Tax planning
Tax planning, as a financial-advisor specialty, is multi-year strategic coordination, not tax return preparation. Roth conversions, charitable stacking, DAF strategy, asset-location decisions, equity-comp timing, state residency, and the layering of all of those against a household's plan. Advisors listed here coordinate with CPAs and carry tax as a year-round design constraint.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 5,861 fee-only financial advisors focused on tax planning at 2,494 firms, most in Houston, San Diego and Scottsdale. 50% hold the CFP certification. Of the 5845 with fees on file, 87% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 5,861
- Firms
- 2,494
- Cities
- 1,232
- Hold the CFP
- 50%
- Other credentials: CFA 9% · CPA 3% · EA 2%
- How they charge (of 5845 with fees on file): percentage of assets 87% · fixed fees 50% · hourly 41% · ongoing planning fee 16%
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 tax planning
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Valentine | Valentine Wealth Management | Seymour | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lucas Wennersten | 49th Parallel Wealth Management | Vancouver | CFA, CFP (Canada), CFP (U.S.) | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Luke Van de Loo | Sullivan Mermel, Inc. | Chicago | CFP, CPA, MA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Maggie Klokkenga Former CPA who starts with cash flow to help clients align their money with what they truly value. | Abundo Wealth | Houston | CFP, AFC, CPA | Subscription |
| Marcus Blanchard | Focal Point Financial Planning, LLC | Pleasant Grove | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Humphries | Sentinel Financial Planning, LLC | Edgewater | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Whitaker | Retirement Advice LLC | Provo | CFP, MSFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Marlene C. Buxton | Buxton Financial For Retirement | Toronto | CFP, CLU, RRC, Chartered Financial Planner | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Martin Lundgren | Northern Lights Advisors Inc. | Seattle | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Marty O'Leary | Stadium Financial LLC | Orlando | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Garasic | Unrivaled Wealth Management | Salem | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matt Johnson | Defining Legacy Financial Advisors LLC | Greensboro | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Laciskey | Hyland Lake Partners, LLC | Edina | CFP, EA, ChFC, ChSNC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matt Will | Wealth Accel LLC | Dayton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Ferrell | MADE Financial Design | Land O Lakes | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Kelley | Gold Medal Waters, Inc. | Boulder | AAMS, AIF, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Morris | Multipath Wealth Management | Columbia | CFP, MSFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Ramos | Mpower Wealth Management, LLC | Drexel Hill | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Smith | Concert Financial Planning, LLC | Houston | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Melissa Estrada | Fidela Wealth | Calabasas | CFP, CIMA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Garber | Michael Garber Financial Planning | Cupertino | CFP, CRTP, MSEE | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Haubrich | Financial Service Group, Inc. | Mount Pleasant | CFP, CSA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Hunsberger | Next Mission Financial Planning | Saint Charles | CFP, ChFC, CCFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Izbotsky | From Planning to Living LLC | Reseda | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Nemick | Thrive Retirement Specialists | Dearborn | CFP, CFA, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Michael Powers | Manuka Financial, LLC | Richmond | CFP, CPA, PFS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Tarascio | Tarascio Financial Planning, LLC | Mesa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michelle Vargas | Waymaker Financial Planning | Fort Worth | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Mike Bayer | Strategic Analysis Capital Management Inc. | Mississauga | CFP, CIM, FCSI | Hourly, Percentage of assets |
| Mike Hartman | Hyperion Financial, LLC | Shillington | CFP, RICP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Henzes | Open Wealth Network | Pottstown | CFP, EA, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Mike Staman | Delaware Financial Planning, LLC | Newark | CFP, CAP, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mira Ma | Marim Wealth Planning, LLC | San Mateo | CFP, CTEC, EA, RFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Morris MacLeod | Strategos Group | Halifax | MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nannette Belt | Inspiration Financial Planning LLC | Carlsbad | CFP, RICP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Nathan Goodman | Family Investment Center | Lenexa | CFP, CFA, CTFA, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nathaniel Baim | Pursuit Planning and Investments, LLC | Beaverton | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nestor Vargas | AlignPoint Wealth | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicholas Faulkner | Testament Wealth Management | Cary | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Nicholas Hui | VAVE Financial Planning | Markham | CFP, TEP, MBA, P.Eng | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Nick Murphy | Counterweight Private Wealth | Raleigh | CFP, MBA, RICP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicola Cyr | Five8 Financial LLC | Rogers | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets |
| Patrick King | Prana Wealth | Atlanta | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Paul Coleman Iii | Free Time Financial LLC | Orchard Park | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Paul Saad | Collabria Capital, Inc | San Ramon | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Philip Rutterer | Rutterer Planning, LLC | Nashville | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Pijus Bulvinas | Wealth and Plan | Cypress | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Quentara Costa | Powwow, LLC | North Andover | CFP, MSFP | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rebecca Meats | Clear Insight Wealth Management | Spokane | CPA, AFC, CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Salmen | Family Investment Center | St. Joseph | CFP, CFA, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
Guides
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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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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.
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Moving to another state: the tax and money plan
Eight states have no income tax in 2026 and top rates elsewhere reach 13.3%. What you save depends on when residency changes, what your old state can still tax, and property, sales and estate taxes.
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Tax-loss harvesting: the rules, the traps, and when advice pays
A harvested loss offsets capital gains in full and up to $3,000 of other income a year. It's worth the most against short-term gains, worth nothing in the 0% bracket, and easy to undo with a wash sale.
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Tax preparer vs tax planner: which do you need?
A tax preparer reports last year accurately; a tax planner changes this year and next so you owe less over time. A basic prepared return averaged $236 in 2025. Planning from a fee-only planner costs a median $300 an hour or $2,000 for a plan.