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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Leahy | MFC Portfolios | Darien | CFP, ChFC | Hourly |
| Robert Severdia | Nest Financial Planning | Hood River | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Roger Elmer | Realm Investment Consulting | Cary | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Roger Lowe | Tanara Wealth Management | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ronald Price | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Rosana Nguyen | Covenant Wealth Advisors | Richmond | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Russell Kroeger | Upstart Wealth Management | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ryan Mason | Mason Wealth Strategies | Cumming | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Morrissey | Morrissey Wealth Management | North Haven | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Samuel Graham | Sweeney Financial Advisors | Bedford | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Samuel McPherson | McPherson Financial Advisors | New York | CFP | One-time planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Sanjay Pawar | Bluesphere Advisors | East Norriton | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Warntz | Topsail Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Sarah Rioux | TFC Financial | Boston | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Bennett | IWR Advisors | Denver | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Demaagd | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Garbutt | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Jewett | MarsJewett Financial Group | Bellevue | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Scott Lieberwirth | Westwind Capital | Las Cruces | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Scott Pearring | Seek First | Campbell | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Sandee | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Tonai | Andrews Advisory Associates | Honolulu | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Van Den Berg | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Babin | Babin Wealth Management | Scottsdale | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Sean Hilliard | Rivertree Wealth | Wake Forest | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Set Carpintero | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shane Holcomb | JVL Wealth Strategies | Wyoming | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shannon Lemon | Elmwood Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shaun Mize | Rivertree Wealth | Little Rock | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shawn Landis | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Skyler Fleming Approachable planning for people who want to use their money as a tool to reach their goals and live their values. | Abundo Wealth | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Fixed fees |
| Sonja Breeding | Rebalance | Palo Alto | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Spencer Funk | Precision Wealth Strategies | St. Louis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Spencer Hall | Retirement Planning Services | Knoxville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stacey Panenhanouvong | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephanie Williams | TradeWinds | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stephen Esposito | Accretive Wealth Partners | Parsippany | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Sanders | Life Planning Partners | Jacksonville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Steven Lugar | Beaird Harris | Dallas | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Steven Nelson | Faith Investor Services | Scottsdale | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Stone Churby | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stuart Schiffman | Compound Wealth Advisors | San Diego | CFP, ChFC | One-time planning fee |
| Sylvain Michelin | Walkner Condon Financial Advisors | Verona | CFA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tai Chu | Beaird Harris | Dallas | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tammy Billadeau | Vertex Planning Partners | Downers Grove | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Tanner Banister | Richard P. Slaughter Associates | Austin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tara Hefty | Peak Asset Management | Louisville | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Taylor Heininger | Cloud Capital Management | El Segundo | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Taylor Kovar | 11 Financial | Lufkin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Tedi Hughes | Destiny Capital | Lake Ozark | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
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.