Flat-fee planning
Flat-fee planning decouples advisor compensation from client asset levels or product sales. It's typically a comprehensive planning engagement priced as an annual retainer, which means the advice doesn't get more expensive as assets grow, and there's no incentive to recommend investment products that generate fees. The model suits clients who want planning-led advice rather than investment management in isolation.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 349 fee-only financial advisors focused on flat-fee planning at 270 firms, most in San Diego, New York and San Antonio. 74% hold the CFP certification. Of the 349 with fees on file, 89% charge flat fee or retainer.
- Advisors listed
- 349
- Firms
- 270
- Cities
- 220
- Hold the CFP
- 74%
- Other credentials: CFA 11% · CPA 3% · EA 7%
- How they charge (of 349 with fees on file): flat fee or retainer 89% · ongoing planning fee 66% · one-time planning fee 47% · hourly 26%
Source: Wellspent public graph, data as of . Shares are of advisors listed here; an advisor can hold several credentials or fee types. Methodology
Advisors with depth in flat-fee planning
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Miyamoto | Derive Wealth | Pasadena | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Young | Live and Give Financial LLC | Cincinnati | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Scott Grissom A former college professor who helps couples build a custom retirement roadmap covering investments, taxes, insurance, spending and estate planning. | Socrates Financial Planning LLC | Jenison | CFP, PhD | One-time planning fee |
| Stephen Nelson | Birchwood Capital LLC | Carlsbad | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Stu Sneen | TwoTen Planning PLLC | Austin | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sweta Bhargav | Adviso Wealth | Princeton | CEPA, CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Travis Tracy | Fortitude Financial Planning, LLC | Raleigh | CFP, EA, JD | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Zeke Anders | Planalto Financial LLC | Huntsville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Alex Bridges | Tiverton Wealth | The Woodlands | CFP, ChFC, RICP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Gray | Gray Wealth Strategies | Bend | CFP, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ashley Coake | Cultivate Financial Planning | Radford | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Bradley Hilton | Sonas Financial Planning, LLC | Atlanta | CFP, MBA, MSFP, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brandon Seibel | Oasis Wealth Planning Advisors, LLC | Philadelphia | CFP, CPA, JD, LLM | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brian Tegtmeyer | Truly Prosper Financial Planning | Dublin | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Bryan Minogue | Kardinal Financial | Madison | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Casey Smith | Wiser Wealth Management, Inc. | Marietta | CDFA, CFP, CPA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Chris Shoup | Southshore Financial Planning | Tampa | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Lazzaro Plan For It Financial delivers personalized, actionable financial advice and education empowering you to make informed decisions about your future with confidence. | Plan For It Financial, LLC | Salem | ChFC, RICP | One-time planning fee, Subscription |
| David Uhlmann | Synergos Advisory LLC | Seattle | AAMS, CFP, MS, APMA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| James Charles | Sanctuary Financial Planning, LLC | Charlotte | CDFA, CFA, CFP, MS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jason Demland | Demland Wealth | Defiance | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jay Abolofia | Lyon Financial Planning, LLC | Waltham | CFP, PhD | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jay Zigmont | Childfree Wealth | Mount Juliet | CFP, PhD, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jim Mahaney One-time, tax-efficient retirement income plans for DIY investors entering retirement who want to skip ongoing AUM fees. | Mavericus Retirement Services | Georgetown | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Jordan Drinkhouse | Glow Financial Planning LLC | Spring Hill | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joshua Short | OptimalPath Advisors, LLC | Church Hill | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Justin Pritchard Retirement planning and investment management. | Approach Financial, Inc. | Montrose | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Kelly Palmer Planning for millennial parents with equity compensation, through a series of meetings that bring structure and clarity to family finances. | The Wealthy Parent LLC | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Kevin Burkle Flat-fee, one-time early retirement plans for people who want to keep control of their investments, with ongoing software access. | HCP Wealth Planning, LLC | Jacksonville | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Laurie Licata | PDS Planning, Inc. | Dublin | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Dunlop | Ignite Financial | Cedar Falls | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Paul Carriere | Carriere Financial Planning | Colorado Springs | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Raman Singh | Singh PWM | Phoenix | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ryan Langan | Your Path Fi, LLC | West Chester | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Zuckerman | Reset Financial Planning LLC | Fort Collins | CDFA, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Scott Newhouse | Forthright Finances | Scottsdale | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sean Dwyer | Overture Wealth Management LLC | Conshohocken | CFP, CFA, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Shar-Né Warren | Financial Excavation | Plano | CFP, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Spenser Liszt | Motif Planning | Dallas | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Stephan Shipe Flat-fee, team-reviewed planning for DIY investors and families with complex wealth, from equity compensation to business exits. | Scholar Financial Advising | Winston-Salem | CFP, CFA, PhD | Flat fee or retainer |
| Stephen Boatman | Flat Fee Financial LLC | Charlotte | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Steve Engle | Asbury Capital | Glen Mills | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Thomas Mclean | Altruist Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tom Duffy | Jersey Shore Financial Advisors LLC | Red Bank | CFP, CDFA, MBA, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tom Poltersdorf Jr | GT Wealth | Lebanon | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Warren McIntyre | VisionQuest Financial Planning LLC | Troy | CFP, MBA | Fixed fees |
| Will Steinberger | Think Different Financial Planning | Menlo Park | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Zachary Zwillinger | ZZ Planning LLC | New York | CFP, JD | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Aaron Parrish | Level Wealth Management LLC | Charlotte | CFP, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Allen Mueller | 7 Saturdays Financial | Richardson | CFA, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
Guides
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What flat-fee financial advisors charge
Flat-fee planners charge a median $4,500 a year for ongoing planning (middle half $2,400 to $7,200) or $2,000 for a one-time plan, whatever your balance.
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Advice-only financial planning: cost and who offers it
Advice-only planners charge for advice, not for managing your money. US fee-only firms with no asset-based fee charge a median $1,950 for a plan, $300 an hour or $5,000 a year.
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Advice-only vs full-service financial planner: which fits you?
Advice-only planners advise and you invest; full-service planners do both. Advice-only firms charge a median $5,000 a year for ongoing planning; full-service usually costs 1% of assets, which passes that at $500,000.
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AI chatbot vs financial advisor: what each is good for
An AI chatbot is a free or $20-a-month tutor for money questions: good at explaining, bad at deciding, and accountable to no one. A fee-only advisor charges a median $300 an hour or $2,000 for a one-time plan and answers for the advice. Use the chatbot to learn and prepare, and a person for decisions that are large or hard to undo.
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Are financial advisor fees negotiable?
Often, and the firm has to tell you: Form ADV Part 2A, Item 5 asks every registered firm to disclose whether its fees are negotiable. Here's where the room usually is, and what's realistic to ask for.
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Buying your first home: the money plan to make before you offer
At late October's average rate of 7.24%, a $400,000 home with 10% down costs about $2,453 a month before taxes and insurance. Plan the payment, the down payment and the cash you keep, then decide if advice is worth $300 an hour.