Clear Money Guide
What this guide covers
A quick view of the questions and evidence developed below.
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Updated June 28, 2026. Quick answer: Use these financial advisor email templates to request an hourly quote with the scope, target hours, written deliverables, fiduciary status, Form ADV items, and a not-to-exceed cap in one message. Ask for the hourly rate, availability, and service standards before you book the intro call.
What to include in an hourly quote request
- Scope: what you want done (e.g., second-opinion on fees + allocation + 1-page action list).
- Target hours: “2–3 hours” or “up to 5 hours (not-to-exceed).”
- Deliverables: “written recap within 3–5 business days.”
- SLAs: email replies in 1–2 business days; urgent within 24 hours.
- Conflicts & cost: fiduciary in writing, Form ADV Items 5/12/14, and all-in dollars.
Compare the quote before you send it
Use the template to ask for hourly rate, not-to-exceed hours, deliverables, fiduciary status, and total costs in writing. If you want a second quote, compare the scope before the first call. Before you send, run the numbers through the financial advisor fee calculator, compare models with financial advisor fee comparison, then use the hourly financial planner near me guide, the fee-for-service financial planner near me route, Find a Financial Advisor, fee-only financial advisor near me, and fiduciary financial advisor near me before you send.
You have the email. It still needs advisers to send it to.
A template only works once it reaches firms that answer in writing. The advisers below pay for the introduction, so the list is yours to build. 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.
Copy/paste email templates
1) Simple hourly quote (generic)
Subject: Hourly quote for a 2–3 hour second-opinion Hi — I’m looking for a short, hourly engagement: * Scope: fee breakdown, portfolio check, and a 1-page action list * Target hours: 2–3 hours (not-to-exceed 3 hours without my okay) * Deliverable: written recap within 3–5 business days * SLAs: email replies in 1–2 business days (urgent within 24 hours) Could you share your hourly rate, earliest availability, and confirm you’ll act as a fiduciary at all times in writing? Please also send Form ADV pages for Item 5 (fees), Item 12 (platform), and Item 14 (referrals). Thanks!
2) RSU review (sell-to-cover / net shares / cash pay)
Subject: Hourly quote for RSU withholding & sell plan (4–6 hours) Hi — I’d like help choosing RSU withholding (sell-to-cover vs net shares vs cash pay), avoiding under-withholding, and setting a diversification plan. * Target hours: 4–6 (NTE 6 without approval) * Deliverables: a brief memo + step-by-step actions before next vest; recap in 3–5 business days Please include your hourly rate, availability, and fiduciary confirmation (in writing), plus ADV Items 5/12/14. Thank you!
3) Rollover analysis (stay vs move)
Subject: Hourly quote for rollover analysis (3–5 hours) Scope: * Compare staying in current plan vs IRA rollover (fees, investment lineups, protections) * Provide a yes/no recommendation with a checklist if rolling Hours: 3–5 (NTE 5); Deliverable: memo + 1-page checklist Please confirm hourly rate, timing, and fiduciary duty in writing; share ADV Items 5/12/14.
4) Two-hour “second-opinion” (fast)
Subject: 2-hour second-opinion (fees & allocation) Two hours to: * Outline my all-in fees (advisory, platform, fund ERs) * Sanity-check allocation & risk * Produce a 1-page action list Please confirm hourly rate, earliest slot, and recap in 3–5 business days. Fiduciary in writing + ADV Items 5/12/14 appreciated.
5) Widows — 90-day checklist review
Subject: Hourly support for first 90 days (widow/er) I need a short hourly engagement to review the first 90-day checklist and prioritize tasks. * Hours: 2–4 (NTE 4) * Deliverable: prioritized list + quick scripts; recap in 3–5 business days Please confirm hourly rate, timing, and fiduciary + ADV Items 5/12/14.
6) Follow-up if they don’t reply
Subject: Quick follow-up on hourly quote Hi — checking in on the hourly quote request below. If you’re at capacity, no worries — please let me know and I’ll move forward elsewhere.
7) Approve extra time (scope control)
Subject: Approval to extend to NTE [X] hours Thanks — please extend this project to a not-to-exceed total of [X] hours. If you think it will exceed that, pause and email me first to approve.
Contact-form text (for advisor websites)
Looking for a short hourly engagement: * Scope: [describe] • Hours: [2–7] (NTE [X]) * Deliverable: written recap in 3–5 business days * SLAs: email replies in 1–2 business days Please confirm hourly rate, earliest availability, fiduciary duty in writing, and ADV Items 5/12/14.
What to say on the intro call (30-second script)
My goal is a focused hourly engagement: [scope]. Target [hours] with a not-to-exceed cap. I’ll need a written recap within 3–5 business days. Can you confirm rate, timing, fiduciary duty in writing, and any platform fee so I can compare all-in cost?
How many hours do common tasks take?
| Task | Typical hours | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Second-opinion (fees + allocation) | 2–3 | 1-page action list |
| RSU withholding & sell plan | 4–6 | Memo + step plan before vest |
| Rollover stay-vs-move | 3–5 | Yes/no + transfer checklist |
| Widows 90-day checklist | 2–4 | Prioritized to-do list |
Illustrative ranges—confirm in writing.
Check typical rates and scopes in this guide.
Compare hourly vs flat-fee vs AUM (apples to apples)
- Get hourly NTE cap and deliverables in writing.
- For AUM, enter tiers + ETF ER + any platform fee in the AUM Fee Calculator.
- For flat-fee, confirm the annual scope and service calendar with SLAs.
FAQ
How much is a financial advisor per hour?
Commonly $150–$400/hr depending on expertise and scope. Complex cases can be higher.
Can I cap hours?
Yes—use a not-to-exceed (NTE) number and require email approval before going over.
What deliverables should I expect?
At minimum a written recap within 3–5 business days and any promised checklists/memos.
Does hourly include ongoing monitoring?
No—hourly is project-based. For ongoing support, compare to a flat-fee annual plan.
Related reads & tools
- Hourly financial advisor rates and scope · Financial planning hourly rate · Fixed vs Flat vs Retainer
- RSU withhold methods · Widows 90-day checklist
- AUM Fee Calculator · Service Calendar & SLAs
Education only; not legal, tax, or investment advice. Confirm fiduciary duty in writing and verify fees/conflicts in 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.