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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Dunlap | Pathway Advisor | Fallbrook | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Henley | Brandywine Oak Private Wealth | Kennett Square | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Michael Klubnik | Keeler & Nadler | Dublin | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Manjarrez | Whelan Financial | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Mills | Mills Wealth Advisors | Southlake | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Phillips | Verus Capital Partners | Phoenix | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Purtill | Purtill Financial | Cleveland Heights | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Ryan | Whelan Financial | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Smith | ProFocus | Phoenix | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Troxell Financial planning for folks with stock options and RSUs | Modern Financial Planning | Oakland | CPA | Hourly, Percentage of assets |
| Michelle Hundley | Trio Wealth Management® | Great Falls | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michelle Myhre | Oak Advisors | Bluffton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michelle Pimentel | Geometric Advisors | Washington | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Monica Sipes | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nancy Mulvey | Heritage Financial Counselors | Bedminster | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Nathan Brown | Brown Financial Planning | Bay City | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nathan Paulson | Paulson Wealth Management | Wheaton | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nathan Stone | Delta Wealth Advisors | Indianapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Neil Unger | AIRE Advisors | Beverly Hills | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Allgeyer | Worley Banks Group | Creve Coeur | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Catlin | CBG & Company | Fishers | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Gyeszat | Reality Financial Planning Services | Sarasota | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Lemus | Summit Wealth & Retirement Partners | Eagle | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Nicholas Ozer | Regatta Capital Group | El Segundo | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Thurwanger | Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management | Columbia | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Trotter | Solidarity Wealth | Lehi | CFP | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Nicole Hughes | Woodmont Investment Counsel | Nashville | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Nicole Wirick | Prosperity Wealth Strategies | Bloomfield Hills | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nirvanna Silva Novelo | Nicholas Hoffman & Company | Atlanta | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Noa Hoffman | Green Ocean Global | San Francisco | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Pamela Rigsby | Pursuit Wealth Strategies | Raleigh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patricia Bush | AAA Advisory | Walkersville | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Patricia Welsh | Fox Hill Wealth Management | Dedham | CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Patrick Cicchetti I help 7-figure service-based business owners simplify their finances, minimize taxes, and buy back time—so they can focus on life beyond the business. | Ryse Capital Management | Rochester | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Patrick Cote | AssetGrade | Boston | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Patrick Mason | Cairn Wealth Management | Vancouver | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Patrick O'Hearn | Kelman-Lazarov | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Penny Wasem | Lifetime Financial Planning Solutions | Lancaster | CFP, PFS | Hourly |
| Peter Egolf | Kilter Group | Rhinebeck | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Franz | Journey Wealth | Cleveland | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Pittman | Aspen Leaf Wealth Management | Golden | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Peyton Wade | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Phil Telpner We end post-divorce financial anxiety. | Breakout Private Wealth | Glenview | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Philip Kirshman | Manchester Capital Management | Montecito | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Philip Maravilla | PracticeCFO | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Phoebe Stefani | Doyenne Wealth Advisors | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Pierre Bigby | Bigby Financial Planning, LLC. | Lewis Center | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Pierre-Emmanuel Jouve | InsuraWealth | Tampa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Portia White | Whelan Financial | Fresno | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Rakesh Budhram | Prolific Solutions | Ozone Park | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
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.