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A note to our clients–thank you for the opportunity to assist you with your complete financial planning needs. If you know someone who is frustrated with the problems we outline below, please consider forwarding this on. We appreciate it!
A lot of investors assume that working with a financial advisor automatically means paying around 1% a year. That may be the industry norm, but it doesn’t have to be the standard for everyone.
Depending on your situation, many of our clients pay less than that and receive far more than basic “investment management.”
Let me give you an example.
Let’s say we met with a new potential client who had $1.5 million in an IRA with one of the big national firms. At 1% per year, they’d pay around $15,000 annually assuming nothing else changes.
Now let’s say that couple had a question about something like Social Security timing. The common answer: “There are lots of free tools online to help you figure that out.” What about Roth conversions? “We don’t give tax advice,” is the usual answer.
That is a breaking point. People realize they are paying thousands of dollars every year for little more than someone to “manage” their money.
Real Planning vs. Portfolio Babysitting
Once people see what proactive, year-by-year planning looks like, they understand the difference immediately. We walked them through how we’d manage their accounts, how we approach Social Security optimization, and how strategic Roth conversions could lower their lifetime taxes.
We showed them the math, what they are currently doing, what we’d recommend, and how much more efficient their retirement income could be before they ever become a client.
Why Most Advisors Stop at Investments
Here’s the reality: most advisors stick to investment management because it’s easier to scale for the firms that employ them. There are lots of corporate restrictions.
A common sense answer will tell you that investing is only one piece of your financial life in retirement. Clients don’t just need someone to track their portfolio’s performance. They need someone to help them make thoughtful decisions about:
- Taxes — how to minimize what you owe, year by year.
- Social Security — how and when to claim it strategically.
- Income planning — how to turn savings into sustainable cash flow.
- Coordination — how every piece fits together over time.
That’s where real financial guidance happens. Our approach isn’t just about returns on paper. It’s about helping you keep more of what you earn, lower your tax exposure, and create a flexible plan that adapts as laws, markets, and life events change.
Closing Thought
The bottom line: you deserve more than an advisor who simply manages your investments. You deserve someone who helps you plan for everything that affects your financial future–taxes, income, timing, and clarity.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your advisor is doing more than watching your portfolio, take a closer look. The difference between “managing money” and planning for your future can be substantial.
And that’s exactly what we believe our clients deserve: clear, proactive planning that helps create a strong roadmap for retirement, not just portfolio performance.
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This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment/tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation.