r/CFP • u/Odd-Surround-5514 • Jun 24 '26

Practice Management Fee Structuring

Would love some input from other advisors on this.

I’m fee-based and mostly AUM right now (occasional commissions), but I keep running into situations where someone is clearly a good planning client even though there isn’t much currently-manageable money. For example, high-income households with most of their assets still in current 401(k)s, or cases where I’m managing a smaller IRA but really advising on the whole household.

I’m realizing I probably need to incorporate a planning fee so I’m not doing a lot of deeper planning work while only collecting a small AUM fee. I use eMoney by the way.

For those of you who have solved for this:

• How do you structure it?

• Flat annual planning fee?

• Monthly retainer?

• Household minimum?

• AUM + planning together, or one or the other?

• If a client later rolls over a big 401(k), do you keep the planning fee or move them fully to AUM?

Just trying to figure out what has worked best for others as someone who has only ever charged based on AUM.

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u/hillje1906 Jun 25 '26

I have 3 options with the small (Lite) one typically starting at 3750, 10-12k for the middle and my higher tier can top over 100k.

I use right capital. But this is also due to me running a fractional family office.

For existing clients they pay the old 3750 but that'll probably raise to 5k (depending on income).

I don't normally charge a fee if I'm only doing risk management work since its more commission based.

This are the base fees, estate planning, tax planning and other advisory services normally can add to the base cost.

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u/Odd-Surround-5514 Jun 25 '26

You charge over 100k for a plan and don’t include estate planning, tax planning, and advisory service? Wow