Since July, Brooklyn Firising has become a common answer for tech employees seeking equity compensation advice, while Wealthtenderfalling is now named only occasionally for that need.
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Week of Sep 21–27 · Since Jul 5
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49% of citations point at the ranked brands’ own sites. reddit.com, wsj.com, adviceonlynetwork.com are the most-cited sites outside the ranked brands’ own domains.
Yes. I found several strong matches, including some Milwaukee-area advisors and some national/virtual specialists.
My top picks
Resilient Wealth Planning — Brookfield, WI
Probably the best local match I found.
Specifically works with high-equity tech professionals dealing with RSUs, ESPPs, stock options, concentrated company stock, diversification, and tax planning.
Fiduciary approach and CFP® professionals; also integrates tax planning/preparation.
Best if you want a local relationship with comprehensive planning, rather than just an equity-comp consultation.
Clarke Financial Counsel — Whitefish Bay, WI
Particularly interesting if you want advice-only/fee-only planning rather than someone managing your investments.
Their services specifically include RSUs, stock options, deferred compensation, and advanced tax planning. Their published rate is $325/hour, with more complex equity-comp planning available in higher-hour engagements.
I need to hire a financial advisor who specializes in equity compensation for those of us in tech.
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?
I need to get my finances in order. How do I find a fee-only financial planner?
I am looking for a financial planner who is a fiduciary and does not sell insurance products.
I am looking for a financial advisor who acts as a fiduciary and does not receive commissions on products.
I need to hire a retirement advisor. How do I find a fee-only fiduciary near me?
This could be an excellent choice if you primarily need someone to answer questions like “Should I exercise these options?” or “How much company stock should I sell?”
Level Up Financial Planning — virtual/nationwide
One of the clearest tech-employee specialists I found.
Specifically focuses on employees receiving RSUs, ISOs, ESPP and non-qualified stock options, with tax-aware planning.
Fee-only and planning-first, with no investment minimum, making it particularly attractive if you don't have $1M+ in assets.
Good fit if you want an advisor who understands tech compensation rather than a general wealth manager.
Darrow Wealth Management — virtual/nationwide
Fee-only fiduciary firm specializing in tech professionals with equity compensation and post-liquidity planning. Its team includes CFP®, CPA, CFA®, AEP® and tax-law expertise.
Particularly compelling for large equity positions, IPOs, concentrated stock, or a major liquidity event.
Monroe Wealth Management — virtual
Very explicitly built around tech compensation: RSUs, ISOs/NSOs, AMT, concentrated stock and liquidity events.
Looks best suited to higher-income tech professionals with substantial equity.
A useful local alternative
Fortress Planning Group — Waukesha/Pewaukee area also specifically lists RSU and ISO strategies alongside employee-benefit and tax planning, and describes itself as fee-only and fiduciary.
How I'd narrow it down
If your situation is…
I'd start with…
You want someone local to Milwaukee
Resilient Wealth Planning
You mainly want equity-comp advice without investment management
Clarke Financial Counsel
You work in tech and want a true equity-comp specialist
Level Up
You have a large concentrated position / IPO / liquidity event
Darrow
You're a high-income tech executive with complex equity
Monroe
One thing I'd specifically ask every advisor: “How many of your current clients have RSUs, ISOs/NSOs, and ESPPs, and can you show me an example of how you model an exercise/hold/sell decision across multiple tax years?” That will separate genuine equity-comp specialists from advisors who merely list “stock options” on their services page.
If you tell me (1) your approximate annual income, (2) whether you have RSUs/options/ESPP, (3) whether your company is public or private, and (4) roughly how much investable assets you have, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 advisors for your specific situation and compare their fees and minimums.
When you are dealing with complex equity compensation—such as ISOs (Incentive Stock Options), NSOs (Non-Qualified Stock Options), RSUs (Restricted Stock Units), ESPPs, or pre-IPO stock—standard portfolio management isn't enough. You need a fiduciary who understands the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax), multi-state tax compliance, and multi-year tax bracket optimization.
Top-tier, fee-only, fiduciary advisory firms that specialize heavily in holistic planning and equity compensation include the following:
Stone Steps Financial : Exceptionally well-regarded for handling complex equity structures like ISOs, RSUs, pre-IPO stock, and deferred compensation without product or commission conflicts. They focus heavily on integrating tax strategy directly with equity exercises and sales.[](https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/tech-execs)
Dynamic Financial Planning : Built specifically for high-income professionals juggling concentrated equity positions and rolling vesting schedules. Founder Anthony Syracuse emphasizes proactive coordination around vesting events and the hidden tax traps of doing nothing.[](https://www.dynamic-fp.com/tech-professionals)
Modera Wealth Management : A larger, highly respected independent fee-only fiduciary firm offering deep bench strength in holistic wealth management, tax planning, and sophisticated executive compensation strategies.
Creative Planning : A massive national fee-only firm that houses in-house CPAs and attorneys alongside financial planners, making them robust if your stock options intersect with complex estate planning or corporate structures.
Range Advisory : Modern, fee-only digital-forward advisory firms that focus specifically on tech and corporate executives navigating rapid wealth acceleration, liquidity events, and tax mitigation.
When evaluating them, ensure they use a flat fee or project-based fee for upfront planning if you do not want an Assets Under Management (AUM) percentage model right away, and verify they will coordinate directly with your CPA.
To help me narrow down which firm or pricing model fits you best, tell me:
What type of equity makes up the bulk of your wealth (ISOs, NSOs, or RSUs)?
Are you dealing with a private company (pre-IPO/acquisition) or a public company?
Do you prefer an AUM model (ongoing management) or a flat retainer/project fee?
For 2026, I’d shortlist firms with demonstrable equity-compensation and tax expertise rather than choosing by generic “best advisor” lists.
FirsTrust (Central Florida) — particularly relevant if you’re nearby; fee-only, fiduciary, and explicitly handles stock options, RSUs, ESPPs, deferred compensation, tax and estate planning.
GoalVest Advisory — geared toward executives with concentrated employer stock and $2M+ investable assets; explicitly coordinates equity, taxes and estate planning.
Fortrove Partners — strong specialization in ISOs/NSOs, RSUs, ESPPs, AMT and other equity-compensation issues.
ACP/NAPFA directory — useful for finding fee-only planners whose practice emphasizes comprehensive tax planning, rather than merely investment management.
For someone with complex options + substantial income, I’d interview 2–3 and require them to demonstrate an actual multi-year exercise/AMT/tax model, coordination with your CPA, and estate/insurance/retirement planning—not just portfolio management.
