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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Underwood | Rockbridge Investment Management | Syracuse | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Aidan Banner | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Aimee Hatlestad | The Hatlestad Group | Edina | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alajahwon Ridgeway | A.B. Ridgeway Wealth Management | Lafayette | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Alan Myers | Aerie Capital Management | Baltimore | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Albert Von Holt | Von Holt Financial Advisors | Palatine | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Aleksandar Kelly | Life UnLocked Partners | Venice | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alex D'Attilio | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alex Soderberg | Burton Enright Welch | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexander Amundson | Avion Wealth | The Woodlands | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Alexander Burke | Sustainable Investment Solutions, LLC d/b/a Financial Solutions Associates | Dedham | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Hoover | Precision Wealth Strategies | St. Louis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Koynoff | ATK Financial Prosperity | Oswego | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Alexander Means | Means Wealth Management | Bangor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Alexander Okugawa | Matt Calcagno | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Alexander Rasmussen | WebsterRogers Financial Advisors | Florence | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Thompson | Fairscale Capital | Nashua | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Wasiunec | Mendel Money Management | Northbrook | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Willard | LeConte Wealth | Maryville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Alexis Cunningham | McClarren Financial Advisors | St. Mary'S | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Ali Saltagi | Zaki Financial | Indianapolis | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Alison Goodrich | Anchor Capital Advisors | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alison Mills | Trinity Legacy Partners | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Allen Carr | Vantus Wealth | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Allen Tyndall | Seaside Wealth Advisors | Plano | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Amanda Farrar | PMG Family Office | Plano | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Amanda Sletmoe | Skyline Financial NW | Portland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Amanda Spencer | Mascoma Wealth Management | Hanover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Amy Hoffman | Advisors Financial | Mclean | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Amy White | Prairie Ridge Asset Management LCC | Overland Park | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anastasia Melbrod | Melbrod Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Aran | Regency Wealth Management | Ramsey | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Andrew Ashton | Prostatis Group | Hanover | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Brady | Brady Family Wealth | Miami | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Cooper | Cooper Eagle | King Of Prussia | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Davainis | Breen Wealth Management | Petaluma | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Duckworth | Prostatis Group | Baton Rouge | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Jung | Crew Capital | Cincinnati | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Knachel | Oliver Wealth Management | Towson | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Lee | Linkside Financial | Charlotte | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew O'Gorman | River Wealth Advisors | Camp Hill | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Redlick | Investment Growth Management | Clayton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Sedora | Vantus Wealth | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Andrew Stolz | Stolz & Associates, P.S. | Tacoma | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Yashin | Signet Financial Management of Southwest Florida | Parsippany | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ann Moore | Martel Wealth Advisors | Vancouver | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Ann Nowell | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Anna Brewer | Financial Avenues, LLC. | Kearney | Not listed | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| Anna Kiser | Feeney Financial | Leawood | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Anne Claire Nornhold | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
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.