# John Bell

> John Bell is a fee-only financial advisor at Free State Financial Planning in Clarksville, Maryland, who holds the CFP credential. John charges a flat fee or retainer, hourly fees, an ongoing planning fee and a one-time planning fee (ongoing planning from $1,000 a year and one-time plans from $3,500) and focuses on flat-fee planning, retirement planning and estate & legacy planning.

Page: https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/john-bell/
Built from SEC adviser records and the firm's website; last checked October 30, 2026.

## Facts

- **Firm:** Free State Financial Planning
- **Based in:** Clarksville, Maryland
- **Fee model:** Flat fee or retainer; Hourly; Ongoing planning fee; One-time planning fee
- **Fees (firm's website):** ongoing planning from $1,000 a year; one-time plans from $3,500; $400 an hour
- **Accepting new clients:** Yes (firm's website)
- **Credentials:** CFP
- **Specialties:** Flat-fee planning, Retirement planning, Estate & legacy planning, Tax planning
- **Works with:** Pre-retirees, Retirees
- **CRD:** 4403368 (https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/individual/summary/4403368)
- **SEC registration:** Investment adviser representative in MD
- **Exams passed:** Series 65 (2004)
- **Firm size:** 1 employee
- **Disclosures:** None reported
- **Website:** https://freestatefp.com

## Frequently asked questions

### Is John Bell a fee-only financial advisor?

Yes, according to SEC records as of October 29, 2026: John holds no broker registration, and Free State Financial Planning reports no commissions, no broker-dealer, and no insurance sales or affiliated insurance agency on its Form ADV.

### How does John charge for financial advice?

John charges a flat fee or retainer, hourly fees, an ongoing planning fee and a one-time planning fee.

### How much does John charge?

According to Free State Financial Planning's website, checked October 30, 2026: ongoing planning from $1,000 a year; one-time plans from $3,500; $400 an hour.

### Where is John Bell based?

John Bell is based in Clarksville, Maryland.

### What does John specialize in?

John's specialties include flat-fee planning, retirement planning, estate & legacy planning and tax planning. John works with pre-retirees and retirees.

### What credentials does John Bell hold?

John Bell holds the CFP credential.

### Is John Bell registered with the SEC?

Yes. John Bell is registered as an investment adviser representative in MD (CRD 4403368), per SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure data as of October 29, 2026.

### How do I contact John Bell?

Through John's website, freestatefp.com.

## Sources

- SEC adviser records (https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/individual/summary/4403368): the firm's Form ADV reports no commissions, no broker-dealer, and no insurance sales or affiliated insurance agency, and the advisor holds no broker registration
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure and Form ADV: registration, exams, and firm facts, data as of October 29, 2026
- The firm's website (https://freestatefp.com/): specialties, clients served, and fees, checked October 30, 2026

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