Clear Money Guide
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DenverOpen this related section of the library.→Cherry CreekOpen this related section of the library.→Denver Metro hubOpen this related section of the library.→Arapahoe County hubOpen this related section of the library.→Jefferson County hubOpen this related section of the library.→Boulder County hubOpen this related section of the library.→
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Updated June 12, 2026. Quick answer (2026): Use this Denver County hub to compare flat fee financial advisor and retirement-planner costs in dollars across Denver, Cherry Creek, and nearby Front Range communities.
Fast start: convert every advisor quote into annual dollars before comparing labels. Denver County proposals often combine retirement income, employer equity, business-owner income, old employer plans, taxable withdrawals, home-equity decisions, charitable giving, Colorado residency assumptions, Roth conversions, Medicare/IRMAA, and implementation help.
Fast tools
- Financial Advisor Fee Calculator — compare AUM, flat annual, retainer, hourly, and project quotes in dollars.
- Flat Fee vs AUM Break-Even Calculator — see where a flat quote starts to beat a percentage quote.
- Financial Advisor Fee Comparison — compare fee models, scope, conflicts, and first-year cost.
- Retirement Tax Windows — pressure-test Roth conversions, RMDs, Medicare/IRMAA, and taxable withdrawals.
- RSUs: Sell-to-Cover vs Net Shares — clarify equity-comp withholding before advisor calls.
Quick cost benchmarks
| Advisor quote | Example cost in dollars | What to confirm before an intro call |
|---|---|---|
| Flat annual planning | $6,000–$12,000/year | Meetings, written deliverables, renewal terms, implementation help, tax coordination, and what becomes hourly. |
| Monthly retainer | $500–$1,000/month, or $6,000–$12,000/year | Service calendar, response time, cancellation terms, and whether investment management is included. |
| Hourly or project planning | $300–$500/hour, or $2,000–$7,500+ per project | Not-to-exceed cap, written deliverable, timeline, and whether follow-up questions are included. |
| AUM comparison | 0.75% on $1,000,000 = $7,500/year; 1.00% = $10,000/year | Breakpoints, fund/platform costs, overlay fees, tax work, and whether planning scope is comparable. |
Choose your Denver County guide
Denver core
Start here when the advisor search centers on Denver, Cherry Creek, taxable accounts, employer equity, business-owner income, home equity, and retirement-income timing.
Adjacent Denver Metro county routes
Use these when the search crosses Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Boulder, or the broader Front Range.
- Denver Metro hub
- Arapahoe County hub
- Jefferson County hub
- Boulder County hub
- Colorado hub
- All city guides
What to compare before you book an intro call
- Total first-year cost: ask for planning, portfolio management, platform, fund, hourly, referral, and product costs in dollars.
- Scope: confirm whether retirement income, Social Security, Roth conversions, Medicare/IRMAA, RMDs, taxable withdrawals, pensions, employer equity, business-owner planning, real estate, charitable giving, estate basics, and CPA coordination are included.
- Fee model: ask whether the quote is flat annual, monthly retainer, hourly/project, AUM, commission, fee-only, fee-based, fiduciary at all times, or blended.
- Deliverables: compare written plan, action list, investment policy, tax-aware withdrawal map, equity-comp checklist, pension decision tree, real-estate scenario, charitable-giving checklist, or only verbal guidance.
Denver County planning prompts
- If RSUs, ESPP shares, options, private-company equity, deferred compensation, or concentrated employer stock are part of the plan, ask how taxes, withholding, diversification, and cash reserves are coordinated.
- If business-owner income, consulting income, rental property, or private-company interests matter, ask what is included before liquidity, succession, or diversification decisions.
- If home equity, mountain property, a second home, downsizing, or a move out of Colorado could affect retirement cash flow, ask for written housing, insurance, liquidity, and tax assumptions.
- If retirement is near, ask how Social Security timing, Medicare IRMAA, Roth conversion windows, RMDs, taxable withdrawals, charitable giving, and cash reserves are shown year by year.
How to choose in 60 seconds
- Start with the closest state, metro, subcluster, or city guide.
- Convert every advisor quote into annual dollars.
- Compare written scope before comparing price.
- Ask for fiduciary status and compensation in writing.
- Run the quote through the Financial Advisor Fee Calculator before a second call.
Methodology
- We group these Denver County and Denver Metro guides by practical planning context, including metro area, nearby suburbs, equity compensation, business-owner income, real estate, taxes, and retirement-income questions.
- We convert flat annual, monthly retainer, hourly/project, and AUM quotes into annual dollars for side-by-side comparison.
- This hub was materially reviewed on June 12, 2026. It is educational and does not rank, review, endorse, or list advisors.
Editorial standards: Editorial Policy