Retirement Planning Financial Advisors
Browse top-rated retirement planning financial advisors. Compare pricing, specialties, and client reviews.
Financial Advisors Specializing in Retirement Planning
Retirement planning encompasses much more than selecting a target-date fund. It includes determining a sustainable withdrawal rate, sequencing withdrawals across taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts to minimize lifetime taxes, optimizing Social Security claiming strategy (which can be worth $50,000–$200,000 in lifetime benefits depending on your situation), planning for healthcare costs before Medicare eligibility at 65, and managing sequence-of-returns risk in the critical first decade of retirement.
A retirement planning specialist will build a detailed Monte Carlo projection that stress-tests your plan against historical market scenarios and inflation assumptions, then revisit it annually as your situation changes. For business owners approaching an exit, coordinating the sale proceeds with your retirement income plan is one of the most consequential financial decisions you will make.
What to look for
Look for a CFP® or ChFC® with a dedicated retirement planning practice who will model multiple scenarios — early retirement, market downturns, long-care needs — rather than just showing you an optimistic projection.
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114 professionals found
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Award-Winning Fee-Only Wealth Management for HNW Families
Fee-Only Financial Advisors for Texas Business Owners
Comprehensive Wealth Management for Tech & Business Leaders
Comprehensive wealth management in Atlanta
Independent Wealth Management with 15+ Year Client Relationships
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Financial Planning for Doctors
Independent wealth management in the Northern Plains
Retirement Planning for Snowbirds
Atlanta Fee-Only RIA with Faith-Based Option
Faith-based financial planning in Richmond
Objective wealth advice for NJ families
Central Florida fiduciary planning merged with Sarasota depth
Financial Planning for Dentists
Fee-Only Planning for Physicians in the Southeast
Employee-Owned Wealth Advisory Partnership
PNW Community Bank Wealth Since 1869
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Midwest Fee-Only RIA with 25+ Offices
Fee-Only Planning for Mid-Career Professionals
Top Independent RIA with $800B+ AUA
Pacific NW Wealth Management from Top 100 CPA Firm
Fee-only financial advice for everyone
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Integrated wealth management in Northeast Ohio
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Cleveland wealth advisor for generations
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Established Wealth Management in Honolulu
Anchorage fiduciary wealth advisors for Alaska families
Fee-only financial planning for a richer life
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Atlanta Fee-Only Wealth Management & Tax Planning
Knoxville Fee-Only Planning for Physicians & Execs
Cincinnati Fee-Only RIA Since 1898
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Iowa-Based RIA for Farm & Ag Wealth
Chapel Hill Fee-Only RIA for Academics & Professionals
Fee-Only Financial Advisor for Portland Professionals
Fiduciary wealth management in Southern California
Baltimore's trusted independent financial advisor
Retirement-focused planning in Arizona
Independent financial planning in Pittsburgh
Fee-only wealth management in the Blue Ridge
Fee-Only Retirement and Wealth Planning in Virginia
Fee-based fiduciary planning for North Dakota households
Financial Planning Exclusively for Doctors
Values-Aligned Financial Planning in LA & SF
Fee-Only Wealth Management for Northern California Families
Jackson-metro fee-only RIA for physicians and professionals
Flat-fee fiduciary wealth stewardship from Sarasota
Fee-only fiduciary advising in Maine & New Hampshire
Largest Independent Financial Planning Firm in the US
Evidence-Based Investing with a Media Presence
Fee-Only Planning for First-Generation Wealth Builders
Denver Fee-Only Planning for Outdoor Industry Pros
NJ-Based Wealth Management for HNW Families
Richmond-Based Fee-Only Wealth Management
Fiduciary wealth management
Independent wealth management nationwide
Fee-only fiduciary wealth and tax strategy in Jackson
Financial Planning for LGBTQ+ Community
Fee-only advisory for Bethlehem and beyond
Comprehensive wealth management built on trust
Indianapolis' premier fee-only financial planner
Fee-only financial planning rooted in fiduciary duty
Editorial review by the Coyote Wealth team · Updated May 31, 2026
Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor
A fiduciary financial advisor works in your best interest — not on commission — to build a retirement strategy tailored to your income, assets, and goals. Whether you're a business owner planning an exit, a high-income professional managing equity compensation, or a family thinking about multi-generational wealth, the right advisor brings a coherent investment strategy, estate planning guidance, and tax-efficient portfolio management.
Working with an advisor who specializes in your life stage and situation matters: an advisor focused on business owners understands liquidity events, corporate retirement plans, and key-person insurance in ways a generalist may not. Fee transparency — knowing exactly what you pay and how your advisor is compensated — is the foundation of a trustworthy advisory relationship.
How to Choose a Financial Advisor: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these four steps before signing any engagement letter.
Step 1: Understand fiduciary duty
Not all financial advisors are fiduciaries. A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest; a broker under a suitability standard only needs to recommend products that are "suitable." Ask directly: "Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?" and get it in writing. Fee-only RIAs registered with the SEC or state are fiduciaries by law, while commission-based brokers typically are not.
Step 2: Clarify the fee structure
Financial advisors charge in several ways: 1% of AUM annually (common), a flat annual fee ($2,000–$10,000+), an hourly rate ($200–$500/hr), or commissions on products sold. AUM-based fees scale with your portfolio size — at $1M, 1% is $10,000/year. Always ask for the full fee disclosure document (ADV Part 2) before signing.
Step 3: Interview the right way
Ask any prospective financial advisor: What is your client minimum? Who is your typical client? How do you get paid — and do you receive any third-party compensation? How often will we meet? What's your investment philosophy? Who will actually manage my account day-to-day? A good advisor welcomes these questions; evasive or vague answers are red flags worth taking seriously.
Step 4: Use FINRA and SEC databases
The SEC's IAPD database lets you look up any registered investment adviser's Form ADV — which includes credentials, fee disclosures, disciplinary history, and services offered. FINRA's BrokerCheck covers registered brokers and broker-dealers. Check both before hiring anyone who manages money. Any disciplinary history or customer complaints should be explored before proceeding.
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