster | 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.