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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Kotys | Kotys Wealth Professionals | Valparaiso | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Robertson | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Sullivan | Off the Beaten Path Financial | Wilsall | Not listed | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Ryan Tyler | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samaya Patel | Blume Capital Management | Berkeley | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Conway | Conway Financial Planning | Ithaca | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Liebman | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Starks | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Samuel Sweitzer | Anson Analytics | Tyrone | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sanay Patel | Purpose Wealth | Longmont | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sandra Thomas | S.C. Thomas & Associates, CPA | Medina | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sarah Brandon | Rebalance | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sarah Contino | CAM Investor Solutions | Austin | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Bramwell | Eiger Wealth Management | San Diego | PFS | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Cannady | Hayden Harper Advisory | Charlotte | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Lanigan | EID Capital | Dallas | CFA | One-time planning fee |
| Scott Lefebre | Seneca Financial Advisors | Rochester | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Scott Leise | Sanders Retirement Planning | Omaha | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Scott Puritz | Rebalance | Palo Alto | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Sean Green | Amplius Wealth | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Kearney | Amvoy Wealth | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean McGuirk | Lincoln Capital | Uxbridge | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Sean Mullaney | Mullaney Financial & Tax | Woodland Hills | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Sean Paddock | Wealth Dimensions Group | Cincinnati | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sean Tyll | Acorn Financial Services | Reston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seongsoo Lee | New Insight Wealth Advisors | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Seth Bittner | Stillwater Private Wealth | Allentown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Shannon Ware | Acorn Financial Services | Harrisonburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Shanon Tate | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shawn Pacanowski | CapTrust Wealth Advisors | Holland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Shengde Liu | Access Wealth Group | Powell | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sheree Bollinger | Legacy Financial Independent Advisors | Louisville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sherif Othman | Poise Investment Advisors | Germantown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sierra Merrick | Acorn Creek Capital | Fort Collins | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Siria Terry | Blue Barn Wealth | Orem | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stacey Young | Means Wealth Management | Bangor | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Stelianos Elenis | High Pass Asset Management | Denver | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Chang | Acts Financial Advisors | Mclean | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Engel | Palumbo Wealth Management | Great Neck | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Stephen Islander | Presidio Capital Management | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Jimenez | Peerless Wealth | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Kriha | Tenere Financial | Sammamish | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Stephen Palmer | Pennsylvania Capital Management | Blue Bell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Stephen Ross | TradeWinds | Raleigh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Steven Brandt | Acorn Financial Services | Alexandria | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Campeas | HCR Wealth Advisors | Los Angeles | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Dumstorff | KEB – Kerber, Eck & Braeckel | St. Louis | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Hutchison | RiversEdge Advisors | Wilmington | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Urban | Urban Financial Advisory | Evanston | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Steven Wykoff | Mersereau, Lazenby & Rockas | Suwanee | CFP | 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.