A one-time financial plan costs about $500 to $20,000, with a median minimum of $500 and a median maximum of $20,000. The wide range reflects plan complexity—simpler plans start at $300–$500, while comprehensive plans for complex situations can run $20,000. The cost depends on whether you want a one-time plan, ongoing planning, or just a few hours of advice. We looked at fee disclosures from tens of thousands of advisors to break down each option.
One-time financial plans
A one-time (or “fixed”) financial plan covers the basics: retirement projections, investment allocation, insurance review, maybe some tax planning. You get a written plan, meet with the advisor to go over it, and then you're on your own to implement it.
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $300 |
| Median minimum | $500 |
| Median maximum | $20,000 |
| 75th percentile | $1,000 |
The wide range between minimum and maximum reflects complexity. A basic retirement projection for a single person with a 401(k) and an IRA might run $300–$500. A comprehensive plan for a couple with stock options, rental properties, and trust planning could hit $10,000–$20,000.
At the low end ($300 or so), expect a streamlined plan—often a younger advisor building their practice, or a firm offering a “starter” plan with fewer deliverables. Nothing wrong with that if your situation is straightforward.
Ongoing planning retainers
An ongoing retainer gets you a financial plan plus continued access to your advisor. They update your plan as life changes, answer questions throughout the year, and typically include regular check-in meetings.
| Metric | Amount/Year |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $2,000 |
| Median minimum | $5,000 |
| Median maximum | ~$10,000 |
| 75th percentile | $5,000 |
Retainers make sense when your financial life is changing regularly—you're going through a career transition, approaching retirement, or managing complex tax situations year to year. The median minimum of $5,000/year works out to about $400/month for ongoing professional advice.
For someone who just needs a plan built once and doesn't expect major changes, the one-time option is more cost-effective. For someone with a lot of moving parts, the retainer keeps you from paying $500+ every time you have a new question.
Hourly planning rates
If you don't need a full plan but have specific questions—should I convert to a Roth? How do I handle stock options? What's the best way to save for college?—hourly advice is the most flexible option.
| Metric | Per Hour |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $50 |
| Median minimum | $100 |
| Median maximum | $400 |
| 75th percentile | $200 |
At $100–$400 per hour, a focused two-hour session on a specific topic costs $200–$800. That's comparable to hiring a CPA for tax advice. Most financial questions can be addressed in one to three hours, making this the cheapest route if you only need targeted guidance.
Planning included in AUM fees
The most common setup isn't any of the above—it's financial planning bundled into an AUM (assets under management) fee. You hand over your portfolio, the advisor manages it and builds you a financial plan, and you pay a single percentage fee.
| Structure | Number of Advisors |
|---|---|
| Planning included in AUM fee (standalone available) | 106,800 |
| Planning bundled with AUM (no standalone) | 17,300 |
| Investment management only | 161,300 |
| Planning only (no investment management) | 60,700 |
About 107,000 advisors include planning in their AUM fee but also offer standalone plans. Another 17,000 require you to be an investment management client to get planning. If you want planning without handing over your portfolio, you're looking at the 60,700 planning-only advisors or the 107,000 that offer both.
The bundled approach can be a good deal if you need both services anyway. On a $500K portfolio, a 1.0% AUM fee ($5,000/year) that includes comprehensive planning is competitive with paying a separate advisor ($5,000) plus a standalone plan ($3,000). But if you just want a plan and prefer managing your own investments, the bundled model forces you to pay for something you don't want.
Which option makes sense for you
- Simple situation, one-time need: A fixed plan at $300–$1,000 covers the basics without ongoing cost.
- Complex or changing situation: An ongoing retainer ($5,000–$10,000/year) gives you a financial advisor on call.
- Specific question: A couple hours at $100–$400/hour gets you a focused answer for $200–$800.
- Want someone to manage everything: AUM with planning included rolls it all into one fee.
- DIY investor who wants a plan: Look for planning-only firms that don't require you to move your investments.
Whatever you choose, get the fee structure in writing before you start. Ask whether the quoted price covers implementation help or just the plan itself. A $500 plan that ends with “here's a 40-page PDF, good luck” is very different from one that includes two follow-up meetings to help you act on the recommendations.
Data source: Planning fee disclosures from SEC Form ADV Part 2A filings. Advisor counts are weighted by the number of advisors at each firm that disclosed the relevant fee structure in their regulatory filings.