Costs & Pricing
What does it cost? Here's all of it.
It's important to us that you know exactly what you pay, and that you know it before making any decisions, so you can make them confidently. Most advisors make you sit through a meeting to learn this; we'd rather tell you ahead of time.
When in doubt, just ask. We're happy to talk about costs and fees.
Transparent pricing
Know what you pay before you ever call. It's all on this page.
No surprises
Every cost explained and agreed to in writing before it exists.
No nickel-and-diming
Full access to us is included. There's no meter running on phone calls.
Cost #1
$500
one-time
The planning engagement
Two meetings that produce a written financial plan: a net worth statement, an investment allocation summary, a 1-2 page plan with timeline and tasks, a 3-4 page personalized tax analysis, and a full breakdown of what hiring us ongoing would cost. The full process has its own page.
Cost #2
1.15% → 0.50%
annually, stepping down with assets
Investment management
If, based on the plan we build together, you hire us to manage your investments, the ongoing cost is based on your account balance and deducted directly from the accounts we manage.
| Assets under management | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| First $1 million | 1.15% |
| $1M – $2.5M | 0.85% |
| Above $2.5M | 0.50% |
We hire and use various money managers and are always monitoring for the most cost-effective solutions. Underlying fund expenses are separate, and we keep them deliberately low. More on the philosophy: how we invest.
Cost #3
Disclosed
in dollars, before you decide
Insurance commissions
If your plan calls for life insurance or an annuity and you buy it through us, we're paid a commission on that transaction. Commissions vary widely by product and carrier, so an accurate number can't be printed here.
What we can promise: in your written plan, we always disclose the exact commission, in percentages and in dollars, that we would earn on any insurance transaction, before you're asked to decide anything.
About conflicts of interest, since nobody else brings it up
There is no such thing as "conflict-free" financial advice. We get paid to help you navigate your financial goals, and we get paid based on decisions you make about your money. That's true of every fee structure in this industry, ours included.
What we can be is 100% transparent. Whether it's the one-time planning fee, the ongoing management fee, or a commission on an insurance product, we disclose the number well before asking you to decide, and we keep reminding you of it while we work together. That's the accountability we can actually promise.
Our agreements are walk-away: leave at any time, no back-end fees or charges, and especially no hard feelings.
A sample cost to become a client
Year one, itemized
Hypothetical example
- 1
You start with the complimentary call
We chat, and you decide you'd like a full plan.
$0
- 2
The planning engagement
Two meetings, a written plan, a tax analysis, and an exact quote for anything further.
$500
- 3
You hire us to manage $250,000
1.15% annually is $2,875, deducted quarterly from the account itself, not billed to you.
$2,875 / yr
Year-one total
$3,375
After year one, the only cost is the management fee.
This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific investment. Your results may vary.
Pricing questions people actually ask
No, and on purpose. The plan is a standalone deliverable with standalone value: plenty of people take it and execute on their own. Pricing it honestly keeps the advice independent of whether you hire us afterward.
Read it all? Then you already know more than most clients ever ask.
The next step is the complimentary call. Fifteen minutes, and you'll know if we're the right fit.
Prefer the phone? Call 410-663-0700 and ask for Colin.