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?

If you have stock options/RSUs + high income + complicated taxes, I’d prioritize a planner who is genuinely fee-only, fiduciary, tax-integrated, and specifically experienced with equity compensation—not merely a general wealth manager.

My shortlist for 2026

1. New Wave Financial Services — particularly compelling for tech professionals. It combines financial planning, tax strategy and investment management, with specific experience in RSUs, ISOs/NQSOs, AMT, concentrated stock and liquidity events. The firm is led by Greg Meyer, CPA, CFP.
2. VIP Wealth Advisors / Mark Stancato, CFP®, EA — one of the strongest fits if your situation is unusually complex. Stancato combines CFP and Enrolled Agent credentials and specifically works with ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, tender offers, IPOs, multi-year tax planning, AMT, multi-state issues, real estate and business ownership.
3. Owl & Ore Wealth Planning — worth interviewing if employee equity is the centerpiece of your planning. Its NAPFA profile specifically says it specializes in employee equity compensation, including ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock and stock-purchase plans.
4. Ubequity Wealth Management / Kent Hickey, CFP®, CPWA®, MBA — especially interesting for senior executives or high-net-worth professionals. Hickey focuses on integrating RSUs, PSUs and options with retirement, investment, tax and broader holistic planning.
5. Valoria Wealth Management / Maria Castillo Dominguez, CFP®, EA — particularly worth considering if you're a high-earning professional in tech. Her stated specialty includes RSUs, ESPPs, ISOs, NQSOs, stock-option strategy, tax planning, liquidity events and career transitions.

What I'd choose

For maximum tax/equity-compensation sophistication, I'd interview VIP Wealth Advisors and New Wave first.

The reason I'd put them ahead of a generic large wealth-management firm is that your problem isn't primarily "How should I invest $2 million?" It's more like:

When should I exercise ISOs? How much AMT exposure should I tolerate? Which RSUs should I sell? How do I coordinate estimated taxes, charitable giving, Roth conversions, concentrated-stock risk, retirement accounts, estate planning and a potential liquidity event? That requires planning across several years, not just portfolio construction. Current guidance on equity compensation likewise emphasizes coordinating exercise timing, AMT, diversification, liquidity and the rest of the financial plan.

One important distinction

Don't automatically equate "fee-only" with "tax expert." NAPFA's fee-only standard means the advisor is compensated by clients rather than commissions, which substantially reduces product-sales conflicts. But you still need to establish that your particular advisor has deep equity-compensation and tax expertise.

I'd also consider Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) as a sourcing channel. It's specifically a network of fee-only planners with a tax-focused, retainer-based model and an emphasis on integrating tax consequences into investment and financial decisions.

For another broad search, NAPFA lets you filter advisors by corporate-executive/high-net-worth clientele, tax planning and fee structure, while XY Planning Network requires its listed advisors to be CFP professionals, fee-only and fiduciaries.

How I'd vet the finalists

Before hiring, ask each one:

• "How many clients do you currently advise who have ISOs/NQSOs, RSUs and ESPPs?"
• "Do you actually model AMT and multi-year exercise strategies, or do you outsource that?"
• "Will you coordinate directly with my CPA, or do you provide the tax planning yourself?"
• "Can you advise on a pre-IPO/private-company liquidity event?"
• "Do you provide an annual tax projection rather than simply reacting at tax-filing time?"
• "What is my all-in annual cost at my portfolio size, including investment management?"
• "Are you fee-only 100% of the time, including affiliated businesses?"
• "Can I hire you for planning without having you manage all my assets?"

That last question is particularly valuable. If you're paying someone 0.75–1%+ on a large portfolio, the economics can become substantial; a flat-fee or retainer arrangement may be much better if what you primarily need is sophisticated planning rather than active investment management. Fee-only advisors can use AUM, hourly, retainer or flat-fee structures.

If you tell me roughly (1) your annual income, (2) investable assets, (3) whether your equity is ISOs/NQSOs/RSUs/ESPP, (4) public vs. private company, (5) state, and (6) whether you want investment management too, I can narrow this to the 3 firms I'd actually interview and compare their fee structures and specialties.

Don't automatically equate "fee-only" with "tax expert." NAPFA's fee-only standard means the advisor is compensated by clients rather than commissions, which substantially reduces product-sales conflicts. But you still need to establish that your particular advisor has deep equity-compensation and tax expertise.

I'd also consider Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) as a sourcing channel. It's specifically a network of fee-only planners with a tax-focused, retainer-based model and an emphasis on integrating tax consequences into investment and financial decisions.

For another broad search, NAPFA lets you filter advisors by corporate-executive/high-net-worth clientele, tax planning and fee structure, while XY Planning Network requires its listed advisors to be CFP professionals, fee-only and fiduciaries.

How I'd vet the finalists

Before hiring, ask each one:

Navigating complex equity compensation (like ISOs, NSOs, RSUs) alongside multi-layered tax brackets requires specialized expertise. Standard "buy-and-hold" wealth managers often miss the nuances of Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), optimal exercise timing, 83(b) elections, or multi-state tax footprint minimization.

When searching for a true fee-only fiduciary who offers holistic planning (incorporating tax strategy, cash flow, estate, and portfolio management), look for boutique, tech-forward, or executive-focused Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) rather than traditional commission-based brokers.

Top Categories of Advisory Firms Worth Considering

• Specialized Flat-Fee / Hourly RIAs for Equity Compensation
  • Why they fit: Firms like Fortitude Financial Planning or Ad Astra Financial Planning focus explicitly on tech executives and professionals navigating RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, and corporate liquidity events (IPOs or tender offers).
  • Fee structure: Often subscription-based or project-based flat fees, which avoids conflicts of interest tied to Assets Under Management (AUM) thresholds.
• National Holistic Wealth Management Firms
  • Why they fit: Larger independent fee-only networks (such as those vetted via the Garrett Planning Network or XY Planning Network ) house individual CFPs who specialize in marrying comprehensive financial modeling with tactical tax planning.
  • Fee structure: Varies between retainer/subscription and percentage of AUM.

What to Demand from Your Planner This Year

To ensure they are truly worth their fee, make sure your prospective planner actively provides:

1. Multi-year tax projection modeling to map out the exact threshold boundaries for your tax brackets before you trigger a disqualifying disposition or exercise options.
2. AMT crossover tracking for Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) to prevent painful surprises come tax season.
3. Concentration risk mitigation strategies that don't just dump company stock all at once, but phase it out tax-efficiently over quarters or years.

To help narrow down the ideal firm style for you, could you share:

• Are your options primarily ISOs, NSOs, or RSUs?
• Do you prefer a flat annual retainer/subscription or an AUM (assets under management) fee model?

Navigating complex executive compensation—such as Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs), Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) implications—requires an advisor who does more than just manage a standard index fund portfolio. For holistic planning, a fiduciary, fee-only model is essential because it eliminates product commissions and aligns the advisor’s advice strictly with your financial benefit.

Top-tier, fee-only advisory firms specializing in equity compensation and holistic executive planning include:

• Brooklyn FI: Highly regarded for tech professionals, startup executives, and founders dealing with multi-layered equity structures, crypto, and complex tax planning. They offer comprehensive financial planning and modern, tech-forward client experiences.
• Darrow Wealth Management: A fee-only wealth management firm well-known for working with high-net-worth professionals, corporate executives, and accumulators of complex stock option portfolios, integrating sophisticated tax and investment strategies.
• Bogart Wealth / FCA Corp: Firms that explicitly cater to corporate executives, offering deep expertise in navigating executive compensation packages, concentrated stock positions, and coordinated estate/tax planning.
• Niche/boutique flat-fee or hourly planners via NAPFA: If you prefer project-based or annual retainer models rather than Assets Under Management (AUM) percentages, searching the NAPFA (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors) Finder allows you to filter specifically for advisors certified in executive tax coordination and stock option exercise strategies.

What to Look For When Interviewing Firms:

1. AMT & Exercise Modeling: Can they run multi-year tax projections showing the exact AMT tipping point for exercising ISOs?
2. Concentration Risk Management: Do they have a disciplined, tax-efficient strategy for unwinding a concentrated company stock position over time?
3. In-House vs. Coordinated Tax Preparation: Check whether they coordinate directly with your CPA or offer in-house tax preparation to prevent miscommunications during tax season.

To help narrow down the ideal firm, please share:

• What type of equity makes up the bulk of your portfolio (ISOs, NSOs, or RSUs)?
• Are you looking for an ongoing asset-management (AUM) relationship or a flat-fee/retainer planner?

If you have stock options/equity compensation plus genuinely complex taxes, I’d favor a fee-only fiduciary who integrates equity-compensation strategy with tax and financial planning, rather than a conventional AUM wealth manager.

My 2026 shortlist

1. New Wave Financial Services — probably my first interview for tax + equity compensation + holistic planning. The firm combines CPA/CFP expertise with planning around ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, ESPPs, concentrated stock, AMT, IPOs/acquisitions, and liquidity events. That combination can reduce the handoff problems between a financial planner and tax preparer.
2. TwoTen Planning — especially compelling if you have substantial equity compensation and don't want your fee to scale simply because your portfolio is large. Their specialty includes RSUs, ISOs, NQSOs, ESPPs, deferred compensation, exercise timing, diversification, tax/cash-flow modeling, retirement and estate planning.
3. Darrow Wealth Management — worth interviewing if you're dealing with a large concentrated position, impending liquidity event, IPO/acquisition, or very high net worth. I'd specifically ask how much of the firm's work is genuinely tax/equity-compensation planning versus investment management.
4. Owl & Ore — a candidate if equity compensation itself is the dominant issue, particularly for tech professionals. I'd compare their planning depth against the CPA/CFP integration offered by a firm such as New Wave.
5. An individual CFP through XY Planning Network or NAPFA — potentially the best value if you want advice without automatically paying an AUM percentage. XYPN's directory requires listed advisors to be CFP professionals, fee-only, fiduciaries and in good standing. XY Planning Network NAPFA likewise requires its members to operate on a fee-only basis.

What I'd prioritize in your situation

I'd rank the capabilities roughly:

Equity-compensation expertise + tax expertise > investment management > brand name.

Ask each candidate whether they personally model things such as:

• ISO exercise/AMT scenarios
• NSO exercise timing and withholding
• RSU sell-to-cover versus additional withholding
• 83(b) elections where applicable
• ESPP optimization
• concentrated-stock diversification
• estimated-tax payments
• charitable gifting of appreciated shares
• Roth conversions/backdoor Roth strategies
• state-tax implications
• liquidity-event/IPO planning
• estate and insurance planning
• coordination with your CPA/attorney

Also ask who actually prepares the tax analysis. A planner who says "we'll coordinate with your CPA" isn't necessarily equivalent to a firm with CPA-level tax expertise in-house.

Fee-only is particularly useful here because it separates compensation from product commissions; NAPFA notes that fee-only advisors can charge hourly, flat, retainer, or AUM fees, so "fee-only" doesn't automatically mean "cheap."

If I were choosing three interviews: I'd start with New Wave, TwoTen, and one highly specialized XYPN/NAPFA planner. Then give each the same hypothetical stock-option/tax scenario and compare the sophistication of their answer. That's likely more informative than comparing their marketing materials.

If you tell me roughly your income, investable assets, type of equity (ISO/NSO/RSU/ESPP), state, and whether you're pre- or post-IPO, I can narrow this to 3–5 specific firms/advisors and compare their fees, tax capabilities, minimums, and specialties for your situation.

When you have a mix of equity compensation—such as Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Non-Qualified Stock Options (NQSOs), Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), or ESPPs—and complex tax considerations, standard retirement-focused financial planning falls short. You need a fiduciary, fee-only planner who actively models multi-year tax brackets, Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) crossover points, and single-stock concentration risk.

Because "worth hiring" depends heavily on whether your company is pre-IPO, public, or mid-growth, look for boutique or specialized independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms rather than massive wirehouses or commission-heavy structures.

Key Capabilities to Look For

When evaluating a firm, verify they can handle these specific equity-tax mechanics:

• AMT Budgeting & ISO Strategy: Calculating precisely how many ISOs you can exercise each calendar year without triggering catastrophic AMT liability, or timing exercises across tax years to optimize long-term capital gains.
• NQSO / RSU Liquidation & Withholding Modeling: Pre-modeling vesting events 30 to 60 days out to prevent cash-flow crunches or underpayment penalties on supplemental income.
• Concentration & Diversification Roadmap: Building a systematic, tax-efficient multi-year plan to trim company stock down to a safe percentage without triggering an immediate, unmanageable tax bomb.

Types of Specialized Firms to Consider

• Boutique Tech/Executive-Focused RIAs: (e.g., firms like Darrow Wealth Management, Vaquero Wealth , or similar regional/virtual boutique RIAs featured in advisor networks like the Garrett Planning Network or NAPFA). These smaller-to-midsize fee-only firms routinely build dynamic multi-year "tax and liquidity" roadmaps rather than just passively managing an investment portfolio.
• Dedicated Equity/Pre-IPO Specialists: (e.g., specialized practices or platforms like Secfi advisory arms or executive compensation specialists) that focus explicitly on private company stock, tender offers, and complex secondary market liquidity events.

Questions to Ask on Introductory Calls

Before signing an agreement, grill potential advisors with these specific prompts:

1. “Can you walk me through how you build an AMT budget for ISO exercises across multiple tax years?”
2. “Do you provide proactive tax-loss harvesting and coordinate directly with my CPA, or do you handle tax preparation in-house?”
3. “What is your fee structure (flat annual retainer vs. AUM), and how do you handle clients whose net worth is heavily tied up in unliquidated equity rather than liquid cash/portfolios?”

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

• Is your company publicly traded or private/pre-IPO?
• What types of equity make up the bulk of your portfolio (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs)?

Yes. For a professional with stock options + significant income + complex taxes, I would not choose a generic “wealth manager.” I’d specifically look for a fee-only fiduciary CFP who routinely handles ISOs/NSOs/RSUs, AMT, concentrated stock, liquidity events, and tax-aware investing.

Based on current 2026 offerings, these would be my shortlist:

My ranking for your situation

1. San Francisco Wealth Planning — if the options/tax problem is the centerpiece. Their ISO/AMT work is unusually explicit and detailed.

2. Ad Astra — if you want a genuinely holistic relationship without paying an AUM percentage. I particularly like the flat-fee structure for someone whose wealth may be heavily concentrated in employer equity.

3. Digital Wealth — if you'd prefer someone geographically closer to Los Angeles and want a broad planning engagement. Their published scope is unusually comprehensive.

4. Wealth Script — compelling if you're a very highly compensated tech executive/founder and want a more traditional ongoing wealth-management relationship. The $15k minimum flat fee means I'd want your situation to be sufficiently complex to justify it.

5. ImpactFI — worth interviewing if tax-efficient portfolio construction/direct indexing is particularly important alongside your equity compensation.

One important distinction: “fee-only” doesn't necessarily mean inexpensive. NAPFA notes that fee-only advisors can charge hourly, flat fees, retainers or AUM; the important point is that they don't receive commissions for selling financial products.

What I'd ask before hiring anyone

Give each candidate essentially the same scenario and ask:

• “How would you evaluate ISO exercise timing and AMT exposure?”
• “How do you coordinate with my CPA so tax planning happens before transactions rather than after?”
• “How do you decide how much employer stock I should retain versus sell?”
• “Can you model multiple exercise/sale scenarios over several tax years?”
• “Do you advise on 83(b), QSBS, tender offers, IPOs, ESPPs, RSUs and NSOs, as applicable?”
• “Will you work with my existing CPA/estate attorney, or do you provide those services?”
• “Exactly what will I pay you over the next 12 months, including investment-management fees?”
• “Do you have a minimum portfolio/income requirement?”

I'd also insist on seeing the firm's Form ADV before signing. Don't be swayed merely by “CFP,” “fiduciary,” or “fee-based” language.

If you tell me roughly (1) your annual income, (2) $ value/type of options, (3) investable assets, (4) whether you're in California, and (5) whether you want investment management or planning-only, I can narrow this to the 2–3 firms I'd actually interview and compare their fees, minimums, tax expertise, and fit.

2. Ad Astra — if you want a genuinely holistic relationship without paying an AUM percentage. I particularly like the flat-fee structure for someone whose wealth may be heavily concentrated in employer equity.

3. Digital Wealth — if you'd prefer someone geographically closer to Los Angeles and want a broad planning engagement. Their published scope is unusually comprehensive.

4. Wealth Script — compelling if you're a very highly compensated tech executive/founder and want a more traditional ongoing wealth-management relationship. The $15k minimum flat fee means I'd want your situation to be sufficiently complex to justify it.

5. ImpactFI — worth interviewing if tax-efficient portfolio construction/direct indexing is particularly important alongside your equity compensation.

For a professional with stock options (ISOs, NSOs/NQSOs, RSUs), high income, and complex taxes, I would generally avoid a generic “wealth manager” and look for a fee-only fiduciary CFP® planner who does equity-compensation planning as a core specialty. The best fit is usually someone who can coordinate:

• equity compensation strategy (exercise timing, AMT, 83(b), RSU sales, concentrated stock risk)
• multi-year tax planning and estimated taxes
• retirement planning and backdoor Roth/mega backdoor Roth decisions where relevant
• charitable strategies (DAFs, QSBS if applicable, gifting appreciated stock)
• estate planning coordination
• investment management without unnecessary product sales

Fee-only means the advisor is paid directly by you rather than receiving commissions; organizations such as NAPFA require members to operate on a fee-only basis.

Firms I would put on a serious interview list

Darrow Wealth Management

Best fit: executives and tech professionals with meaningful equity compensation.

Why consider it:

• Known for focusing on stock options, RSUs, and concentrated equity situations.
• Better match than a traditional retirement-focused advisor if your biggest decisions revolve around employer stock and tax timing.

Potential downside:

• A highly specialized firm may be more than you need if your finances are simpler.

New Wave Financial Planning

Best fit: professionals wanting broad life planning plus tax-aware strategy.

Why consider it:

• Holistic planning approach rather than just portfolio management.
• A good fit if equity is one major piece of a larger financial picture.

XY Planning Network

Best fit: finding a planner who works with professionals, often through flat-fee or retainer models.

Why consider it:

• The network emphasizes fee-only planning, CFP® professionals, fiduciary commitments, and virtual access.
• You can filter for advisors familiar with tech professionals, equity compensation, and high-income planning.

National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)

Best fit: finding established comprehensive planners.

Why consider it:

• Strong screening starting point for fee-only fiduciary planners.
• Useful if you want a traditional comprehensive planner rather than a niche equity-comp specialist.

Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP)

Best fit: people whose biggest issue is tax complexity.

Why consider it:

• Members emphasize integrated planning where taxes are part of investment and financial decisions, not an afterthought.

How I would rank the search depending on your situation

Questions I would ask before hiring

1. How many clients do you serve with ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, or startup equity?
2. Can you model AMT and exercise strategies over multiple years?
3. Do you coordinate with my CPA, or do you provide tax planning yourselves?
4. What percentage of your revenue comes from AUM fees versus planning fees?
5. Do you have experience with IPO lockups, 10b5-1 plans, or concentrated stock exits?
6. Will I receive a written financial plan and tax projections, or mostly investment management?

A strong candidate should be comfortable discussing your equity grants in detail before discussing a portfolio. If they immediately steer the conversation toward asset allocation without understanding your option types, vesting schedule, tax basis, and liquidity timeline, I would keep interviewing.

If you share your state, approximate investable assets, employer equity type (ISO/NSO/RSU), and whether you want flat-fee planning or investment management included, I can narrow this to a shorter list of firms worth contacting.

When you are dealing with complex equity compensation (such as NSOs, ISOs, RSUs, or pre-IPO/private company stock) alongside intricate tax planning, a standard generalist financial advisor won't cut it. You need a true fiduciary, fee-only firm that specializes in executive compensation and tax-forward holistic planning.

Because "worth hiring" depends heavily on your net worth, company stage, and whether you prefer flat-fee/hourly or traditional AUM (Assets Under Management) models, several standout, fee-only RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) categories and firms routinely excel at this:

1. Boutique & Specialized Firms (Best for Deep Equity/Startup Expertise)

• Bogart Wealth or Darrow Wealth Management: Darrow Wealth Management is well-regarded for handling complex pre-IPO and stock option strategies, though they typically manage ongoing wealth. Firms that specialize in corporate executive compensation understand the precise triggers for Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) with ISOs, optimal exercise timing, and 83(b) election strategies.
• Secfi Wealth / Range / dedicated tech-focused RIAs: Platforms like Secfi Wealth cater specifically to startup and tech executives navigating liquidity events, tenders, and concentrated stock positions.

2. National Holistic RIAs (Best for Comprehensive, Multi-Disciplinary Teams)

• Creative Planning or Wealth Enhancement Group: These large, nationally recognized fee-only firms have in-house CPAs, estate attorneys, and financial planners under one roof. If your tax situation requires coordinated multi-state filing, complex gifting, or direct collaboration with a corporate tax department during a liquidity event, having tax and wealth professionals co-located internally prevents things from slipping through the cracks.
• Facet Wealth: Offers flat-fee, subscription-based fiduciary planning rather than traditional AUM, which can be ideal if you want high-level holistic guidance without handing over management of all your underlying liquid assets.

What to Look for (and Ask) Before Signing

To determine which firm is genuinely worth your money this year, evaluate prospective advisors against these non-negotiables:

• Are they strictly Fee-Only and Fiduciary 100% of the time? Confirm they receive no commissions from insurance products, annuity sales, or structured notes.
• Do they model AMT and exercise-and-hold vs. exercise-and-sell scenarios? Ask to see a redacted case study of how they handle an ISO exercise strategy in a volatile market.
• Is tax preparation integrated? The best firms don't just hand you a plan to give to your CPA; they actively collaborate with your CPA or provide tax-prep services directly to ensure year-end tax-loss harvesting and option execution align seamlessly.

To help me narrow down the best specific fit for you, let me know:

• Are your options in a publicly traded company or a private/pre-IPO startup?
• What type of compensation are we talking about (ISOs, NSOs, or RSUs)?
• Do you prefer a flat/subscription fee model or an AUM (percentage of assets) relationship?

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. [1]

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. [1][2][3]
• • 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.[1]
• • 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. [1]

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.