Find a Financial Advisor in Texas

Financial planning in Texas at a glance

Texas has more than 30 million residents and an economy larger than most countries. Its five largest metro areas, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley, hold most of the population, but millions more live in smaller cities and rural counties from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods. That variety shows up in the money questions Texans bring to advisors.

A software engineer in Austin may be sorting out stock options. A rancher in West Texas may be planning how to pass land to the next generation. A nurse in San Antonio may be choosing between a pension and a 403(b). A retired couple in the Hill Country may be weighing whether to stay in a house with a rising property tax bill. The state rules below shape every one of those plans.

Financial advisors in Texas: services and typical costs

Financial advisors help you set goals, organize your finances and make decisions with more confidence. In Texas you will find large national firms in the downtown towers of Dallas and Houston, independent registered investment advisers in every major city, insurance-focused practices in smaller towns, and a growing number of fee-only planners who work with clients across the state entirely online.

Fees are similar to national norms. The table below shows the most common pricing models and typical ranges.

Wealth management in Texas

Wealth management combines investment management with tax strategy, estate coordination, charitable planning and, for business owners, succession and exit planning. Texas has one of the largest concentrations of business owners and corporate executives in the country, and wealth managers here often see situations like these:

• Energy and mineral wealth. Royalty income, mineral rights and oil and gas partnerships raise questions about taxes, valuation and how to share interests among heirs.
• Closely held businesses. Family companies in construction, agriculture, distribution and healthcare need plans for retirement benefits, key-person insurance and eventual transition.
• Equity compensation. Executives and tech employees in Dallas, Houston and Austin often hold restricted stock, options or employee stock purchase plans that can concentrate risk.
• Land and real estate. Ranches, farmland and rental portfolios are illiquid, so estate plans need a way to cover costs without forcing a sale.

Many wealth management firms have account minimums, so ask early whether a firm is a good fit for your situation and how it charges.

Financial planners in Texas

Financial planners create a written roadmap that covers cash flow, saving, debt, insurance, investing, taxes and estate basics. Certified Financial Planner professionals must meet education, exam and experience requirements and act as fiduciaries when they give financial advice.

Texas families often work with planners on questions like:

• How to fund college through the Texas College Savings Plan, the LoneStar 529 Plan or the Texas Tuition Promise Fund. Because Texas has no income tax, there is no state deduction, but growth can be tax free at the federal level for qualified education costs. Our college savings guide explains the options.
• How much of an emergency fund to keep when insurance deductibles for wind, hail or flood can be large.
• How to balance paying down student loans with saving for retirement. See our debt management guide for strategies.
• How to plan around a variable income from commissions, bonuses or seasonal work.

Want a second opinion on your plan?

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Retirement planning in Texas

Texas draws retirees from across the country, and the lack of a state income tax is a big reason. Social Security benefits, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, and investment income are not taxed by the state. That can make Roth conversions and planned withdrawals more efficient, since only federal tax applies. Our tax planning guide covers how federal brackets affect those choices.

Property taxes are where Texas collects much of its revenue, and they can be the largest tax bill a retiree pays. The state offers several kinds of relief on a primary residence:

• A general homestead exemption for school district taxes, with an additional exemption for homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled. Many cities, counties and special districts offer their own optional exemptions as well.
• A school tax ceiling for homeowners 65 or older, which generally limits school taxes to the amount owed in the year you qualify, unless you make significant improvements.
• Property tax deferral for homeowners 65 or older or disabled, allowing taxes to be postponed while you live in the home, with the balance and interest due later.
• Exemptions for disabled veterans, including a full exemption for some veterans with a 100 percent disability rating.

Exemption amounts are set by the Legislature and voters and change over time, so check the current figures with your county appraisal district or the Texas Comptroller.

Public employees make up a large share of Texas retirees. The Teacher Retirement System of Texas covers public school and higher education employees, and the Employees Retirement System of Texas covers state workers, alongside many city and county systems. Many of these workers did not pay into Social Security in their public jobs. The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which can raise Social Security benefits for many of them. Our retirement planning guide covers the broader steps.

A Texas retirement plan typically includes:

1. A spending estimate that includes property tax, homeowners insurance, healthcare and Medicare premiums.
2. A Social Security and pension claiming strategy, coordinated with your spouse if you are married.
3. A tax-aware withdrawal order across taxable, tax-deferred and Roth accounts.
4. A plan for long-term care and an updated will, powers of attorney and beneficiary designations.

Life insurance in Texas

Life insurance replaces income and pays debts if you die, protecting a spouse, children or business partners. Term life is the most affordable way to buy a large amount of coverage for a set number of years. Permanent policies, such as whole and universal life, cost more but last for life and build cash value. Our life insurance guide explains how much coverage people typically consider.

Texas law adds a few wrinkles:

• Community property. A policy paid for with community funds during marriage may be partly owned by each spouse, which matters in divorce and at death. Naming owners and beneficiaries carefully avoids surprises.
• Creditor protection. Texas generally exempts life insurance cash values and death benefits from most creditors’ claims, a meaningful benefit for business owners and professionals.
• Business planning. Buy-sell agreements funded with life insurance are common among Texas family businesses and partnerships.

The Texas Department of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, handles consumer complaints and lets you look up an agent’s license. A fee-only advisor can also review a policy you already own without a sales incentive.

Investment advisors in Texas

Investment advisers who are paid to give advice must register with the Texas State Securities Board or, for larger firms, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registered investment advisers owe clients a fiduciary duty to act in their best interest. Brokers are overseen by FINRA, and many professionals hold both registrations.

Before hiring anyone, look them up on the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site and FINRA BrokerCheck, and read the firm’s Form ADV Part 2 brochure for services, fees and conflicts of interest. Topics worth raising with a Texas investment advisor include:

• Concentration risk. If your career, bonus or royalties depend on energy, your portfolio may need balance elsewhere.
• Tax location. Even without a state income tax, placing assets in the right accounts can cut federal taxes. Our investing basics guide covers diversification and account types.
• Income planning. Retirees often need a mix of bonds, cash reserves and dividend or annuity income to cover spending reliably.

How to choose a financial advisor in Texas

1. Decide what you want help with: a one-time plan, ongoing investment management, retirement income, insurance or full wealth management.
2. Ask whether the advisor acts as a fiduciary at all times, and get the answer in writing.
3. Ask how they are paid and request your all-in annual cost.
4. Check their record on the SEC and FINRA lookup tools and confirm their registration with the Texas State Securities Board if applicable.
5. Ask about experience with clients like you, such as public employees, business owners, physicians or retirees.
6. Interview two or three advisors and choose the one who explains things clearly and listens to your goals.

Many Texans now meet their advisor entirely by phone or video, which makes it easy to work with a good fit anywhere in the state, even if you live far from a major city.

Cities and counties we serve in Texas

Cities

Frequently asked questions