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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Anderson | Crafted Wealth Management, LLC | Los Angeles | CFP, ChFC, CLU | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gabriel Motta | Inclinevest® | Plano | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Garrett Bybee | Bybee Wealth Management | Roy | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| George Kao | Reach One Teach One Financial | Phoenix | CFP, ChFC, CKA, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gordon Achtermann | Silverstone Financial | Owings Mills | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Gustaf Rounick | Westlight Wealth | Venice | BA, CFP, MSC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Holly Davis Planning for busy families with active outdoor lives balancing competing goals, plus equity compensation guidance for tech workers. | Alta Via Financial Planning LLC | Seattle | CFP, CPA | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Ivan Havrylyan | Outside The Box Financial Planning, LLC | Wheeling | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Jacob Molina | Styra Wealth Management | Phoenix | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jacob Stalder Advice-only planning for people pursuing early retirement, with values-based strategies and no need to move investments. | Navigate Financial Planning LLC | Cedar Falls | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Jacquelin Liautaud | One Wild Life Advisors, LLC | Chicago | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| James Charles | Sanctuary Financial Planning, LLC | Charlotte | CDFA, CFA, CFP, MS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jane Young | More than Your Money, Inc. | Colorado Springs | CFP, EA, MBA | One-time planning fee |
| Jared Jameson | WJ Interests, LLC | Sugar Land | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jason Demland | Demland Wealth | Defiance | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jay Abolofia | Lyon Financial Planning, LLC | Waltham | CFP, PhD | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jay Zigmont | Childfree Wealth | Mount Juliet | CFP, PhD, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeff Burke | 7th Street Financial | Chaska | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Hourly |
| Jeffrey Schlotterbeck Water Street Wealth Management is an independent financial advisory firm providing personalized financial planning, investment management, tax strategies, and estate planning for individuals, families, and businesses. | Water Street Wealth Management | Tampa | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Walters Hourly, fee-only advice on planning, taxes and investments for DIY investors who want to keep managing their own portfolios. | Advisia Financial Planning, LLC | Bellevue | CFP, EA | Hourly |
| Jeremy Eppley | Silverstone Financial | Owings Mills | CFP, CPWA, APMA, CRPC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jeremy Wilson | J Wilson Wealth Management | Davison | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jessica Merino | Merino Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jim Mahaney One-time, tax-efficient retirement income plans for DIY investors entering retirement who want to skip ongoing AUM fees. | Mavericus Retirement Services | Georgetown | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Joel Chouinard | SharpEdge Financial LLC | Southlake | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Joel Cundick I am part of a team that transforms personal and financial dreams into goals, and goals into reality, working to build one million ideal futures for our clients, our team, and the communities we serve. | Savant Wealth Management | Phoenix | AIF, CFP, CPA/PFS, CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Joel Huet | White Sand Wealth Management, LLC | Liberty | CFP, CTFA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John West | Spraker West Wealth Management, Inc. | Winter Park | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Harner | Wichita Wealth Management, LLC | Wichita | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jonathan McAlister | Integrity Road Wealth Partners LLC | Houston | CFP, MBA, CKA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jonathan Pixley | Realm Financial Planning, LLC | Tulsa | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jordan Drinkhouse | Glow Financial Planning LLC | Spring Hill | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joshua Short | OptimalPath Advisors, LLC | Church Hill | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Julie Quick | Cultivate Financial Wellness | Howell | BFA, CDFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Pritchard Retirement planning and investment management. | Approach Financial, Inc. | Montrose | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Justin Reede | Integrity Road Wealth Partners LLC | Houston | CFP, CKA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kaysi Gordon | Kaysi Gordon Financial Planning | Valley Stream | CFP, CPA, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Kevin Burkle Flat-fee, one-time early retirement plans for people who want to keep control of their investments, with ongoing software access. | HCP Wealth Planning, LLC | Jacksonville | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Kevin Jacobs | Step By Step Financial LLC | Tulsa | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Kyle Newell | Newell Wealth Management | Winter Garden | CFP, CRPC | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Laryssa Freeman | Meritage Wealth Management LLC | Carlsbad | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Laura Rotter | True Abundance Advisors | White Plains | CFP, CFA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Laurie Licata | PDS Planning, Inc. | Dublin | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Leah Coleman | Orchard Financial Group | Austin | CFP, AAMS | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Leo Lavezza | Financial Consulate, Inc. | Fernandina Beach | CFP, CPA, MBA, CIMA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Lynn Chen-Zhang | Zhang Financial | Bloomfield Hills | CFP, CPA, MBA, MS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Martin Watkins | TrueNorth Wealth | Salt Lake City | BA, CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Dunlop | Ignite Financial | Cedar Falls | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Reynolds | Elevation Financial | Westfield | AIF, CFP, CFT-I, Chartered SRI Counselor | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Rivas | Bienvenue Wealth LLC | New Orleans | BS, CFP, EA, CPA | 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.