Clear Money Guide
Start with the tool
Open the inputs first, then use the guide outline to check assumptions and sources.
Comparison tables scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
Updated July 1, 2026. Estimate how many advisor hours a second opinion, retirement checkup, RSU review, portfolio cleanup, or tax-aware planning project may take, then convert the quote into dollars before an intro call. Use this with the 2-hour second-opinion review guide, the financial advisor fee calculator, and the financial planning hourly rate guide before accepting an hourly, project, retainer, flat annual, or AUM proposal.
Preset scopes (pick & tweak)
Select the work you need. We total hours and show a one-time project price and an ongoing retainer estimate — in dollars.
Total hours (one-time): 13 h → Suggested project fee: $3,900
Total hours (ongoing): 8 h/yr → Suggested monthly retainer: $200/mo
For retainer: we divide annual ongoing hours × rate by 12. Adjust as needed for meeting cadence and response SLAs.
Hourly Scope Estimator
Select the tasks you want help with and set an hourly rate to estimate hours and cost. Use presets for common scopes (Quick Hit, RSU Plan, Retirement Plan). Then copy a summary or draft an email to request a written quote.
1) Choose tasks
Check what you want your advisor to do. You can also use the presets below.
2) Set rate & complexity
Education only. Actual time varies by advisor and documentation quality.
Estimate
| Metric | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Total hours | 0 | 0 |
| Estimated cost (@ $250/hr) | $0 | $0 |
Helpful reads: Financial Advisor Hourly Rate (2026) · RSUs & Stock Options · Advisor Cost Guide · AUM Fee Calculator
That is the honest hour count. Now find out what an hour actually costs.
An hourly engagement is only cheaper than a percentage if the scope is real. Take this estimate to the advisers below and ask them to quote against it. It is free to you, and it is not the only way to find an adviser.
Before you start, what actually happens. The form is run by Kapitalwise, our advisor-matching partner. Kapitalwise sends your details to advisers who pay for the introduction, so expect calls and texts. Clear Money Guide is paid when you submit the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. This is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
The Kapitalwise form opens here — you stay on this page.
What happens when you press the button
It asks about nine questions — age, investable assets, location — then your name, email and phone number, and verifies the phone by text. Nothing loads and nothing reaches Kapitalwise until you press the button.
Methodology
How this page calculates and what to expect
- Dollar-first outputs. We convert percentages and rules into dollars so you can compare choices quickly.
- Fee tools (AUM · Fixed · Retainer · Hourly).
- AUM fees use an annual average balance ((start+end)/2). Tiered schedules are treated as marginal (like tax brackets).
- Contributions are applied at year-end; returns compound annually; “Deduct fees from portfolio” subtracts fees from assets (toggle changes this).
- We ignore taxes and platform/trading costs unless stated. Results are planning estimates, not exact billing replicas.
- Retirement & tax windows (IRMAA · SS taxability · RMD · QCD).
- Calculators use current-year values you enter (caps, surcharges, thresholds) and simplify agency rules for planning.
- Outputs are estimates to help you stay under a line (bracket, cap, or threshold). Confirm details before acting.
- Data freshness. This page's content was materially reviewed on . Advisor-hour examples are educational estimates; tax, Medicare, platform, and planning thresholds can change.
- Educational only. Not tax, legal, or investment advice. For specifics, talk to a fiduciary advisor.
Questions or spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll take a look.
Questions or spotted an issue?
Tell us what you need and we’ll improve it. We read every note.
For a 2-hour second-opinion while grieving, read our widows 90-day checklist.
Use the RSU preset and plan 2–7 hours around your next vest.
Confused about ‘fixed’ vs ‘flat’? Read this.
See typical ranges in the financial planning hourly rate guide, then compare total cost in the financial advisor fee calculator.
Hourly and fee-for-service advisor route
For smaller-scope advice, compare hourly financial planner near me and fee-for-service financial planner near me options by annual dollars, written scope, fiduciary status, and not-to-exceed caps before booking.
What the filings actually say. We measured the fee schedules 176 SEC-registered advisers publish in their Form ADV Part 2A filings: at $250,000 only 28.4% disclose a fee you can price at all, and the weighted median annual cost among those that do is $2,000 to $2,500. The full benchmark, with method.