Simple Flat-Fee Pricing
$250/month flat fee for comprehensive planning, with optional investment management and tax preparation included at no extra cost. No AUM fees, no commissions.
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Free Financial Checkup (30 minutes)
A quick, no-pressure conversation to:
✅ Get a high-level overview of your current financial situation
✅ Talk through your goals around saving, investing, debt, and retirement/FI
✅ Ask your top money questions
✅ Decide whether OptimalPath Advisors and our flat-fee, advice-first approach are a good fitThis call is introductory and educational—it’s not a full financial plan or implementation meeting.
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Ongoing Planning with Investment Management + Tax Prep
$250/month - One flat fee - No AUM charges - No commissions
Dynamic, year-round guidance to keep your plan, portfolio, and taxes aligned as life and markets change:
✅ Comprehensive financial plan using the OptimalPath™ to FI Process
✅ Ongoing planning updates as income, spending, and goals change
✅ Flat-fee investment management using low-cost, globally diversified funds
✅ Integrated tax planning (Roth conversions, withdrawal strategy, ACA/IRMAA planning, etc.)
✅ Annual tax preparation included for your household
✅ Scenario analysis for big decisions (job change, relocation, retirement timing, etc.)Your $250/month fee covers ongoing financial planning, with the option to include investment management and tax prep at no additional cost ( Covers standard individual Form 1040 returns; unusually complex situations may require separate pricing, which we’ll discuss in advance). Fund/ETF internal expenses and any custodian trading fees are separate and paid to the provider, not to OptimalPath Advisors.
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One-Time Plan
A focused planning engagement to get you organized, understand where you stand, and know what to do next—without a long-term commitment.
✅ 2–3 meetings over ~3–4 months
✅ Net worth, cash flow, and FI/retirement snapshot
✅ High-level investment and savings recommendations
✅ A simple roadmap with prioritized next stepsFee: $250/month while we’re working together.
Most One-Time Plans take about 3–4 months (typically $750–$1,000 total).Best for DIY-leaning folks who want clarity and a roadmap, but don’t yet need ongoing implementation, investment management, or tax prep.
How Flat-Fee Compares to the Typical 1% AUM Model
Most advisors charge a percentage of the investments they manage—often around 1% per year.
I use a flat-fee model instead, so your cost is clear and not tied to market swings or account size.
Use this quick comparison to see what you’d pay under a typical 1% AUM fee vs a flat annual fee like mine.
(This is a simple, back-of-the-envelope calculator—it’s meant to give you a feel for the difference, not a precise projection.)
Ready to get started?
Frequently Asked Questions
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Answer: A financial plan evaluates your current finances, clarifies your goals, and lays out a prioritized, step-by-step strategy to reach them. It coordinates cash flow, investments, taxes, insurance, and estate basics, and includes clear next actions and timelines.
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Answer: It delivers conflict-free expertise and a clear, prioritized roadmap—helping you avoid costly mistakes, coordinate taxes and investments, and make faster, more confident progress toward your goals.
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Answer: A one-time financial plan usually takes 3–4 meetings over about 90 days.
Clients in Ongoing Planning have quarterly meetings, plus additional check-ins during key times like benefits season or year-end tax planning. -
Answer: For a project-based, planning-only engagement, the fee is $250/month while we’re working together. Most comprehensive plans take about 3–4 months, so total cost is usually around $750–$1,000.
Ongoing planning with investment management and tax preparation is $250/month, with a 6-month initial commitment and then month-to-month.
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Answer: We bill the first month’s fee at the start of the engagement through AdvicePay (bank transfer or card), then $250/month while we’re working together.
For ongoing planning with investment management, the $250/month fee can be paid via AdvicePay or deducted directly from your managed Schwab account.
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Answer: Yes. As a CFP® professional at a fee-only RIA, we act as a fiduciary 100% of the time.
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Answer: Yes—virtual nationwide (via Zoom). We’re based in East Tennessee and serve clients across the U.S.
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Answer: Yes. If you choose investment management, it’s included in the same $250/month ongoing planning fee—there are no AUM charges and no commissions.
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Answer: We recommend passive investing via a portfolio of low-cost, globally diversified index funds, tailored to your unique goals and risk tolerance, with periodic rebalancing and a tax-aware implementation.
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Answer: Life and markets change—your plan should, too. Ongoing Planning provides quarterly reviews, tax and benefits touchpoints, and proactive guidance to keep your finances aligned with your goals year after year. It’s ideal if you want continuous accountability and expert help with updates like rebalancing, tax strategy, or major life transitions.
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Answer: Investment management is available for clients who prefer to have their portfolios professionally implemented and maintained. We manage investments using globally diversified, low-cost funds under a flat-fee structure—never a percentage of assets. You maintain full control of your accounts at Schwab while we handle rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and coordination with your overall plan, at no additional cost beyond your $250/month planning fee.