Flat-fee financial planning means paying a fixed price, per project or per year, that does not depend on the size of your investments.
Flat fees are set by the complexity of the work rather than your account balance. An annual retainer usually covers ongoing planning and check-ins; a project fee covers a one-time plan.
People with large portfolios, or with most of their wealth in a 401(k), home equity, or a business that an advisor wouldn't manage, often find flat fees easier to compare and easier to justify than a percentage of assets.
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