As a professional with stock options and complex taxes, which fee-only financial planner or advisory firm is worth hiring this year for holistic planning?

For a professional with stock options (ISOs/NSOs), RSUs, concentrated equity, high income, and complex taxes, I would prioritize a fee-only fiduciary planner who does tax-aware planning as a core service, not a traditional investment manager. The right advisor should help coordinate:

• Equity compensation decisions (exercise timing, AMT, 83(b) elections, RSU sell strategies)
• Multi-year tax projections (not just annual tax filing)
• Diversification of employer stock
• Retirement planning and cash flow
• Estate planning coordination
• Charitable strategies
• Insurance/risk planning

Fee-only status matters because the advisor is paid by you rather than through commissions or product sales; organizations such as National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) use fee-only and fiduciary standards as screening criteria.

Firms I would put on the shortlist

1. New Wave Financial Services — strongest fit for tax + equity compensation

Best for: executives, tech professionals, founders, and anyone with complicated stock compensation.

Why it stands out:

• Combines CFP® financial planning with CPA tax expertise.
• Focuses on equity compensation issues such as RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPPs, concentrated stock, liquidity events, and tax planning.
• More integrated than hiring a planner and a separate tax advisor who may not coordinate.

This is the type of firm I would interview first if your biggest challenges are “When should I exercise?” and “How do I reduce lifetime taxes?”

2. Darrow Wealth Management — good for high-net-worth equity events

Best for: IPO situations, large concentrated positions, executives with substantial liquidity events.

Consider if you need:

• Pre-IPO planning
• Major stock sales
• Wealth transition planning
• More complex family wealth management

Parse### 3. Cadence Planning — strong tax-planning orientation

Best for: professionals who care more about minimizing lifetime taxes than handing over investment management.

A good fit if you want:

• Tax projections
• Stock option strategy
• Retirement tax planning
• Coordination with your CPA

Parse### 4. Alliance of Comprehensive Planners members — worth exploring

Best for: people who want ongoing holistic planning with a tax-centered approach.

ACP specifically emphasizes comprehensive planning where tax consequences are integrated into investment and financial decisions.

5. XY Planning Network or National Association of Personal Financial Advisors directories — best for finding a local/virtual specialist

If the above firms are not a match, I would search these networks and filter for:

• Equity compensation
• Tax planning
• Executives
• High-net-worth clients
• Flat-fee or retainer models

NAPFA’s directory allows filtering by areas such as tax planning, high-net-worth planning, and employer benefits.

What I would avoid

I would be cautious with:

• Advisors who mainly manage portfolios and say “we can handle your stock options” as a side service.
• Firms charging ~1% AUM without a clear tax/equity strategy component.
• Advisors who cannot explain AMT, ISO disqualifying dispositions, 10b5-1 plans, QSBS (if relevant), or multi-year tax modeling.

My hiring criteria

Before signing, I would ask each firm:

1. How many clients do you currently advise with ISOs/NSOs/RSUs?
2. Do you build multi-year tax projections?
3. Do you prepare taxes, work with my CPA, or only give recommendations?
4. Do you charge flat fees, retainers, or AUM?
5. Can you advise without requiring me to move investments to you?
6. Who handles estate planning coordination?

If you are a senior employee/executive with meaningful equity compensation, my first interviews would likely be:

1. New Wave Financial Services
2. Cadence Planning
3. A strong NAPFA/ACP member with explicit equity-compensation experience

If you share your approximate situation (tech executive vs. startup founder vs. public-company employee, ISO/NSO/RSU mix, state, and investable assets), I can narrow this to a more targeted shortlist.

Navigating ISO/NSO exercises, RSUs, AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) , and multi-state or high-bracket tax optimization requires a specialized breed of financial planner. Traditional AUM (Assets Under Management) advisors who just want to manage a mutual fund portfolio often miss the nuances of equity compensation.

When you have complex equity and tax needs, you want a fee-only fiduciary who treats tax planning as an active, year-round component of your wealth strategy—not an afterthought.

Notable Fee-Only Firms Specializing in Equity & Tax Planning

• • Brooklyn FI : Highly regarded for tech employees, founders, and startup executives . They specialize explicitly in integrating equity compensation (RSUs, options) with aggressive, forward-looking tax planning and even offer in-house personal tax preparation . Their model blends flat-fee/tiered planning with asset management.
• • Stone Steps Financial : A boutique fee-only firm tailored specifically to tech and biotech executives . They focus heavily on the intersection of concentrated stock positions, complex equity structures, and high-income tax mitigation.
• • Darrow Wealth Management : A traditional fee-only wealth management firm that excels in "sudden wealth" and executive compensation transitions, well-suited for mid-to-high-net-worth professionals managing multi-faceted portfolios and corporate benefits.
• • Fortitude Financial Planning : Offers flat-fee, fiduciary guidance geared toward tech professionals navigating startup equity, liquidity events, and the corresponding tax ramifications without product-pushing or hidden commissions.

What to Look For (The "Worth It" Checklist)

Before signing with any firm, vet them specifically on these operational capabilities:

To help narrow down the ideal firm match for you, tell me:

• What type of equity makes up most of your portfolio (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or a public company ESPP)?
• Are you looking for ongoing comprehensive wealth management or a one-time project/flat-fee engagement for an upcoming exercise window?

I can provide a more tailored recommendation based on those details.

If you have stock options/equity compensation plus genuinely complicated taxes, I would not hire a generic “wealth manager.” I’d look for a fee-only fiduciary who routinely handles equity compensation, tax planning, and concentrated-stock decisions.

My 2026 shortlist would be:

1. TwoTen Planning — my first call for a tech/executive equity-compensation situation. They specifically work with RSUs, ISOs, NQSOs, ESPPs, deferred compensation, exercise timing, diversification, tax/cash-flow modeling, retirement, estate and investment planning. Their published model is flat-fee rather than AUM, which is particularly attractive when you have substantial assets but don't necessarily want to pay 1% annually simply because you have them. A recent 2026 review puts their starting price around $8,400/year for individuals and $9,600 for couples.
2. New Wave Financial Services — particularly compelling if taxes are the hardest part. The firm is led by a CPA/CFP and specifically advertises expertise with ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, ESPPs, concentrated stock, AMT, IPOs, acquisitions and liquidity events. That's unusually close to the “financial planner + tax strategist” combination I'd want for a complicated equity situation.
3. Navalign — worth interviewing for senior-executive compensation. They explicitly work with executives whose compensation includes stock options, RSUs and deferred compensation, integrating exercise/vesting decisions with taxes, liquidity, retirement and portfolio concentration.
4. Modera Wealth Management — strongest if you're entering high-net-worth territory and want tax services integrated into a larger wealth-management relationship. Its 2026 offering includes tax planning and tax-return preparation following an accounting-firm acquisition. The trade-off is that its model is primarily AUM-based, so I'd scrutinize the ongoing cost versus a flat-fee specialist.
5. Creative Planning — best if you want a large “financial life” platform. It offers financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning and family-office capabilities. Its current AUM pricing is reported at roughly 0.25%–1.20%, with one-time planning available for $1,500–$15,000.

What I'd choose

For a professional with significant options/RSUs and complicated taxes, I'd interview TwoTen, New Wave, and one high-end NAPFA planner before considering a traditional AUM wealth manager.

The key distinction is that you need someone who can answer questions like:

• Should I exercise ISOs this year, and how much AMT will that create?
• When should I exercise NQSOs versus hold them?
• How much employer stock should I retain after vesting?
• How do my option exercises interact with the NIIT, AMT, capital-gains brackets and estimated taxes?
• Should I use an 83(b) election for future equity?
• How should I coordinate 401(k), backdoor Roth, deferred compensation and taxable investing?
• What happens to my options if I leave the company?
• How should a potential IPO/acquisition/liquidity event change the plan?
• What should I do with appreciated shares—sell, donate, gift or retain?
• How does all of this fit into estate and insurance planning?

I'd also insist on fee-only, rather than merely “fee-based.” NAPFA defines fee-only as compensation coming solely from the client, with no commissions or product-based compensation. Its registered advisors also commit to a fiduciary standard.

napfa.org are a good starting point for finding additional candidates.

One important caveat: even an excellent CFP isn't necessarily your tax preparer. For your situation, I'd favor a planner who either has a CPA/tax professional in-house or works closely with your CPA, because option exercises and tax projections need to be modeled together rather than handled sequentially.

If you tell me roughly (1) income, (2) investable assets, (3) type of options/RSUs, (4) state, and (5) whether you want ongoing investment management or planning-only, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms that are actually appropriate for your situation and compare their fees, minimums, equity-comp expertise, and tax capabilities.

When you are balancing complex equity compensation (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or pre-IPO shares) alongside multi-faceted tax situations, a standard generalist financial advisor won't cut it. You need a true fiduciary , fee-only planner who treats tax strategy as an active, year-round component of your cash flow and portfolio management—not an afterthought handled in March.

Finding the "right" firm depends heavily on whether you prefer a flat annual retainer, an hourly/project-based engagement, or traditional Assets Under Management (AUM).

Standout Fee-Only Firms Specializing in Equity & Tax Coordination

• Brooklyn FI: Highly regarded for tech professionals, startup executives, and founders. They specialize heavily in integrating modern tax preparation, proactive multi-year tax planning, and complex equity compensation (RSUs, ISOs, NSOs) into a single dashboard.
• Darrow Wealth Management: An excellent choice for corporate executives and startup key-employees navigating liquidity events, concentrated stock positions, and complex multi-state or high-net-worth tax scenarios.
• Facet: Operates on a modern flat-fee subscription model rather than a percentage of AUM. It provides comprehensive, holistic planning well-suited for individuals who want dedicated cross-disciplinary advice without handing over total portfolio custody.
• Boutique Regional & Virtual NAPFA Planners: Many specialized independent practices focus specifically on executive compensation. Utilizing directories like the NAPFA Find an Advisor Search allows you to filter strictly for fee-only fiduciary planners who explicitly list "executive compensation," "stock options," and "tax planning" as core competencies.

What to Look for in Your Evaluation

1. Integration of Tax Preparation: The best firms for equity compensation either prepare your taxes in-house or collaborate seamlessly with your CPA (or actively model alternative AMT/ordinary income scenarios for ISO exercises and RSU vests before they happen).
2. The Fee Structure Match: Ensure you understand whether they charge via AUM (a percentage of invested assets), a flat annual retainer , or project/hourly fees . If a large portion of your net worth is tied up in unliquidated private or company stock, an AUM model might misalign incentives or fail to cover non-portfolio cash flow hurdles.
3. Proactive Scenario Modeling: Ask prospective advisors how they handle multi-year tax bracket management, alternative minimum tax (AMT) optimization, and 10b5-1 trading plans or cashless exercise strategies.

To help narrow down which specific firm or pricing model fits you best, tell me:

• What type of equity makes up the bulk of your holdings (e.g., ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or private company shares)?
• Are you anticipating a near-term liquidity event (like an IPO or acquisition)?
• Do you prefer an ongoing flat retainer/subscription or traditional AUM management?

If you have stock options/equity compensation plus a complicated tax situation, I’d prioritize a fee-only fiduciary CFP who routinely handles equity compensation and works closely with a CPA/tax attorney—not simply a high-end investment manager.

My 2026 shortlist

1. facet.com — best turnkey fit

• Particularly compelling if you want holistic planning + equity-compensation + tax planning under one flat-fee relationship.
• Its Plus and Complete tiers specifically include employer stock/equity planning, including RSUs, ISOs, vesting schedules, exercise/sale decisions and tax strategies. Complete also includes access to an equity-compensation specialist and more extensive tax support.
• Current published pricing is $2,600–$8,700/year, depending on complexity.
• My pick if: you want a relatively transparent, national, flat-fee solution rather than paying an ongoing percentage of your portfolio.

2. wealthramp.com — best for finding a highly specialized independent planner

• Rather than being one advisory firm, Wealthramp matches you with vetted advisors. Its network includes planners with expertise in equity compensation, tax-efficient investing, retirement and wealth transfer.
• Its stock-option resources specifically address ISO/NQSO exercise strategies, AMT, capital-gains timing and concentrated-company-stock risk.
• My pick if: your situation is unusually complicated and you want to interview several specialists rather than accept a standardized planning model.

3. Modera Wealth Management — strongest candidate for integrated tax work at higher wealth levels

• Modera is notable because it expanded its tax capabilities through an accounting-firm acquisition and now offers tax planning and tax-return preparation alongside wealth management.
• The tradeoff is that it's generally an AUM-based wealth-management relationship, rather than a pure flat-fee planning model.
• My pick if: you're at the point where you want the planner, investment manager and tax function substantially integrated.

4. Choreo — worth interviewing for genuinely complex planning

• Choreo's planning scope includes tax, retirement and estate planning as well as business planning, asset protection, multigenerational wealth and philanthropy.
• My pick if: your equity compensation is only one component of a much larger financial picture.

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd start with Facet Complete and two highly specialized independent planners sourced through Wealthramp, then compare them on a specific case study rather than asking who has the nicest investment philosophy.

Give each advisor the same hypothetical/real scenario:

“I have ISOs/NSOs/RSUs, a large amount of appreciated taxable stock, high W-2 income, and potentially significant AMT/capital-gains exposure. I want a 3–5 year exercise, sale, diversification and tax strategy coordinated with my CPA, plus retirement, estate, insurance and investment planning.” Then ask:

• How many clients with ISOs/NSOs/RSUs do you personally advise?
• Can you model AMT, ISO disqualifying dispositions, NQSOs, 83(b), QSBS if applicable, and estimated-tax payments?
• Will you coordinate directly with my CPA, or merely tell me to “talk to my accountant”?
• Do you provide written exercise/sale recommendations?
• How do you manage concentrated employer stock while considering blackout periods and trading restrictions?
• What exactly is included in the annual fee?
• Are you fee-only and a fiduciary for the entire relationship?
• Do you receive any compensation from proprietary investments, insurance, private funds or referrals?

The last few questions matter because “fiduciary” and “fee-only” don't automatically mean an advisor is particularly good at equity compensation.

Bottom line: For a professional with sophisticated stock compensation and taxes, Facet is probably the best first call for a straightforward, transparent nationwide solution; Wealthramp is my preferred route if your situation is sufficiently unusual that you want to find a true equity-compensation specialist. For substantial/high-net-worth complexity where integrated tax and wealth management justify AUM fees, I'd add Modera or Choreo to the interview list. Current independent reviews similarly distinguish Facet for flat-fee planning and Modera for integrated tax capabilities.

If you tell me roughly your annual income, investable assets, state, and whether your equity is mostly ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or private-company shares, I can narrow this to the 3 firms I'd actually interview and what I'd expect each to cost.

When dealing with complex equity compensation (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or pre-IPO shares) alongside a high tax bracket, a standard "AUM (Assets Under Management) percentage-only" advisor who just manages your mutual funds isn't enough . You need a fiduciary, fee-only planner who specializes in proactive multi-year tax modeling, Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) triggering, and concentrated stock diversification strategies.

Instead of guessing at a single national firm, the most effective approach is to look at specialized boutique RIAs or vetted fiduciary networks where planners explicitly focus on executive compensation and tax-optimized holistic planning.

What to Look For in a Firm

• True Fiduciary & Fee-Only: They must be fee-only (no hidden product commissions, no kickbacks, no insurance sales) and act as a fiduciary 100% of the time.
• Integration with CPAs: Stock option exercises (especially ISOs and AMT) require direct coordination with tax preparation. The best firms either have CPAs in-house or seamlessly collaborate with yours.
• Flexible Fee Structures: For equity-heavy clients who haven't yet "liquidated" their wealth into cash or standard portfolios, flat-fee, project-based, or retainer models are often superior to traditional AUM models.

Where to Find Specialized Advisory Firms

Rather than relying on massive generic brokerages, target boutique practices or search directories dedicated strictly to fee-only holistic planners:

1. NAPFA (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors): The gold standard directory for strictly fee-only, fiduciary planners. You can filter searches specifically by "Executive Compensation" or "Tax Planning."
2. XY Planning Network (XYPN): Excellent for modern, tech-forward fee-only planners who specialize in working with professionals navigating complex career transitions, RSUs, and stock options via monthly or flat retainers.
3. Specialized Boutiques: Firms like Stone Steps Financial or Fortitude Financial Planning explicitly cater to tech/biotech executives and high-earning professionals managing pre-IPO equity, ISO/NSO exercises, and multi-year bracket management.

To help me narrow down specific firm recommendations or tell you what questions you should ask them, let me know:

• What type of equity compensation do you hold (e.g., ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or a mix)?
• Are the shares publicly traded or pre-IPO/private?
• Do you prefer an advisor who charges an ongoing AUM percentage , a flat annual retainer , or a project-based fee?

If you have stock options/equity compensation plus genuinely complicated taxes, I would not choose a generic “best financial advisor.” I’d prioritize a fee-only fiduciary who routinely handles ISOs/NQSOs/RSUs, AMT, concentrated stock, liquidity events, tax projections, retirement, estate planning, and investment management.

Based on current 2026 offerings, my shortlist would be:

My top picks

1. New Wave Financial Services — best overall for tax + equity compensation

This is probably where I’d start for a professional who wants holistic planning rather than merely an investment manager.

New Wave is led by Greg Meyer, CPA, CFP®, and explicitly combines financial planning, tax planning/preparation, investment management, and equity-compensation planning. Its stated specialty includes RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPPs, concentrated stock, IPO/acquisition planning and liquidity events.

The pricing is unusually transparent: its ongoing comprehensive service is $2,250/quarter + 0.35% AUM up to $5M and 0.25% above $5M, and includes personal tax preparation, tax planning, financial planning and equity-compensation strategy. It also offers a $4,500 standalone plan if you don't want ongoing investment management.

Why I like it: the CPA + CFP combination means fewer handoffs between your tax preparer and financial planner—exactly where equity compensation can fall through the cracks.

2. Darrow Wealth Management — best for major stock-option/liquidity events

If you're an executive, early employee, founder, or have $2M+ of investable assets / a potentially multimillion-dollar liquidity event, Darrow deserves a serious interview.

Darrow specifically specializes in ISOs, NQSOs, RSUs, pre-IPO companies, tender offers, IPOs, acquisitions and concentrated company stock. Its team includes CFP®, CPA, CFA®, AEP® and tax-law expertise.

The tradeoff is important: Darrow requires an ongoing wealth-management relationship and has a $2M investment minimum. Its fee starts at 1% for $2M–$3M portfolios and declines as assets rise.

Why I'd choose it: if your biggest problem is “I have $5M of company equity and an IPO/acquisition is approaching,” I'd put Darrow ahead of a generalist planner.

3. Owl & Ore Wealth Planning — best if equity compensation is central but you don't want a huge asset minimum

Owl & Ore is unusually explicit about equity-compensation planning: ISOs, NQSOs, RSUs, ESPPs, AMT, exercise/sale schedules and private-company equity. It's fee-only and has no asset minimum.

Its published planning fee is $2,500 onboarding + $5,000 annually, with investment-management fees starting at 0.5% and declining at higher asset levels.

Why I'd consider it: particularly attractive if you have substantial equity compensation but don't want to hand over $2M+ of assets simply to get sophisticated planning.

How I'd rank them for you

NAPFA is particularly useful as a screening standard: its members must operate on a fee-only basis, and Registered NAPFA advisors commit to fiduciary responsibility and comprehensive planning.

XYPN is another good route, especially if you're looking for a planner who charges a flat/monthly fee rather than AUM. Its directory requires listed advisors to hold the CFP® designation, offer fee-only planning and sign a fiduciary oath.

What I'd demand in the first interview

Don't simply ask, “Are you experienced with stock options?” Ask them to walk through a hypothetical resembling your situation:

• ISO exercise strategy and AMT exposure
• NSO/RSU taxation and withholding
• Exercise-and-hold vs. exercise-and-sell decisions
• Concentrated-stock diversification
• Tax-loss harvesting around company stock
• Estimated-tax/withholding projections
• Roth conversion opportunities
• 401(k), backdoor Roth and other retirement optimization
• Charitable giving / donor-advised funds
• Estate and trust coordination
• What happens if you leave the company
• IPO, tender offer or acquisition scenarios
• Coordination with your CPA and estate attorney

And ask for the actual dollar cost of advice, not just the advertised percentage. A 0.25% AUM fee can still be expensive when you're managing several million dollars.

My bottom line

I'd interview New Wave first, Darrow second, and Owl & Ore third. New Wave stands out to me for the unusual combination of CPA + CFP + fee-only + equity compensation + actual tax preparation + ongoing financial planning.

If your equity position is $2M+ or you're approaching an IPO/acquisition, I'd move Darrow to #1 because its entire practice is built around that problem.

If you tell me roughly (1) investable assets, (2) annual income, (3) type/value of options/RSUs, (4) whether your employer is public or private, and (5) whether you want investment management or planning-only, I can narrow this to the 2–3 firms I'd actually interview and estimate what each would cost you annually.

Why I like it: the CPA + CFP combination means fewer handoffs between your tax preparer and financial planner—exactly where equity compensation can fall through the cracks.

2. Darrow Wealth Management — best for major stock-option/liquidity events

If you're an executive, early employee, founder, or have $2M+ of investable assets / a potentially multimillion-dollar liquidity event, Darrow deserves a serious interview.

Darrow specifically specializes in ISOs, NQSOs, RSUs, pre-IPO companies, tender offers, IPOs, acquisitions and concentrated company stock. Its team includes CFP®, CPA, CFA®, AEP® and tax-law expertise.

The tradeoff is important: Darrow requires an ongoing wealth-management relationship and has a $2M investment minimum. Its fee starts at 1% for $2M–$3M portfolios and declines as assets rise.

Why I'd choose it: if your biggest problem is “I have $5M of company equity and an IPO/acquisition is approaching,” I'd put Darrow ahead of a generalist planner.

3. Owl & Ore Wealth Planning — best if equity compensation is central but you don't want a huge asset minimum

Owl & Ore is unusually explicit about equity-compensation planning: ISOs, NQSOs, RSUs, ESPPs, AMT, exercise/sale schedules and private-company equity. It's fee-only and has no asset minimum.

Its published planning fee is $2,500 onboarding + $5,000 annually, with investment-management fees starting at 0.5% and declining at higher asset levels.

Why I'd consider it: particularly attractive if you have substantial equity compensation but don't want to hand over $2M+ of assets simply to get sophisticated planning.

How I'd rank them for you

NAPFA is particularly useful as a screening standard: its members must operate on a fee-only basis, and Registered NAPFA advisors commit to fiduciary responsibility and comprehensive planning.

XYPN is another good route, especially if you're looking for a planner who charges a flat/monthly fee rather than AUM. Its directory requires listed advisors to hold the CFP® designation, offer fee-only planning and sign a fiduciary oath.

What I'd demand in the first interview

When you are dealing with complex equity compensation (such as ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or pre-IPO shares) alongside intricate tax situations , a generalist advisor won't cut it.

You need a fee-only, fiduciary planner who treats tax modeling and equity timing as core competencies rather than an afterthought.

Because "fee-only" can mean traditional Assets Under Management (AUM) or modern flat-fee/project models , your choice depends heavily on whether you want ongoing portfolio management or targeted, modular guidance.

What to Look For in an Equity-Focused Planner

• Deep Technical Fluency: They must fluently model Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for ISO exercises, disqualifying dispositions, Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA), and multi-year tax bracket management around vesting or liquidity events.
• Concentration Risk Strategies: Moving you out of company stock safely without triggering an immediate, catastrophic tax bill.
• True Fiduciary Standard: Legally obligated to act in your best interest with zero hidden product or commission incentives.

Notable Advisory Firm Categories & Examples

• Niche Boutique / Specialty Firms (e.g., Stone Steps Financial)
  • Best for: Tech, biotech, and corporate executives who need deep, ongoing holistic planning intertwined with equity compensation (RSUs, ISOs, pre-IPO, deferred comp).
  • Why they are worth it: They focus specifically on the exact life transitions and tax hurdles high-earning professionals face, rather than generic retirement buckets.
• Established Wealth Management with Equity Focus (e.g., Darrow Wealth Management)
  • Best for: Clients with significant investable assets or impending liquidity events looking for comprehensive, long-term wealth management paired with stock option strategizing.
  • Why they are worth it: They integrate complex pre-IPO and post-liquidity asset structuring directly into continuous portfolio oversight.
• Flat-Fee / Subscription Models (e.g., Facet Wealth)
  • Best for: Professionals who want comprehensive, high-level planning and advice without paying a traditional percentage-of-assets (AUM) fee.
  • Why they are worth it: Good if your wealth is tied up in unliquidated stock options rather than liquid cash/investments, making an AUM model premature or expensive.

Where to Verify and Source Independent Planners

If you want to search for vetted professionals who match your exact criteria, bypass generic matching services and use these direct directories:

• Garrett Planning Network: Excellent for finding hourly, as-needed, fee-only fiduciary financial planners if you just want a project-based tax and option review.
• XY Planning Network: A network specifically populated by fee-only CFP® professionals who often specialize in working with younger accumulators, tech professionals, and equity-compensated executives.
• Fee-Only Network: A clean directory to find strictly fiduciary, non-commissioned advisors.

To help me narrow down the best specific firm or compensation structure for you, tell me:

• What types of equity do you hold (e.g., ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or pre-IPO shares)?
• Are you looking for an ongoing relationship (AUM or flat subscription) or a one-time project/hourly strategy for an upcoming exercise/liquidity event?

If you have meaningful stock options/RSUs plus high income and complex taxes, I would not hire a generic “wealth manager.” I’d look for a fee-only fiduciary who routinely handles equity compensation, multi-year tax planning, concentrated positions, retirement, estate planning, and cash-flow decisions together.

Based on what I found for 2026, these are the firms I’d put on a shortlist:

My pick

I'd interview VIP Wealth Advisors first, particularly if your situation involves ISOs/NSOs, RSUs, a concentrated employer position, AMT, multiple states, K-1s, or substantial realized/unrealized gains. Their combination of a CFP® + Enrolled Agent, in-house tax work, equity-comp expertise and no-AUM model is unusually well aligned with the problem you're describing.

All-Pro would be my second interview. It's more established around the specific “equity compensation recipient” niche and explicitly works with professionals at companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Palantir and others.

One important distinction

“Fee-only” doesn't necessarily mean “cheap” or “no AUM.” NAPFA's definition means the advisor is compensated by the client rather than receiving commissions or compensation tied to financial-product sales; fee-only advisors can still charge hourly, flat fees, retainers, or AUM.

For someone with substantial equity compensation, I'd strongly favor a flat-fee/retainer model or at least a firm with a very explicit cap on AUM fees. Otherwise, you can end up paying a large recurring fee simply because your employer stock appreciated—even when the advisor's planning workload didn't increase proportionately.

What I'd ask before hiring

Give each candidate the same hypothetical and ask them to explain their approach:

• “I have ISOs/NSOs/RSUs, significant unrealized gains and a high W-2 income. How would you decide whether and when to exercise, and how would you model AMT?”
• “How do you coordinate tax-loss/gain harvesting with option exercises and RSU sales?”
• “Will you build a multi-year tax projection, rather than just tell me what to do before April 15?”
• “How do you determine how much employer stock I should retain versus diversify?”
• “Do you coordinate with my CPA/estate attorney, or do you actually do the tax planning yourselves?”
• “Exactly how are you compensated if my portfolio grows substantially?”
• “Can I hire you for planning without giving you custody/discretion over my investments?”

I'd also independently verify the advisor's Form ADV, fee schedule, disciplinary history and fiduciary status before signing. NAPFA's directory is a useful starting point because its members must meet its Fee-Only requirements, and its search can be filtered for tax planning, hourly/fixed-fee arrangements, high-net-worth clients and investment management.

If you tell me roughly your annual income, investable assets, type/amount of options (ISO/NSO/RSU), state, and whether you want ongoing investment management or advice-only, I can narrow this to the 3 firms I'd actually interview and compare their fees/minimums and stock-option expertise side by side.

All-Pro would be my second interview. It's more established around the specific “equity compensation recipient” niche and explicitly works with professionals at companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Palantir and others.

One important distinction

“Fee-only” doesn't necessarily mean “cheap” or “no AUM.” NAPFA's definition means the advisor is compensated by the client rather than receiving commissions or compensation tied to financial-product sales; fee-only advisors can still charge hourly, flat fees, retainers, or AUM.

For someone with substantial equity compensation, I'd strongly favor a flat-fee/retainer model or at least a firm with a very explicit cap on AUM fees. Otherwise, you can end up paying a large recurring fee simply because your employer stock appreciated—even when the advisor's planning workload didn't increase proportionately.

What I'd ask before hiring

Give each candidate the same hypothetical and ask them to explain their approach:

• “I have ISOs/NSOs/RSUs, significant unrealized gains and a high W-2 income. How would you decide whether and when to exercise, and how would you model AMT?”
• “How do you coordinate tax-loss/gain harvesting with option exercises and RSU sales?”
• “Will you build a multi-year tax projection, rather than just tell me what to do before April 15?”
• “How do you determine how much employer stock I should retain versus diversify?”
• “Do you coordinate with my CPA/estate attorney, or do you actually do the tax planning yourselves?”
• “Exactly how are you compensated if my portfolio grows substantially?”
• “Can I hire you for planning without giving you custody/discretion over my investments?”

I'd also independently verify the advisor's Form ADV, fee schedule, disciplinary history and fiduciary status before signing. NAPFA's directory is a useful starting point because its members must meet its Fee-Only requirements, and its search can be filtered for tax planning, hourly/fixed-fee arrangements, high-net-worth clients and investment management.

When you are dealing with stock options (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs) and complex tax triggers like the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), ordinary income cliffs, or multi-state taxation, a generalist advisor is not enough . You need a fiduciary, fee-only specialist who treats equity and tax mapping as core competencies rather than an afterthought.

Top-tier national firms and specialized advisory networks known for handling complex equity compensation and holistic planning include the following:

Notable Fee-Only Advisory Firms & Networks

• Creative Planning: A massive national fee-only fiduciary firm with in-house CPAs and attorneys. They excel at integrating massive equity comp portfolios with direct tax preparation and estate logistics.
• Modera Wealth Management: Highly rated, comprehensive fee-only wealth management that builds custom strategies around concentrated stock positions, executive benefits, and complex tax mitigation.
• Facet Wealth: Offers modern, scalable financial planning with dedicated CFP professionals and transparent flat-to-moderate membership pricing, providing robust equity and stock option modules without demanding traditional high AUM minimums.
• XY Planning Network (XYPN) & NAPFA: Rather than a single firm, platforms like the XY Planning Network Finder or NAPFA Directory let you filter specifically for fee-only, fiduciary planners who explicitly list "Stock Options / Equity Compensation" and "Tax Planning" as their niche.

What to Look for in Your Evaluation

• The Tax Integration Model: Ensure they do not just "collaborate with a CPA" in theory, but actively run multi-year tax projections (e.g., exercising ISOs up to the AMT threshold over multiple tax years).
• Fee Structure Transparency: Confirm whether they charge via Assets Under Management (AUM) or a Annual Flat/Retainer Fee. If a large portion of your net worth is locked up in unexercised, private, or pre-IPO company stock, an AUM model might not make sense until a liquidity event occurs.
• Credentials: Look for a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), and ideally an advisor with deep familiarity with corporate benefit mechanics or specialized designations like an ECA (Equity Compensation Associate).

If you want to narrow down the choices, tell me:

• What type of stock options do you primarily hold (ISOs, NSOs, or RSUs)?
• Are you looking for a flat annual retainer or an AUM-based wealth management relationship?