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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke McClure | Vandalia Wealth | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Luke Sauter | Vidarrow Investment Advisors | Arlington Heights | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Lyle Benson | LK Benson & Company | Timonium | CFP, PFS | Hourly, Fixed fees |
| M'Lissa Brillhart | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Madeline Speckman | Meridian Investment Advisors | Indianapolis | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Madison Carleton | Heritage Wealth Management | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Madison Moe | Teamwork Financial Group | San Antonio | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Maia Babbs | Lariat Wealth Management | Denver | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Marc Roth | Elmwood Wealth Management | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Marcel Quiroga | TQM Wealth Partners | Marblehead | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mari Fries | ProsperiTea Planning | San Diego | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Maria Ojeda Partida | Shah Wealth Advisors | Chino Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mario Martinelli | VaMa Oak Wealth | Doylestown | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Marisa Facciolo | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Demos | Anson Analytics | Tyrone | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Eid | Acts Financial Advisors | Mclean | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Henry | Virtue Wealth Counsel | Tyler | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Herman | Acorn Financial Services | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Okamoto | Century Management Financial Advisors | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Mark Sumsion | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Mark Vanderpol | VanderPol Investments | Caledonia | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Martin Boney | TradeWinds | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Martin King | Brockenbrough | Richmond | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Marylynn Ford | LifeSteps Financial | Claremont | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Antenucci | McCarley & Cook | Cincinnati | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Augspurger | Strong Retirement Solutions | Bremerton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Darcy | Seneca Financial Advisors | Rochester | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Dunn | ARQ Wealth Advisors | Hudson | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Fernandez | Morrissey Wealth Management | North Haven | Not listed | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Fox | Ithaca Wealth | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Heller | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Kirr | Kirr, Marbach & Company | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Little | Mascoma Wealth Management | Burlington | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew McGee | Integritas Wealth Strategies | Charleston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew McNally | Glassman Wealth | North Bethesda | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Matthew Oberdorfer | Oberdorfer Financial | Gahanan | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Sassani | Lindsey & Lindsey Wealth Management | Irvine | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Swendiman | Crew Capital | Cincinnati | ChFC, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Vallebo | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Williamson | 11 Financial | Lufkin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Megan Cline | Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Megan Sperry | Wealth Analytics | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Melinda Agosta | Farnam Financial | Molalla | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Melissa Johnson | Prentice Financial Planning | Olympia | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Melissa Lowther | Alturas Wealth Management | Eagle | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Micah Reish | Crestone Financial Advisors | Broadway | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Michael Ball | Ball Wealth Management | Atlanta | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Canet | Prostatis Group | Hanover | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Cavendish | Vandalia Wealth | Beckley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Cox | Seaside Wealth Advisors | Mechanicsburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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.