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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Day | Pinnacle Wealth Management | Brighton | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Paul Linzer | Kenora Financial | Des Plaines | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Paul Lipcius | PracticeCFO | San Diego | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Paul Thompson | Ascension Capital Advisors | Houston | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Paula Bindert | Prairie View Wealth Partners | Sioux Falls | PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Penny Houseman | Kocen Financial Group | Rancho Mirage | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Peter Hamburger | Prosperity Wealth Strategies | Bloomfield Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Peter Kriss | Macroclimate | Sausalito | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Peter Pavlov | Lynx Investment Advisory | Columbia | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Philip Fessler | AIRE Advisors | Beverly Hills | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Phillip Hogan | Beacon Hill Wealth Management | Victoria | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Preston Eder | HFG Trust | Kennewick | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Mayo | Insight Wealth Strategies | San Ramon | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Preston Wilkie | Elevate Wealth Advisory | Athens | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rachel Benton | B.I.G. Investment Services | Dover | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ralph Cetrulo | Sage Financial Group | West Conshohocken | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ramprasad Satagopan | Everest Private Wealth | Cupertino | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Ramy Hindiyeh | Finmentum | Elk Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Randal Trinidad-Ambar | Gryphon Wealth | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Randall Ruggaard | Ruggaard & Associates | Hudson | ChFC | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Randy Lundy | PracticeCFO | Seattle | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Ranga Srinivasan | Everest Private Wealth | Cupertino | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Rebecka Pratt | Hill Island Financial | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Renee Michel | Sweeney & Michel | Chico | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Arbury | My Financial Coach | Midland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Colman | Colman Knight | Acton | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Dexter | Spartan Planning | Greensboro | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Richard Lakin | IRON Financial | Northbrook | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Performance-based fees |
| Richard Matthias | Matthias | Winter Park | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Mueller | Peak Investment Advisors | Colorado Springs | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Rebori | AtwoB. | Katonah | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Richard Simonetti | Fidelis Capital | Tampa | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Rob Sigler | Westshore Wealth | Newport Beach | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Alston | QuadCap Wealth Management | Frisco | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Atkins | Duncan Williams Asset Management | Memphis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Carroll | Jackson, Grant | Stamford | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Featherstone | Solidarity Wealth | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Robert Krafft | Luminary Wealth | Fort Wayne | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Krimmel | Kooman & Associates | Altoona | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert McKay | Nautical Star Financial | Fort Mitchell | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Napolitano | Napier Financial | Braintree | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Nelson | Sunset Retire | Provo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Patrick | Solidarity Wealth | Lehi | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Subscription |
| Robert Priske | Robert Priske | Honolulu | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Robinson | Cosmos Wealth | El Segundo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Roper | Kroon & Mitchell | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Ruggirello | Brave Eagle Wealth Management | New York | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Strange | Camarda Wealth Advisory Group | Fleming Island | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Teague | Markle Financial | Lancaster | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Robert Whitehead | HeadInvest | Portland | 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.