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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Schweiss | Modern Dollar Planning | St. Louis | CFP, CFA, CPA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Matthew Jenkins | Noble Hill Planning LLC | Richmond | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Farrow | FlightPath Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicholas Stevens | Evergreen Wealth Management | Boston | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Omen Quelvog | Formynder Wealth Management, LLC | Fredericksburg | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Phillip Durbin I help rural and middle-income families to learn about personal finance so that they can great Generational Wealth and change their families futures. | Generational Wealth Development | Cameron | Not listed | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Stefanie Pickard | Old Growth Financial | Portland | CFP, EA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Stephen McDade | Foundation Wealth Management, LLC | Media | CFP, CPA, ChFC, MSFS | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Vishal Gill | Portfolio Planning | Vancouver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Aaron Buchner | Cactus | Kingston | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Aaron Wieand | Integrated Financial Planning Solutions, LLC | Goshen | CFP, CPA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Ahmed Mahiyan | Nextgen Financial Planning Inc. | Mississauga | CFA, CFP, CMT, MFin | Flat fee or retainer |
| Andy Silver | Concordia Wealth Planning, LLC | Columbus | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Charles Malsbury | ThinkPlanSave, LLC | Daly City | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Colin Chase | Mindful Money Financial Counsel | Chicago | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Curtis Bailey | Quiet Wealth Management | Cincinnati | CFP, CFA, EA, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer |
| Dennis O'Brien | Coastal Financial Advisors, Inc. | Philadelphia | BS, MS, RTRP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Derek Dansby | Brazos Wealth Advisors LLC | Iowa Park | CFP, JD | Flat fee or retainer |
| Erik Barnes | Retirement Portfolio Partners | Warrenville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Filip Telibasa | Benzina Wealth | Sarasota | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Grady Moshay Advice-only planning for self-directed investors, whether building a plan from scratch or stress testing one already in place. | Emancipare Investment Advisors | Easton | MBA, AFC | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Joe Barbieri | Joe the Investor | Toronto | CFA, BCom, BASc (Civil Eng) | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lawrence Pershing | Optimum Retirement Planning | Lisle | CFP, Retirement Management Advisor | Flat fee or retainer |
| Manuel Martinez | Charleston Wealth Advisors | Mount Pleasant | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Syverson | Sound Stewardship, LLC | Overland Park | CAP, CFP, CKA, AIF | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Paul Staib | Staib Financial Planning, LLC | Parker | CFP, MBA, RICP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Predham | Impact Financial Planning Inc. | Ottawa | CFP, BBA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Ryan Carter | Funded Life Financial, LLC | Chicago | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andy Moran Ad Astra Financial Planning specializes in helping tech professionals navigate RSUs, stock options, tender offers, IPOs, and financial independence. We are a flat-fee, fee-only, fiduciary firm - we don't receive commissions or kickbacks or charge based on a percentage of your assets. | Ad Astra Financial Planning | Santa Rosa | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Subscription |
| Caleb Bogia-Curles Financial Advice for Millennial and Gen X Entrepreneurs with ADHD | Focused Founders Wealth Planning | MOUNT JOY | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Gautham Jain | Jain Wealthonomics | Marana | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Irene Dabanian | IJD Evergreen Financial Services, LLC | Shoreline | MBA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| John Belluardo | Stewardship Financial Services, Inc. | Irvington | ChFC, MS | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Justin Waller | Waller Financial Coaching | Folsom | CEPA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Matthew Etzler Etzler Financial Advisors is a fee-only fiduciary firm providing comprehensive, conflict-free financial planning on a time-based model, helping clients make informed decisions and achieve peace of mind without sales or asset-based fees. | Etzler Financial Advisors, LLC | Red Bluff | CFP | Hourly, Subscription |
| Max Novak Flat-fee. Fiduciary. Life-centered planning. | Novak Financial Partners | Carterville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Subscription |
| Tyler Day | Foresight Financial Planning | Alma | CFP, CSLP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Aiden Boorstein | RockCrest Financial | Turnersville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christian Litscher | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christine Papelian | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Kim | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| James Hargrave | Pillar Financial Planning | Raymore | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jeffrey Arnold | IMPACTfolio | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| John Kenny | Illumination Wealth Management | Berkeley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Julie McDaniel | IMPACTfolio | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kassi Fetters | Artica Financial Services | Anchorage | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kimberly Nickel | Illumination Wealth Management | La Grange | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Argyle | Encore Retirement Planning | South Jordan | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Norman Mangina | Illumination Wealth Management | Palm Springs | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Paul McNair | The Monitor Group, Inc. | Martinez | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
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.