Clear Money Guide
What this guide covers
A quick view of the questions and evidence developed below.
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Updated July 3, 2026.
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Quick answer (2026): Financial advisor project pricing usually means a fixed fee financial advisor quote for a clearly defined planning scope, such as a second opinion, retirement plan, rollover review, RSU/tax question, or one-time planning project. It is not the same as a flat-fee annual retainer, hourly financial planning, or ongoing AUM advice. Use the examples and scripts below to request fixed fee financial advisor project pricing with deliverables, response-time expectations, what becomes out-of-scope, and a not-to-exceed safety cap.
Fast tools: Find a Financial Advisor – Fee-Only Financial Advisor Near Me – Fiduciary Financial Advisor Near Me – Advisor Fee Calculator – Financial Planning Hourly Rate – Hourly Financial Planner Near Me – Fee-for-Service Financial Planner Near Me – Fixed Fee vs Flat Fee vs Retainer
Quick answer: fixed fee vs flat annual vs hourly
- Fixed fee (project): one price for a bounded project with defined deliverables.
- Flat-fee (annual): a yearly price for ongoing planning/oversight (retainer).
- Hourly: billed by the hour; you can cap with an NTE number.
Common fixed-fee projects & typical prices
| Project | Typical Hours | Fixed Fee (illustrative) | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second-opinion review | 2–3 | $400–$900 | Fee breakdown, allocation check, 1-page action list |
| RSU withholding & sell plan | 4–6 | $800–$1,800 | Brief memo + step plan before next vest |
| Rollover analysis (stay vs move) | 3–5 | $600–$1,500 | Yes/no recommendation + transfer checklist |
| Widows — first 90-day checklist | 2–4 | $400–$1,200 | Prioritized tasks + quick scripts |
Ranges vary by firm/complexity. Confirm in writing before you start.
Comparing models? Check how much a financial advisor is per hour and when hourly makes sense.
How to request a fixed-fee proposal (copy/paste)
Subject: Fixed-fee project proposal (scope, deliverables & SLAs) Hi — I’d like a fixed-fee proposal for: * Scope: [describe the task, e.g., second-opinion on fees + allocation + 1-page action list] * Deliverables: written recap within 3–5 business days * SLAs: email replies in 1–2 business days (urgent within 24 hours) Please include the fixed fee, any assumptions/exclusions, and timeline. If you also offer hourly, note the rate and a not-to-exceed option. Thanks!
Protect yourself from scope creep
- Write the scope: what’s included/excluded; list deliverables and timelines.
- Set SLAs: recap timing (3–5 biz days), email replies (1–2 biz days).
- Change orders: any out-of-scope work requires a written change order and price before proceeding.
- NTE safety: if the firm bills hourly, set a not-to-exceed cap (“pause and email if we’re near it”).
When fixed fee fits (and when it doesn’t)
- Great fit: targeted projects with clear deliverables (RSUs, rollover decision, second-opinion).
- Maybe not: ongoing monitoring or frequent changes — compare to a flat-fee annual retainer.
Project pricing is the honest version of an engagement, if the deliverable is defined.
Ask what the project produces, by when, and what is explicitly out of scope. Then compare that to a percentage on the same work. 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.
Compare to flat-fee and AUM (apples to apples)
- Fixed fee: use the quoted project dollars.
- Flat-fee (annual): verify scope + service calendar & SLAs.
- AUM: model tiers by slice and add fund ER + any platform fee in the AUM Fee Calculator.
Extra scripts
Change order required
Subject: Scope change — please quote before proceeding Thanks — the new item sounds out of scope. Please send a short change order with the additional price and timing so I can approve before you proceed.
Not-to-exceed safeguard (if hourly is used)
Subject: NTE cap for hourly work Please cap this at [X] hours (not-to-exceed). If you expect to exceed the cap, pause and email me for approval first.
FAQ
What is a fixed fee?
A one-time project price for a defined scope and deliverables. It’s different from a flat-fee annual retainer (ongoing) and from hourly billing.
Is fixed fee the same as flat-fee?
No. Fixed fee is a one-time project price. Flat-fee is an annual retainer for ongoing planning/oversight.
Is fixed fee the same as hourly?
Fixed fee is a package price often based on estimated hours, but you pay the agreed project price.
What deliverables should I expect?
At minimum a written recap within 3–5 business days and any promised memo/checklist.
How do I avoid scope creep?
Write the scope, set SLAs, and require written change orders for anything new. If hourly is involved, use an NTE cap.
Related reads & tools
- Financial Advisor Fee Calculator · Fee Comparison: AUM vs Flat vs Hourly · Fixed vs Flat vs Retainer
- Flat-Fee Financial Planning · Hourly Scope Estimator
- AUM Fee Calculator · Hourly Email Templates
Education only; not legal, tax, or investment advice. Confirm fees, scope, response-time expectations, change-order rules, implementation help, and any conflicts in writing (Form ADV Items 5, 12, 14).
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.
Three neighbouring price shapes, each priced on its own page: the RIA fee schedule and AUM tier tables, financial advisor retainer fees, and the average flat fee for a financial advisor.