Small business owners
Small business owners carry a planning shape that other audiences don't: the same balance sheet holds the operating company, owner-comp structure, retirement-plan sponsorship, succession or sale planning, and the personal household plan that sits on top. Advisors with depth here coordinate entity structure, owner-comp tax strategy, defined-benefit and solo-401(k) sponsorship, and the eventual transition out, whether that's a family hand-off, an internal sale, or a third-party exit.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 2,851 fee-only financial advisors focused on small business owners at 1,255 firms, most in Houston, Atlanta and New York. 45% hold the CFP certification. Of the 2841 with fees on file, 88% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 2,851
- Firms
- 1,255
- Cities
- 820
- Hold the CFP
- 45%
- Other credentials: CFA 9% · CPA 2% · EA 1%
- How they charge (of 2841 with fees on file): percentage of assets 88% · fixed fees 52% · hourly 48% · ongoing planning fee 14%
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 small business owners
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Huet | White Sand Wealth Management, LLC | Liberty | CFP, CTFA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jonathan Harner | Wichita Wealth Management, LLC | Wichita | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jonathan Pixley | Realm Financial Planning, LLC | Tulsa | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Leo Lavezza | Financial Consulate, Inc. | Fernandina Beach | CFP, CPA, MBA, CIMA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Martin Watkins | TrueNorth Wealth | Salt Lake City | BA, CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Rivas | Bienvenue Wealth LLC | New Orleans | BS, CFP, EA, CPA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Patrick Bourbon Objective, holistic planning for U.S. residents and cross-border families navigating tax and regulatory rules in more than one country. | Bourbon Financial Management | Chicago | CFA, CFP, MSEE, MSFS | Subscription |
| Paul Carriere | Carriere Financial Planning | Colorado Springs | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Rachel Lawrence | Reverie Wealth | Rochester | CFP, MSFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Renee Collins | Retire Ready Inc. | Olympia Fields | CFP, CPA, AFC | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robinson Crawford Real, personal, specialized wealth management for families with $3M-$30M in assets run by Robinson Crawford, CFP®. | Montebello Avenue | Phoenix | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Bennett | Kelda Wealth Management | Cuyahoga Falls | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Scott Sturgeon | Oread Wealth Partners | Leawood | CFP, JD, MBA | Percentage of assets |
| Seth Shepherd "Financial Advisor" didn't make sense to us, so we built Pillar Wealth to reflect people in 2026 instead of 1990. Don't be stuck in the past with an old, outdated formula that incentivizes laziness. Avoid any AUM model. Avoid someone labeled "Financial Advisor" who sells products like insurance. | Pillar Wealth | Franklin | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Sridhar Krishnan | Encover Personal Finance LLC | Fremont | BS, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Stephan Shipe Flat-fee, team-reviewed planning for DIY investors and families with complex wealth, from equity compensation to business exits. | Scholar Financial Advising | Winston-Salem | CFP, CFA, PhD | Flat fee or retainer |
| Stephen Boatman | Flat Fee Financial LLC | Charlotte | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Steven Neeley | Fortress Capital Advisors | Carmel | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Thomas Knowlton | Luminvest Wealth Management LLC | Scottsdale | CFP, CTFA, MBA | Percentage of assets |
| Timothy Kirch | Nashville Financial Planning | Franklin | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tina Mistry | Portfolio Advisors, Inc | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Tracy Sherwood | Sherwood Financial Management | Williamsville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Travis Allen Fiduciary Financial Planning & Investment Management. | Custom Wealth Planners | Ankeny | CFA, CFP, RICP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Trent White | Luminvest Wealth Management LLC | Scottsdale | CFP, JD | Percentage of assets |
| Alex Perkins | Perkins Wealth Advantage, LLC. | Fishers | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ally Jane Ayers | Brooklyn FI, LLC | Brooklyn | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Mastro | Wrought Financial Planning | Haddonfield | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Arun Soni | Avenue 90 Financial | Chicago | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bill Mulvahill | Trailhead Planners | Edina | CFP, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Blair Garner | Garner Financial Management | Franklin | CFA, CFP, MS | Percentage of assets |
| Brandon Davies | Objective Financial Partners Inc. | Markham | CFP (Canada), CFP (U.S.), CIM, CLU | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Chelsea Ransom-Cooper Zenith Wealth Partners provides a flexible retirement planning and investment management approach that inspires our clients to take financial action. | Zenith Wealth Partners | Philadelphia | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Chris Alman | Equip Financial Partners, LLC | Fairhope | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Chris Ferris | Ryan Lamontagne Inc. | Ottawa | CFP, CFA | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Chris Merrick | Merrick Financial Inc. | Toronto | CFP, QAFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Chris Ryan | Ryan Lamontagne Inc. | Ottawa | CFP, CFA | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Annello | SAGEbroadview Wealth Management, LLC | Farmington | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Crystal Kelly | Amani Financial Inc. | Edmonton | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Dallen Haws | Haws Financial Planning, LLC | Sierra Vista | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Dan Wood | Zimmerman Wealth Management, LLC | Evanston | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Dana Menard | Twin Cities Wealth Strategies, Inc. | Maple Grove | CFP, RLP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Daniel Mahoney | True Square Financial LLC | Atlanta | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Blain | BlueSky Wealth Advisors, LLC | Acworth | CFA, CDFA, CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee |
| David Frisch | Frisch Financial Group, Inc. | New York | CFP, CPA/PFS, CFS, CDFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Gardner | Entree Wealth | Boulder | CFP, EA, MS | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Marotta | Marotta Wealth Management, Inc. | Charlottesville | AAMS, AIF, CFP, APMA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Martin | Eltero Financial Partners Inc. | Halifax | FCSI, CIM, CFP (ret'd) | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Dean Schuler | Schuler Wealth Planning LLC | Columbus | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gary Birdsall | True Financial, LLC | Houma | CFP, JD | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Grant Bledsoe | Three Oaks Wealth | Lake Oswego | AIF, CEPA, CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
Guides
-
Financial advisor for small business owners
A good advisor for business owners plans the company and the household as one: what you pay yourself, which retirement plan to sponsor, and what happens when you step away. Fee-only planners charge a median $4,500 a year.
-
Becoming a landlord: the money and tax plan to make first
A rental's tax rules shape whether it pays: the building depreciates over 27.5 years, losses offset up to $25,000 of other income only below $150,000 of income, and depreciation is taxed at up to 25% when you sell.
-
Capital gains tax in Canada: how it works
Canada taxes half of a capital gain. The CRA's inclusion rate is 50%, so a C$20,000 gain adds C$10,000 to your taxable income. Here's how losses, your home and timing change the bill.
-
CPA vs financial advisor: who does what, and do you need both?
A CPA handles tax and accounting; a financial advisor plans your money and often manages investments. Most households with real complexity use both. A CPA-prepared return averages $280 before extra schedules; fee-only planning runs a median $4,500 a year.
-
The dividend tax credit in Canada, explained
Eligible Canadian dividends are grossed up to 138% on your return, then earn a federal credit of 15.0198% of that amount. Foreign dividends get no credit. Here's how it works and where it can cost you.
-
Enrolled agent vs CPA: which one should do your taxes?
For a federal return or an IRS problem, an enrolled agent and a CPA have the same rights before the IRS. EAs are tax specialists licensed by the IRS and charged an average $228 for a basic 1040 in 2025, against $280 for CPAs.