Fee-only financial advisors for wealthy individuals and families.
The $2M-$20M bracket is underserved. Retail advisors prioritize them too narrowly; UHNW shops ignore them. Planning needs span tax-efficient investing, estate basics, real-estate and alternatives, insurance optimization, and tax strategy — but at a scale where multi-family-office services are overkill.
What our matched specialists handle
- $5M net worth — is a wirehouse worth 1% AUM vs fee-only?
- Estate planning — what do I actually need?
- Tax optimization across accounts
- Real estate vs stock allocation
- Insurance — am I covered but not over-insured?
Tools & guides
Wealth Coordination Calculator
Quick snapshot of what multi-account wealth coordination is worth: fee drag across accounts, asset-location gains, and tax-loss harvesting value.
Wealthy Household Financial Planning Guide
Detailed framework — rules, tradeoffs, employer- and account-specific nuances, common mistakes.
Estate Planning for Wealthy Families
What you actually need at $2M–$20M after the OBBBA raised the estate tax exemption to $15M. Beneficiary designations, trusts, stepped-up basis, and advisor coordination.
Fee-Only vs. 1% AUM: The Real Cost Comparison
At $5M, a 1% AUM advisor costs $50,000/year. See what fee-only alternatives cost, how the math compounds over 20 years, and what to ask before you hire.
Roth Conversion Strategy for Wealthy Families
A $3M traditional IRA can force $120,000+/year in RMD income at 73. See whether converting now at a lower rate makes sense — with an interactive calculator.
Real Estate vs. Stocks at $2M–$20M
Tax treatment, 1031 exchanges, REIT vs. direct, and how to think about your total real estate allocation — including your primary home.
Tax-Loss Harvesting & Direct Indexing
At $3M in taxable assets, systematic harvesting can offset $45,000 in gains per year. See the math, the wash sale trap, and when direct indexing pays.
Asset Location Optimizer
Bonds in a taxable account cost $2,600+/year in avoidable tax drag on a $1M portfolio. See which assets belong in which account type — with an interactive optimizer.
Concentrated Stock Position Strategies
A $3M position with a $300K basis means a potential $643K tax bill if sold immediately. See how phased sales, DAFs, exchange funds, and collars reduce that number.
Insurance Review for Wealthy Families
Umbrella, life, disability, long-term care — what $2M–$20M households actually need, what's usually over-bought, and what's most commonly missing.
Alternative Investments: Private Equity & More
Who qualifies, how to access PE and private credit at your wealth tier, how much to allocate, and the risks to understand before committing illiquid capital.
Charitable Giving Strategies: DAFs, QCDs & Tax Planning
Donating appreciated stock to a DAF instead of selling first can save $15,000–$25,000 in taxes on a $100K position. See the math, 2026 OBBBA rule changes, and when a DAF beats a private foundation.
Business Sale Tax Planning
Asset vs. stock sale, C-corp double taxation, QSBS exclusion up to $15M (OBBBA), and installment sale deferral — with an interactive sale tax calculator showing after-tax proceeds across structures.
Backdoor Roth IRA & Mega Backdoor Roth
Above the $252,000 MFJ income limit, you can't contribute directly to a Roth. Two strategies restore access — and together move up to $55,000/year into permanently tax-free accounts. 2026 limits, pro-rata rule trap, and interactive accumulation calculator.
IRMAA Planning: Manage Your Medicare Surcharges
A married couple with $400K–$750K MAGI pays $12,710/year more in Medicare premiums than one with $200K. See the 2026 bracket table, interactive surcharge calculator, and six strategies — Roth conversions, QCDs, installment sales — to stay in a lower tier.
Social Security Optimization for Wealthy Families
Claiming at 62 vs. 70 can differ by more than $500,000 in lifetime benefits for a couple. See the break-even analysis, how 85% of SS is taxable at your income level, the Roth conversion window that opens when you delay, and why the survivor benefit often matters most.
Family Gifting Strategies: Annual Exclusions, 529 Superfunding & Direct Tuition
A married couple with $5M, 2 children, and 4 grandchildren can transfer over $500,000 gift-tax-free in year one — without touching the $15M lifetime exemption. Interactive calculator shows your gifting capacity across annual exclusions, 529 superfunding, and §2503(e) direct tuition payments.
Equity Compensation Tax Planning: RSUs, ISOs, and NQSOs
At $350K salary plus $600K in RSU vesting, your employer withholds at 22% — but your marginal rate is 35%. That's a $75,000+ April gap. See how RSUs, ISOs, and NQSOs are actually taxed, the AMT trap in ISO exercises, NQSO timing strategies, and an interactive RSU tax estimator with 2026 bracket math.
GRAT, SLAT & QPRT: Advanced Trust Strategies for Wealthy Families
A $2M GRAT growing at 9%/year transfers $310,000+ to heirs tax-free — without using a dollar of your $15M lifetime exemption. See how GRATs, SLATs, and QPRTs work post-OBBBA, when each applies at $2M–$20M, and use the interactive GRAT success calculator to model your own scenario.
Retirement Withdrawal Strategy for Wealthy Families
A $5M portfolio at 4% generates $200,000/year — but if it all comes from a traditional IRA, you're paying ordinary income rates on every dollar (and triggering IRMAA surcharges). See the tax-efficient withdrawal order, the Roth conversion window before RMDs start, sequence-of-returns risk, and use the portfolio longevity calculator.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC): Executive Planning Guide
Deferring $150,000 of bonus at 37% and distributing at 28% after 15 years of tax-deferred growth can add $180,000+ in after-tax wealth. See how NQDC plans work, the §409A election rules you must follow, the FICA timing advantage for top earners, the employer insolvency risk to weigh, and an interactive NQDC vs. taxable-account calculator.
Cash Balance Plan + Solo 401(k): Max Retirement Contributions for Business Owners
A 55-year-old business owner who has already maxed a solo 401(k) can typically shelter an additional $215,000/year in a cash balance plan — bringing total annual tax-deferred contributions to ~$295,000. At 37%, that's $109,000 in avoided federal tax per year. See the 2026 contribution table by age, the mandatory funding obligation, setup deadlines, and use the interactive tax-savings calculator.
Qualified Opportunity Zones: OZ 1.0 Ends Dec 31 & OZ 2.0 Begins
All gains deferred since 2018 are recognized December 31, 2026 — plan for the tax hit. Simultaneously, the OBBBA made QOZ permanent with a new rolling 5-year deferral: invest a $1M gain, hold 10 years, and the ~$1.16M in appreciation is never taxed federally. Interactive calculator compares QOZ vs. taxable across 5-year and 10-year holds, including the new rural QROF 30% step-up bonus.
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Planning: 2026 Guide & Calculator
The OBBBA doubled the AMT phaseout rate to 50% and reset phaseout thresholds lower — a $1.3M AMTI couple now loses their entire $140,200 exemption, up from about half before. ISO exercises, SALT add-backs, and real estate depreciation drive most AMT exposure at this wealth level. Interactive calculator shows your tentative minimum tax vs. regular tax at 2026 rates, and six strategies to reduce AMT across years.
Inherited IRA Planning: 10-Year Rule, Annual RMDs & Tax Strategy
If your parent was past their Required Beginning Date when they died, you owe annual RMDs in years 1–9 of the 10-year window — and the 25% excise tax penalty resumed after 2024. For a $1M inherited IRA taken as a year-10 lump sum by someone earning $300K, the distribution hits the 37% bracket — spreading draws evenly saves roughly $130,000. Interactive 10-year distribution planner shows the mandatory RMD schedule, federal tax by year, and strategy comparison.
Asset Protection for Wealthy Families: The $2M–$20M Framework
A $5M net worth household with a $1M umbrella policy has $4M+ in exposed assets — a gap most families don't realize until it's too late. See the five-layer framework (umbrella sizing, LLC charging orders, tenancy by the entirety, ERISA retirement accounts, and DAPTs), the four most common mistakes, and use the interactive Asset Exposure Gap Calculator to see which of your assets are protected, partially protected, or fully exposed.
State Income Tax Planning: Relocation Guide & Savings Calculator
A California or New York City household earning $2M pays $220,000–$260,000 in state income tax annually — and $0 in Florida or Texas. See how domicile vs. statutory residency works legally, the California FTB's 19-factor "closest connections" test, New York's 184-day trap, the exit checklist that actually holds up in an audit, and use the interactive savings calculator to see your annual and 10-year savings from relocation.
Cryptocurrency & Digital Asset Tax Planning
Long-term crypto gains are taxed at 23.8% (20% + NIIT) — but short-term gains hit 40.8%. Unlike stocks, the wash sale rule doesn't apply to direct crypto: sell at a loss and immediately repurchase with no 30-day wait. See how HIFO cost basis, staking income rules, DAF donations of appreciated crypto, and estate step-up planning work for $2M–$20M holders — with an interactive tax optimizer calculator.
1031 Exchange Planning: Defer Real Estate Capital Gains Tax
A $2M rental property sale with $200K in accumulated depreciation can trigger $390,000+ in immediate federal tax. A 1031 exchange defers all of it. See the 45-day identification rules, depreciation recapture trap, Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) passive exchange option, and the "swap till you drop" estate strategy — with an interactive tax-deferral calculator.
Municipal Bonds: Tax-Equivalent Yield Guide for Wealthy Investors
At 37% + 3.8% NIIT, a 4% muni bond equals a 6.76% taxable bond — and an in-state muni in California or New York raises that equivalent to 8.7%+. See the tax-equivalent yield math, the double exemption for in-state bonds, the AMT trap for private activity bonds, and use the interactive calculator to find your breakeven taxable yield. Includes comparison vs. Treasuries and corporate bonds.
How to Choose a Financial Advisor for Wealthy Families ($2M–$20M)
The $2M–$20M bracket is underserved — retail advisors treat it like any account, UHNW firms ignore it. See the fee structures, credentials, estate coordination checklist, and 10 interview questions that separate $2M–$20M specialists from generalists who simply accept clients at this level.
Private Wealth Management: Wirehouse, MFO, or Fee-Only RIA?
At $5M, Merrill Lynch's private banking group costs $37,500–$62,500/year — with wirehouse product conflicts. A boutique fee-only RIA often delivers better planning integration at lower cost. See how the four models (wirehouse private banking, bank private wealth, multi-family office, independent RIA) compare by minimums, fees, fiduciary status, and tax planning depth — with an interactive fit guide.
What to Do When You Inherit $1M–$5M
Taxable accounts and real estate inherit with a stepped-up basis — sell the day of inheritance and pay zero capital gains tax on decades of accumulated gain. But an inherited traditional IRA carries a full ordinary income tax bill over 10 years. See the asset-by-asset tax guide, the 90-day action plan, five common mistakes wealthy inheritors make, and use the interactive inheritance tax calculator to see your exact tax-free vs. taxable split.
How to Invest $1 Million: A Complete Planning Guide
Reaching $1 million is the first real inflection point — you cross the accredited investor threshold, direct indexing becomes viable for a $500K+ taxable account, and a 1% AUM fee now costs $10,000/year. See the three-bucket allocation framework, tax-advantaged account prioritization, fee structure math, estate basics, and use the interactive wealth projection calculator.
How to Invest $2 Million to $5 Million: A Complete Guide
At $2M–$5M, the biggest gains don't come from finding better funds — they come from tax efficiency, fee discipline, and account structure. A 1% AUM fee on a $3M portfolio costs $1.4M+ in foregone wealth over 20 years vs. a flat-fee advisor. See the three-bucket allocation framework, when direct indexing crosses the $250K threshold, how asset location adds 0.2%–0.7%/year without changing your allocation, and use the interactive wealth projection calculator to see your range of outcomes.
Can You Retire with $5 Million? Planning Guide + Calculator
At 4%, $5 million supports $200,000/year in spending — but the real questions are Social Security timing (delaying to 70 adds $1,029/month per person), healthcare before Medicare ($22,000–$40,000/year unsubsidized), the Roth conversion window before RMDs, and IRMAA management in retirement. Interactive retirement readiness calculator shows your year-by-year portfolio balance through retirement, including Social Security income and inflation-adjusted spending.
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): 2026 Planning Guide
A $3M traditional IRA generates a mandatory $113,000 distribution at age 73 — taxed as ordinary income. SECURE 2.0 raised the starting age to 73 (or 75 if born 1960+), but doesn't shrink the eventual withdrawals. Interactive year-by-year RMD calculator, the full Uniform Lifetime Table, and 6 strategies — Roth conversions, QCDs ($111K limit), QLACs ($210K shelter), and IRMAA coordination — to reduce the lifetime tax hit.
How to Invest $10 Million: Complete Planning Guide
At $10M you've crossed the qualified purchaser threshold — unlocking institutional private equity, direct lending funds, and hedge fund structures unavailable below $5M in investable assets. The tradeoffs also shift: a 1% AUM fee costs $100,000/year, GRATs and SLATs become economically significant, and the Roth conversion window takes on new urgency. See the QP alternatives comparison, fee structure table, estate planning priorities, and use the interactive wealth projection calculator.
Income Tax Reduction Strategies for High Earners (2026)
At 32%–37% marginal rates, every $10,000 legally removed from taxable income saves $3,200–$3,700 in federal tax. Ten strategies — retirement contribution stacking, cash balance plans, §199A QBI deduction, PTET elections, NQDC deferral, HSA maximization, charitable giving, bonus depreciation, income timing, and municipal bonds — with an interactive 2026 bracket calculator showing your marginal rate and estimated savings from each strategy.
529 Plan Strategies for Wealthy Families (2026)
The OBBBA doubled the annual 529 K-12 withdrawal limit from $10,000 to $20,000 per student in 2026 and expanded qualified expenses to include tutoring, curriculum, and test prep fees. A married couple superfunding $190,000 per grandchild at birth removes $760,000 from the estate across four grandchildren — without using the $15M lifetime exemption. See superfunding mechanics, the SECURE 2.0 Roth IRA rollover escape valve ($35K lifetime), state deduction table, and use the interactive 529 growth projector.
Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for Wealthy Families (2026)
47 December 31 tax-deadline actions for $2M–$20M households — retirement contributions ($24,500 401k; $35,750 at ages 60–63), Roth conversions, RMDs, tax-loss harvesting before settlement cutoffs, charitable bunching, annual exclusion gifting ($19,000/recipient), business owner moves (cash balance plan, §179, PTET), and the one-time QOZ 1.0 gain recognition on December 31, 2026. Interactive progress tracker lets you check off items as you complete them.
Home Sale Capital Gains Tax Planning
A couple who bought a home for $600K and sells it for $2.2M has a $1.1M taxable gain after the $500K exclusion — a $350,000–$500,000 tax bill at 2026 federal + state rates. See how §121, depreciation recapture (25%), the NIIT (3.8%), and state taxes combine, when the stepped-up-basis-at-death strategy eliminates the tax entirely, and use the interactive home sale net proceeds calculator.
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Wealthy Advisor Match is a matching service. We connect you with vetted fee-only financial advisors in our network — we don't manage money or provide advice ourselves. Advisors in our network are fiduciaries who charge transparent fees (not product commissions), and we match you based on your specific situation.