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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Panko | Tenon Financial | Metuchen | CFP, RICP, TPCP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Anthony Watson | Thrive Retirement Specialists | Dearborn | CFP, CFA, RICP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Bradley Clark | Clark Asset Management, LLC | Radnor | CFP, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brian Rood | Artisan Financial Planning LLC | Overland Park | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Carey Morgan | Livelihood LLC | Philadelphia | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Chandler Fugate-Laus Six-month comprehensive planning that helps burned-out Millennials use their money to create breathing room and long-term security. | Moneyfluent | Columbus | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Colin Page | Oakleigh Wealth Services | Crozet | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Cynthia Jabr | Brand New Day Wealth Planning | Los Angeles | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| David Dodd | The Other 90 Financial, LLC | Mount Vernon | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Martin | Eltero Financial Partners Inc. | Halifax | FCSI, CIM, CFP (ret'd) | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Dean Schuler | Schuler Wealth Planning LLC | Columbus | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Drew Cook | Level Wealth Management | Charlotte | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Huyen Nguyen | Inclusive Wealth Financial Planning LLC | Mechanicsburg | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| James Mayo | IronFjord Wealth Management | Lakewood | CFP, MBA, CFA, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| James Sweeney | SwitchPoint Financial Planning LLC | Lehi | CFA, CFP, MBA, MS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jason Hoffman | LGBTQ Wealth Planning LLC | Austin | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jennifer Kang | JWK Financial | New York | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| John Davis | JKD Financial | Springfield | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| John Pak | Otium Advisory Group | El Segundo | BA, CFP, EA, MST | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jon Vance | Vance Financial Planning, LLC | Springfield | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Jordan Leaman | True Wealth Retirement Partners | Grand Rapids | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jose Sanchez | Retirement Wealth Guidance, LLC | Albuquerque | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Josh Radman | Presidio Advisors LLC | Boulder | CFP, MBA, EA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Julia Lilly Advice-only planning for families and individuals seeking unbiased guidance on investments, taxes, equity compensation, education savings and retirement. | Ryerson Financial | Houston | CFP, MBA | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Linda Rapisardo Flat-fee, advice-only planning for first-generation professionals in their 30s and 40s who never got a financial roadmap. | Canela Wealth LLC | Riverside | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Logan Murray | Pocket Project LLC | Philadelphia | CFP, EA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lorne Abramson | Abramson Financial Planning, LLC | Burlingame | CFA, CFP, CTEC, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Matthew Smith | Concert Financial Planning, LLC | Houston | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Hunsberger | Next Mission Financial Planning | Saint Charles | CFP, ChFC, CCFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Nemick | Thrive Retirement Specialists | Dearborn | CFP, CFA, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Michael Powers | Manuka Financial, LLC | Richmond | CFP, CPA, PFS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Staman | Delaware Financial Planning, LLC | Newark | CFP, CAP, TPCP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nathan Swab | Alexander Financial Planning, Inc. | Columbus | AWMA, CFP, MSFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nestor Vargas | AlignPoint Wealth | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Robert DeLucas | Afton Advisors, LLC | Nashville | CFP, ChFC, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sanjay Pamurthy | Artham Advisors LLC | Dallas | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Shirley Stacy Sanchez | Pioneer Wealth Management Group | Austin | CFP, MS, AAMS, CRPS | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Stephen Lay | Curtain Wealth Planning | Park City | CFP, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Zach Lopez | AnCap Financial | League City | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrea Clark | The Table Financial Planning LLC | Fountain Hills | AFC, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ann Shubert | Equila Financial, LLC | Albuquerque | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Cameron Folse | Folse Financial | Missouri City | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Corey Beal | Empowering Finance, LLC | Portland | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Igor Smolyanskiy | Vilga Financial Planning | Fair Lawn | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jacob Milder | Oak Street Investments | Greenwood Village | CFP, ChFC, EA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jason Co | CoPlanning Financial | Overland Park | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Justin Brownlee | BWM Planning LLC d/b/a Brownlee Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Leyder Murillo | Wolfpack Wealth Management | Denver | AWMA, CFP, MBA, SE-AWMA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Madison Sharick | Madi Manages Money LLC | Pittsburgh | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mark Lotocky | The Dixon Davis Group | Victoria | CPA, CFP | 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.