Hiring a Flat-Fee Advisor, Part 3: How to Find the Right Flat-Fee Advisor for You
Parts 1 and 2 of this series reviewed the various service and fee models that have all been bundled under the flat fee moniker. Finding the right advisor for you requires some reflection on what type of relationship and services you are looking for, and a fee that feels fair. Understanding Flat-Fee vs Fee-Only vs […]
Hiring a Flat-Fee Advisor, Part 2: How Do Flat Fee Advisors Charge?
Now that the service models are clear, it’s important to consider the fees in more detail. Even among ongoing service models, “flat fee” can mean many different things. Here is a summary of the most common flat-fee approaches. Tiered based on AUM The advisor assigns a flat annual fee according to a range, or tier, […]
Hiring a Flat-Fee Advisor, Part 1: What Services Do They Provide to Clients?
You’re looking to hire a financial advisor and come across the concept of “flat fees”. Fewer conflicts? Lower fees? Sounds great! But what do flat fee advisors actually do and what does a “flat” fee even mean? A growing number of financial advisors now advertise flat fees instead of the traditional model of charging a […]
Trump Accounts Explained: A Plain Guide for Families
Quick answer: The Magnificent Seven are seven giant technology stocks that have led the market for the last few years. In the first half of 2026, they cooled off while more diversified holdings held up better. That shift is a clear reminder of something we often tell clients: a disciplined, diversified plan beats chasing whatever is hot, because by the time a stock feels exciting to own, most of the gain has already happened.
Can You Trust AI With Your Financial Decisions?
Quick answer: The Magnificent Seven are seven giant technology stocks that have led the market for the last few years. In the first half of 2026, they cooled off while more diversified holdings held up better. That shift is a clear reminder of something we often tell clients: a disciplined, diversified plan beats chasing whatever is hot, because by the time a stock feels exciting to own, most of the gain has already happened.
Why We Don’t Chase the Magnificent Seven
Quick answer: The Magnificent Seven are seven giant technology stocks that have led the market for the last few years. In the first half of 2026, they cooled off while more diversified holdings held up better. That shift is a clear reminder of something we often tell clients: a disciplined, diversified plan beats chasing whatever is hot, because by the time a stock feels exciting to own, most of the gain has already happened.
The Financial Advice Business Is Changing. Its Fee Model Should Catch Up.
For most of the last century, the business of financial advice was primarily an investment business. First, it was a product business: brokers were paid commissions to sell stocks, bonds, insurance, and packaged products. Then, as the profession evolved, it became an asset-management business: advisors increasingly charged an ongoing fee based on assets under management, […]
How Advisor Fees Quietly Influence Retirement Decisions
One of the most common things I hear from prospective clients is this: “My advisor says they only make more when I make more, so our interests are aligned.” It sounds logical- like rowers in a boat, you’re all pulling in the same direction. But it leaves out an important part of the story. Many […]
Ten Years In: Reflections on Building a Flat-Fee Advisory Firm
This month marks ten years since I officially started SwitchPoint Financial Planning. That milestone has caused me to reflect—not just on the growth of the firm, but on the long, winding path that brought me here, the mistakes I made trying to implement what was then a novel fee model, and the lessons that continue […]
Overcoming the Psychological Shift: Financial Planning for Retirement Decumulation
You’ve spent decades building your nest egg, carefully saving, investing, and watching your accounts grow. For years, you lived by the rules of accumulation; save more, spend less, and always keep an eye on the future. But what happens when the future finally arrives? You’ve reached retirement, and suddenly, the goal changes. Now you’re faced […]