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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Cherry | Concurrent Wealth Management | Houston | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Rebecca Kennedy | IMPACTfolio | Denver | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Gawick | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Stacy Miller | BayView Financial Planning | Tampa | CeFT, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Steve Ellis | SageOak Financial, LLC | Oklahoma City | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Steven Boorstein | RockCrest Financial | Turnersville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tyler Gray | SageOak Financial, LLC | Oklahoma City | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| William Rychliwsky | Been There Financial Planning | Ottawa | QAFP, CHS, M.PL. | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Zachary Benton | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ashley Bleckner | Ellevest | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Daniel Johnson | Forward Thinking Wealth Management | Copley | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Hannah Steendam | Ellevest | Lakewood | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jeffrey Meenes | Meenes Wealth Partners | Shrewsbury | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Justin Buttrick | Vision Wealth Advisors | Lewisburg | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Kahlilah Dowe | TrueWealth Solutions | Radnor | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Kaitlin Horsch | Ellevest | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Lauren Hunt | Daybreak Wealth | Hinsdale | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mark Meredith | Meredith Wealth Planning | Maryville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michael Macke | Wealth 73 | Jacksonville | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicole Peterkin | Peterkin Financial | Encinitas | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard Wimmer | Meredith Wealth Planning | Maryville | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Samantha Vient | Ellevest | Costa Mesa | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Sofia Figueroa | Ellevest | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Veronica Taylor | Ellevest | New York | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Adam Kalender | Milestone Asset Management Group | Pearl River | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Alexander Davis | Carroll Advisory Group | Texarkana | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew McDowell | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Anithah Neelakanda-Pillai | AP Investment Management | Mountain View | CFP | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Daniel Huffman | Cornerstone Financial Planning | Other | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Danielle Barbato | Milestone Asset Management Group | Avon | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| David Dedman | Pulse Wealth | Lexington | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Devin Carroll | Carroll Advisory Group | Texarkana | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Elizabeth McCollum | Prosperity Financial Planning | Celebration | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Giovanna Leyva | Tidemark Financial Partners | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Heath Hamrick | H Cubed Financial Solutions | Granbury | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Jeremy Reed | Carroll Advisory Group | Texarkana | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| John Foley | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer |
| John Fredrick | RockCrest Financial | Somers Point | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| John Kennedy | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Joseph Carbone | Focus Planning Group | Bayport | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joshua Nuss | LifeWise Wealth Advisors | Champaign | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Joshua Simpson | Illumination Wealth Management | San Diego | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Michelle Brow | Full Bloom Financial | Northville | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nicholaus Domachowski | Carroll Advisory Group | Texarkana | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Richard LoPresti | Milestone Asset Management Group | Avon | CFP | Flat fee or retainer |
| Shane Kelly | Mayport | Newton | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tyler Abney | Tidemark Financial Partners | San Diego | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Tyler Linsten | Alder Cove Capital | Tukwila | CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Tyler Reeves | Plimsoll Financial Planning | Hoover | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Adam Wilkins | Boldin | Mill Valley | 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.