A Clear Guide to Flat Fee Financial Advice
Learn how financial advisors are compensated, how flat fees compare to other pricing models, and how these decisions can impact your retirement.
Flat-fee financial advice, explained.
A flat fee financial advisor charges a transparent price for advice rather than a percentage of assets under management. The goal of this pricing model is to separate the cost of advice from portfolio size, which some investors find easier to understand and evaluate over time.
In practice, flat fee pricing changes how advisors structure their services and how clients experience the cost of advice, especially in retirement when portfolios are often at their largest.
Explore the resources
Flat fee financial advice is often discussed alongside other pricing models, especially assets-under-management (AUM) fees. The resources below explore how flat fee pricing works, how it compares to traditional approaches, and how to think through the tradeoffs when choosing an advisor.
What a 1% Advisor Really Costs Over Time
Percentage-based fees can feel small, but their long-term impact is often misunderstood. This calculator shows how a traditional AUM fee compares to a flat fee over time, helping you see the true dollar cost of advice as your portfolio grows.
→ Use the fee comparison calculator
Flat Fee vs AUM Pricing
Flat fee is often discussed in contrast to assets-under-management (AUM) pricing. Understanding the differences between these models can help clarify incentives, costs, and tradeoffs, particularly in retirement when portfolios are often at their largest.
→ See flat fee vs AUM
When Flat Fee Financial Advice Makes Sense
The flat fee model is not a good fit for every investor. This article explores who tends to benefit most from flat fee advice, when it may fall short, and how to evaluate whether the model aligns with your situation.
→ Read when flat fee makes sense
Fee-Only Does Not Mean Flat Fee
Fee-only and flat fee are frequently used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. This article explains the difference, why the confusion exists, and how misunderstanding these terms can lead to poor assumptions about advisor costs.
→ Read fee-only vs flat fee
Common Myths About Flat Fee Financial Advisors
Flat fee advice is often misunderstood. From assumptions about cost to confusion about services, this article addresses some of the most common myths and explains what flat fee pricing does and does not mean in practice.
→ Read common flat fee myths
Common Questions About Flat Fee Financial Advice
Flat fee advice is still relatively new for many investors, which naturally leads to questions. This resource answers some of the most common questions people ask when evaluating flat fee financial advisors and pricing models.
→ See common flat fee questions
