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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Goldblum | Hurley Capital | New York | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Henry | CSH Investment Management | Taylorville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Charles Johnson | Differential Planning | Silverdale | CFA | Hourly |
| Charles Picerni | Sensible Money | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Charles Tobler | Star Financial Services | Denver | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Charles Vickery | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cheng Luo | HHL Wealth Advisors | Flushing | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Chet Baxter | Axia Wealth Management | Bend | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christel Turkiewicz | ONE Advisory Partners | Overland Park | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Christina Cline | Hudock Capital | Williamsport | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christina Fanourakis | Cornerstone Wealth Management | Westlake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christina Larson | Larson Financial Planning | Winchester | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christina Light | Emissary Wealth | Hackensack | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christine Mistr | Dominion Financial Consultants | Washington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Cacchiola | Emissary Wealth | Hackensack | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Gauthier | Stonehearth Capital Management | Danvers | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Christopher Jernstrom | Ironstream Capital | Seattle | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Villaire | Villaire Financial | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christy Gregory | Sycamore Asset Management | Zionsville | CFP | Hourly |
| Claudia Saia | Friedenthal Financial | Marlton | CFA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Clayton Gardner Award-winning modern wealth management firm for high earning professionals. | Titan | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Cody Vanderhagen | Blue Chip Partners | Farmington Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cole Durkin | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cole Schrock | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Colin Taylor | Capital Advantage | Walnut Creek | CFA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Congzhu Yang | HHL Wealth Advisors | Flushing | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Connor Oak | Crane Capital Management | Spring Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Corey Hinkle | Ankerstar Wealth | Leander | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Corey Jordison | Peak Retirement Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Corrin Burke | Successful Wealth Strategies | Canton | CFP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Courtney Mason | CMC Advisors | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Chuang | Heritage Investment Group | Pompano Beach | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Dana Anspach | Sensible Money | Scottsdale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dane May DePaolo & May Strategic Wealth is a modern, boutique financial advisory firm helping high earners and high net-worth individuals grow and protect their wealth through personalized investment strategies and forward-thinking planning. | D&M Strategic Wealth | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Friel | JSK Capital Advisors | Waltham | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Holder | Holder Wealth Management | Champaign | CFP, PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Hughes | Live Oak Private Wealth | Wilmington | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Langworthy | Fortress Financial Group | Scottsdale | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Levinson | Blue Bell Private Wealth Management | Blue Bell | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Moskowitz | Chatham Wealth Management | Chatham | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Slagle | Equal Voices Wealth | Minneapolis | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| David Armstrong | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| David Carter | Carter Capital Management | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Epps | Integral Wealth Management | Modesto | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Garelick | Global Business Management | Valencia | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Gradzki | Roffman Miller Wealth Management | Philadelphia | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| David Juliano | Stonehearth Capital Management | Danvers | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Lorditch | Blue Bell Private Wealth Management | Blue Bell | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Mattern | Mattern Wealth Management | Lawrence | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Nelson | Monument Wealth Management | Alexandria | CFA | 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.