Personalized Guidance

Fee-Based Financial Planning for Individuals

We help people from all walks of life build, manage, and protect their assets by focusing on planning, investments, and risk management. Whatever situation you’re in right now and wherever you plan on going, Barrister can help you get there with experienced financial guidance tailored to your needs and circumstances.

Our process begins with a deep understanding of your goals and objectives. We’ll then design a financial model that reflects your current and future income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. This model serves as a guiding light for our planning process. Based on our findings, we’ll offer customized recommendations on financial affairs that impact your life the most, including taxes, business succession, Social Security, and college and retirement planning.

Barrister’s financial planning services can help you boost your savings, reduce financial anxiety, build confidence for the future, and live the life you’ve always imagined.

View our guide

What Is a Fee-Based Financial Planner?

A fee-based financial planner is compensated directly by clients for advice and planning services, rather than relying solely on commissions from the products they recommend. This structure is designed to keep the focus on your goals rather than on selling a particular investment.

It’s worth understanding the distinction between the terms you’ll often see in this industry:

Fee-only planners are compensated exclusively through client fees, with no commissions of any kind.
Fee-based planners are primarily compensated through client fees but may also receive commissions on certain products, such as insurance.
Commission-based planners are compensated primarily or entirely through commissions on the products they sell.

As fiduciaries, Barrister’s planners are legally obligated to act in your best interest at all times. Our fee-based structure gives us the flexibility to recommend the full range of available financial products and services. At the same time, our fiduciary duty ensures that any recommendation, whether fee- or commission-generating, is made with your goals front and center.

Financial Planning Services

Financial planning covers far more than investment selection. It’s a coordinated approach to every area of your financial life, built around the goals that matter most to you. Barrister’s financial planning services include:

Retirement Planning — Projecting income needs, evaluating savings strategies, and building a plan that helps you retire on your terms.
Tax Planning — Identifying strategies to help manage your tax liability today and in the years ahead.
Estate Planning — Coordinating with your legal and tax professionals to help protect and transfer your assets according to your wishes.
College Planning — Developing savings strategies to help fund education goals for children or grandchildren.
Business Succession Planning — Helping business owners plan for transitions in ownership or leadership.
Social Security Planning — Evaluating claiming strategies to help you make the most of your benefits.
Risk Management — Reviewing insurance coverage and identifying gaps that could threaten your financial plan.
Cash Flow & Budgeting — Building a clear picture of income, expenses, and savings to support your broader goals.

Because every client’s circumstances are different, these services are combined and prioritized based on your stage of life, net worth, and objectives, whether you’re just starting out or already living in retirement.

Financial Planning Process

Barrister follows a disciplined, repeatable process designed to turn your goals into a plan:

1. Discovery

We start by getting to know your goals, values, income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and any financial concerns that are top of mind. This conversation forms the foundation for everything that follows.

2. Analysis

Using the information gathered during discovery, we build a comprehensive financial model that reflects your current and projected financial picture, highlighting opportunities and potential obstacles along the way.

3. Recommendations

We present clear, customized recommendations to address the areas of your financial life that matter most. This includes retirement and tax planning, risk management, and beyond.

4. Implementation

Once you’ve reviewed and approved a plan, we help put it into action by coordinating with your other professionals (such as attorneys or accountants) where needed.

5. Ongoing Monitoring

Financial planning isn’t a one-time event. We meet with you regularly to review progress, adjust for life changes, and keep your plan aligned with your evolving goals.

Flexible Fee Structures That Fit Your Life

Explore our fee structures below to identify what would work best for you.

Basics

This is for those of any age who are interested in financial education, and a more do-it-yourself approach to financial planning. Clients will gain access to an education section of the website containing webinars, planning tools and resources. They will also receive full access to financial planning software where they can aggregate all of their financial accounts, create budgets and model out their assets, liabilities, income and expenses.

$99/month

Foundation

This is intended for individuals typically ages 25-40 who are just getting started on their financial journey and have a negative or minimal net worth. Services include but are not limited to budgeting and cash flow management, debt management, savings and emergency fund planning, goal setting, and basic investment education.

$2,500/annually

Building & Accumulating

This is built for individuals and families, typically between their 30s and 50s, who are looking to build their assets, accumulate wealth, save for retirement, and achieve long-term financial growth. Services include but are not limited to investment advisory, retirement planning, tax planning, and risk management.

$5,000/annually

Spending & Distributing

This is designed for individuals who are approaching retirement or are already retired, usually in the age range of 55 and above, with a focus on managing assets, spending in retirement, and distributing their wealth efficiently. Services include but are not limited to retirement income planning, tax-efficient withdrawals, investment portfolio management, and long-term care and estate planning.

$7,500+/annually

Take the First Step Toward a Brighter Financial Future

Our fiduciaries are always happy to help. Reach out to us today to turn your dreams into reality.

Financial Planning FAQs

Have a question? Please read our top financial planning FAQs below. Contact us today if you can’t find what you’re looking for. We’re always happy to help.

What is financial planning?

Financial planning is assessing your entire financial picture and advising you on how to achieve your short- and long-term financial goals.

Why do I need a financial planner?

Partnering with a financial planner can be highly beneficial. Barrister can help keep you on track with investing and planning, explain what tax laws apply to your financial situation, and build wealth.

How much does it cost?

Costs vary depending on the fee structure that best fits your needs, with our retainer-based fees ranging from $99/month for our self-guided Basics tier to $7,500+ annually for comprehensive retirement income and estate planning support, and our asset-based fees starting at 1% of assets under management and decreasing as asset level increases. See our fee structures above for full details on what's included at each level.

How much do I need to retire?

This depends on a few factors such as your retirement age, other financial goals, spending, and longevity. If you aren’t sure how much you need to retire we recommend contacting us to set up an initial consultation. The longer you wait the more difficult planning for a successful retirement can become.

What's the difference between a fee-only and fee-based financial planner?

A fee-only planner is compensated exclusively through client fees, with no commissions of any kind. A fee-based planner is primarily compensated through client fees but may also receive commissions on certain products, such as insurance. Barrister operates as a fee-based firm, and as fiduciaries, our recommendations are made in your best interests regardless of how a given product is compensated.