Fees
A flat fee. Not a percentage of everything you’ve saved.
You shouldn’t pay more just because you saved more. One transparent annual fee covers your entire plan, and it doesn’t rise as your portfolio grows.
Not sure whether I’m the right fit? See who I work best with.
Why a flat fee may fit better than a percentage of your assets.
A larger portfolio doesn’t mean more work. So a percentage fee means paying more, every year, for the same service simply because you saved more. On a $1.2 million portfolio, a typical 1% fee is about $12,000 a year, roughly matching my flat fee. Above that portfolio size, the percentage fee keeps climbing while my flat fee doesn’t rise with your balance.
| Your portfolio | A typical advisor’s fee* | Your Path Fi |
|---|---|---|
| $1.2 million | about $12,000/yr | $12,000/yr |
| $3 million | about $26,000/yr | $12,000/yr |
| $5 million | about $39,000/yr | $12,000/yr |
Notice the pattern: a percentage fee climbs as your savings grow. A flat fee doesn’t. The more you have built, the more that difference matters, year after year.
For the full math across several portfolio sizes, see this flat fee financial advisor vs. AUM comparison.
*Illustration based on typical graduated (tiered) AUM schedules, where the rate steps down as assets grow, roughly 1% on the first $1.5 million and declining on higher balances (Kitces and Veres industry research). Advisory fees only; underlying fund expenses and individual costs vary. Not a quote or a promise of savings. Your fee is confirmed after our first conversation and reflects the complexity of your situation.
Who is a good fit for Your Path Fi?
Your Path Fi works best with individuals and couples who are retired or within a few years of retiring, with investable assets of about $1.5 million to $5 million and a net worth under $10 million. I serve as a trusted fiduciary partner for the financial, tax, and investment decisions that come with turning a lifetime of savings into retirement income.
Most of the people I work with are leaving work in their 50s or 60s. If you’re pursuing early retirement (FIRE) in your 30s or 40s, a planner who specializes in that will likely serve you better.
You’re likely a good fit if you:
- Are retired or within a few years of retiring
- Are an employee rather than self-employed or a business owner, if you're still working
- Will rely on Social Security, possibly a pension, and your portfolio for retirement income
- Own a home and possibly a vacation property
- Mainly own traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and funds, rather than private investments like private equity or hedge funds
- Have investable assets between $1.5 million and $5 million, and a net worth under $10 million
- Want ongoing planning combined with professional management of your investments
Why these guidelines?
A flat fee typically costs less than a percentage-of-assets fee once investable assets pass a certain point. At my current $12,000 fee, that point is about $1.2 million compared with a 1% fee, a commonly cited industry benchmark (see Kitces Research’s 2024 advisor fee survey). Below that level, a percentage-based advisor may be the more affordable choice.
I also generally don’t work with households whose net worth is approaching $10 million or more. Wealth at that level usually brings planning complexity beyond what my flat fee is designed to cover, and you deserve a planner whose service is built for it.
If you’re close to these guidelines and aren’t sure whether I’d be a good fit, I’m happy to talk it through. You can schedule a Strategy Session, see how I work, or browse what the planning covers.
How much does Your Path Fi cost?
Ongoing service
$12,000/year
One flat annual fee for ongoing planning and investment management across all seven areas. It doesn’t change with the size of your portfolio. It may be higher for greater complexity, and I’ll quote it clearly after our first conversation. No percentage of assets. No commissions. No products to push.
Why a flat fee?
Your fee reflects the planning and advice you receive, not the size of your accounts. A larger portfolio doesn’t necessarily mean a more complex financial life. Because the fee isn’t tied to how much you invest with me, it removes one incentive that percentage-based fees can create. My Form ADV explains how I’m paid and any remaining conflicts.
How does the fee adjust for inflation?
Every two years, your fee can be adjusted for inflation, based on the cumulative change over the prior two years in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). Any increase is capped at 6% per two-year adjustment, about 3% a year, and is tied to inflation, not to the size of your portfolio. This keeps the fee in step with the rising cost of running the practice and serving you well. Any adjustment takes effect only after we both sign an amendment to your agreement, so you know what to expect.
How does billing work?
Fees are billed quarterly in arrears, so you’re never prepaying for service, and are deducted directly from your accounts at Charles Schwab.
What if I decide to leave?
There’s no long-term contract and no termination fee. Your accounts can remain at Charles Schwab if you choose, and you keep copies of all your planning deliverables.
If you are looking for a flat fee financial advisor near you, our flat-fee advisor page covers what to ask and where to look.
Not sure what “fiduciary” means for you? Read what a fiduciary financial advisor does and what to ask any advisor you are considering.
Wondering if a flat-fee advisor is right for your situation? See who should hire a flat-fee advisor and who might not be a fit.
How working together works
Three steps to get started.
A complimentary intro call
We get to know each other and see if we're a fit. No cost, no pressure.
A plan built around you
I reflect on what matters to you, gather the relevant details, and build a planning summary, often modeled live in planning software, that we review together.
You decide
If it's a fit, we begin. If not, you still leave with more clarity than you came in with.
Free intro call.
Frequently asked questions.
- How much does a financial advisor cost?
- At Your Path Fi, it's a flat annual fee of $12,000 for ongoing planning and investment management. There is no percentage of your assets and no commissions. The fee is not tied to the size of your portfolio, because a larger portfolio doesn't necessarily mean more work. It may be higher for greater complexity, and it is quoted after our first conversation.
- Who is a good fit for Your Path Fi?
- Individuals and couples who are retired or within a few years of retiring, with investable assets of about $1.5 million to $5 million and a net worth under $10 million. Clients typically rely on Social Security, possibly a pension, and a portfolio held mainly in stocks, bonds, and funds, and want ongoing planning combined with professional investment management. I focus on ongoing planning relationships, not one-time plans. If a one-time plan is what you're after, reach out anyway and I'll point you in the right direction.
- Do you work with households with a net worth over $10 million?
- Generally not. Wealth at that level usually brings planning complexity beyond what my flat fee is designed to cover, and you deserve a planner whose service is built for it. If you're close to that level and aren't sure whether I'd be a good fit, I'm happy to talk it through.
- What if my investable assets are under $1.5 million?
- A percentage-based advisor may be the more affordable choice. At my current $12,000 fee, the break-even against a 1% advisory fee is about $1.2 million, and below that a percentage fee may cost less in dollars. I generally work with investable assets of $1.5 million or more. If you're close, I'm happy to talk it through.
- What does fee-only mean?
- Fee-only means I'm paid only by you, never through commissions or product sales. It removes the commission incentive built into commission-based advice. It does not remove every conflict, and the firm's Form ADV describes the ones that remain.
- How are fees paid, and do they change over time?
- Fees are billed quarterly in arrears, so you're never prepaying for service, and are deducted directly from your accounts at Charles Schwab. Every two years, the fee can be adjusted for inflation, based on the cumulative change over the prior two years in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). Any increase is capped at 6% per two-year adjustment, about 3% a year, and takes effect only after we both sign an amendment to your agreement.
- Is there a termination fee?
- No. There's no long-term contract and no termination fee. Your accounts can remain at Charles Schwab if you choose, and you keep copies of all your planning deliverables.
Written by Ryan Langan, CFP®
Founder of Your Path Fi, a fee-only fiduciary firm. Last reviewed October 2026.