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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Finck | Pittenger & Anderson | Lincoln | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Colby Ring | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cole Kliphouse | Nicholas Hoffman & Company | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Cole McClarren | Cambridge Financial Group | Tucson | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Colin Callahan | Callahan Wealth Advisory | Orlando | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Colin Leighton | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Rogers | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Colleen Nesslar | Pendulum Partners | Itasca | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Conner Cloyd | Cloyd Capital | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Cooper Segars | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Corey Oliver | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cortnie Rodriguez | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Craig Jensen | Round Rock Advisors | Wilton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Craig Johnston | Fiduciary Counsel | Englewood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Craig Jordan | Apogee Financial Services Group | Moorestown | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Craig Silberg | EverPar Advisors | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dalion Welch | Duncan Wealth Management | Madison | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Bender | MBR Financial | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Daniel Ebert | AIRE Advisors | Beverly Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Garwood | CBG & Company | Fishers | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Mauser | Cosmos Wealth | La Jolla | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Rosales | Rose Capital Advisors | Coral Gables | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Shainberg | Heritage Wealth Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Sinton | Rational Investment Management | Mill Valley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Smith | FreeMind Financial Advisory | Shirley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Thornton | Caveness Wealth Advisory | Abingdon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daniel Venable | B.I.G. Investment Services | Dover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Zibinskas | Harbor Advisory | Portsmouth | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Daren Shavell | Calder Financial Group | Ada | CFA | One-time planning fee |
| Daric Olson | PCM Encore | Denver | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Darren Graff | Guardant Wealth Advisors | Southampton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Belding | Ascension Capital Advisors | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Blair | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Boothe | B.I.G. Investment Services | Dover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Brandt | Harris Wealth Management | Twin Falls | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Butler | Verus Financial Partners | Richmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Ellis | EverPar Advisors | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Gorham | Liftoff Financial Planning | Pocatello | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| David Hall | Peak Planning Group | Hilo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Lowery | Lowery Thomas | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Peterson | TSN Wealth & Tax Management | Brownsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Swift | Second 50 Financial | Manhattan Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Trejo | Total Wealth Services | Westlake Village | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| David Tsikman | Kocen Financial Group | Rancho Mirage | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David White | Attleboro Wealth Management | Yardley | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Wrench | Peak Planning Group | Fishtail | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Zallo 40 year old, family owned, values-based, wealth management firm providing comprehensive financial planning and / or investment management. | SFG Wealth Advisors | Tampa | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Dawnalizabeth Henke | Capital Advantage | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Deanna Bloom | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Delonte Harrell | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Derek Finch | Seaside Wealth Management | Carlsbad | Not listed | 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.