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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pavlov | Lynx Investment Advisory | Columbia | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Simmons | Peddock Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Phillip Nelson | Persium Group | Atlanta | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Praveena Naduthota | Pallas Capital Advisors | Westford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Eder | HFG Trust | Kennewick | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Wilkie | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rachel Benton | B.I.G. Investment Services | Dover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Randy Lundy | PracticeCFO | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Regan Duperon | The DBS Companies | Bay City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Reilly Skorupski | Meridian Financial Partners | Warrenton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Arbury | My Financial Coach | Midland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Matthias | Matthias | Winter Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Mullen | Pallas Capital Advisors | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Simonetti | Fidelis Capital | Tampa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Rob Sigler | Westshore Wealth | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Holzbach | Red Kennedy Financial | Littleton | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Robert McKay | Nautical Star Financial | Fort Mitchell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Napolitano | Napier Financial | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Pitt | Mauney-Pitt Financial Management | Shelby | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Roper | Kroon & Mitchell | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Strange | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Warmkessel | Grange Capital | Beaverton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Robert Willis | Gibraltar Capital Management | Tulsa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Roman Skurdal | Ceva Advisors | Beavercreek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Smith | Blue Ocean Capital | West Palm Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Bannister | 1Up Financial Advisors | Cary | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Hourly |
| Ryan McLaughlin | McLaughlin Asset Management | Danville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ryan Meacham | Highline Wealth Partners | Sherman Oaks | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Mendoza | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Rogers | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Samah Naguib | Pleasanton Wealth | Pleasanton | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Samuel Eilbaum | Chemistry Wealth Management, LLC. | New York | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Sandra Tackett | Paradiem | Covington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sandra Turner | Watts Capital | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Sarah Kopesky | BREAKTHRU Family | Muskego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Lassberg | Better Pockets Financial | Allen | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Scot Johnson | Adell, Harriman, & Carpenter | Houston | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Bell | Gross Domestic Product | Playa Del Rey | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Scott Bennington | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Rogers | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Schaeffer | MN Wealth Advisors | Overland Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Schwinger | Ascension Capital Advisors | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Toohey | Alpine Private Wealth | Omaha | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Seth Maier | Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors | Santa Rosa Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Shaina Englund | Ceva Advisors | Woodinville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shane Bilski | Magnolia Wealth | Spring | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shaobo Li | Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions | Williamsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shaun Scott | Old Forge Wealth Management | Warwick | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shawn Kennedy | Pendulum Partners | Itasca | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shayne Cooper | Fiduciary Financial Group | Rohnert Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shivani Patel | DeDora Capital | Napa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Soojin Hwang | Grange Capital | Beaverton | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
Guides
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.