Kathy Kristof

"We want our planners to feel unsettled when their clients are unsettled," says Grant Rawdin, who has built a $2 billion firm on specialized, deep advice.

Several of Steve Janachowski's clients are wealthy professionals with high incomes, but a lot of retirement uncertainty.

Couples with nontraditional family relationships need planning that is anything but straightforward, says planner Pamela Sandy.

Hemington Wealth Management's focus on high-earning professional women has helped the firm more than double its AUM in a year and a half. See what these clients really need from advisors.

At Halbert Hargrove, Russ Hill has brought the firm through one transition after another. Now he's creating his own exit strategy.

For Victoria Collins and Jennifer Cagle, a succession plan was complicated by a pending public offering. One kept a valuable equity stake, the other got the client base.

At TCI Wealth Management, Bob Swift wanted a succession plan that would let him distribute ownership but keep working. Here's the solution he developed.

"If you think you have no special needs clients, you probably are not asking the right questions,” says Mike Walther.

Larry Elkin offers specialized estate and tax expertise for wealthy clients. Now his firm handles $1.3 billion in assets, spread across fewer than 200 families.

Here's how Roger Hewins used an accounting firm connection to help create a $3.5 billion RIA.

A majority of Cicily Maton's clients come to her when a pile of money falls into their laps. But unusual circumstances create special issues.

In response to online rivals, Mark Cortazzo created a passively managed portfolio service and offered it on the Web.

When the Navy called Robert Gerstemeier back for involuntary active duty, he was glad that he had prepared for the unexpected.

In an amicable divorce, advisor Lilli Vasileff's job is simple. But if one spouse is trying to hide assets, the work gets much more complicated.

As a CPA turned planner, Jean-Luc Bourdon focuses on tax-efficient income and other elder issues.