# Cary Cates

> Cary Cates is a fee-only financial advisor at Cates Financial Planning, LLC in Denton, Texas, who holds the CFP, EA and MBA credentials. Cary charges a percentage of assets, hourly fees and an ongoing planning fee (ongoing planning from $1,800 a year and $175 an hour) and focuses on tax planning, retirement planning and student loans.

Page: https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/cary-cates/
Built from public directory listings; last checked April 21, 2026.

## Facts

- **Firm:** Cates Financial Planning, LLC
- **Based in:** Denton, Texas
- **Fee model:** Percentage of assets; Hourly; Ongoing planning fee
- **Fees (firm's website):** ongoing planning from $1,800 a year; $175 an hour; 1% a year on the first tier of assets managed
- **Assets under management (firm):** $48.1M across 250 accounts
- **Credentials:** CFP, EA, MBA
- **Specialties:** Tax planning, Retirement planning, Student loans, Small business owners, Estate & legacy planning
- **Works with:** Early-career professionals, Pre-retirees, Retirees
- **CRD:** 5761798 (https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/individual/summary/5761798)
- **SEC registration:** Investment adviser representative in TX
- **Exams passed:** Series 66 (2010)
- **Firm size:** 1 employee
- **Disclosures:** None reported
- **Website:** http://catesfp.com

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cary Cates a fee-only financial advisor?

Yes. Cary Cates is listed in the NAPFA directory (NAPFA admits only fee-only advisors). SEC records as of October 27, 2026 show no broker registration and no commission compensation reported by Cary's firm.

### How does Cary charge for financial advice?

Cary charges a percentage of assets, hourly fees and an ongoing planning fee.

### How much does Cary charge?

According to Cates Financial Planning, LLC's website, checked October 28, 2026: ongoing planning from $1,800 a year; $175 an hour; 1% a year on the first tier of assets managed.

### Where is Cary Cates based?

Cary Cates is based in Denton, Texas.

### What does Cary specialize in?

Cary's specialties include tax planning, retirement planning, student loans, small business owners and estate & legacy planning. Cary works with early-career professionals, pre-retirees and retirees.

### What credentials does Cary Cates hold?

Cary Cates holds the CFP, EA and MBA credentials.

### Is Cary Cates registered with the SEC?

Yes. Cary Cates is registered as an investment adviser representative in TX (CRD 5761798), per SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure data as of October 27, 2026.

### How much does Cates Financial Planning, LLC manage?

Cates Financial Planning, LLC reports $48.1M across 250 accounts in assets under management.

### How do I contact Cary Cates?

Through Cary's website, catesfp.com.

## Sources

- NAPFA directory listing (https://www.napfa.org/find-an-advisor/firm/44572): NAPFA admits only fee-only advisors
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure and Form ADV: registration, exams, and firm facts, data as of October 27, 2026
- The firm's website (https://catesfp.com/): specialties, clients served, and fees, checked October 28, 2026

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Source: Wellspent, the public graph of fee-only advisors (https://find.wellspent.co). No paid placement.