Clear Money Guide
What this guide covers
A quick view of the questions and evidence developed below.
Comparison tables scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
Updated July 1, 2026.
Short answer (2026): A financial advisor’s service calendar is the promised cadence of meetings, check-ins, deliverables, and response times you receive across the year. Good firms publish it up front so you know what happens, when, and why. Compare the calendar against advisor capacity and SLA red flags before you sign.
What a service calendar should include
- Cadence: planning meetings, check-ins, and response time (SLA).
- Focus by season: taxes, investments, insurance, estate, cash flow.
- Deliverables: written summaries, action checklists, and due dates.
- Triggers for life events: new job, equity vests, home purchase, baby, inheritance.
Quarterly service calendar (standard household)
| Quarter | Planning focus | Core tasks | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan–Mar) | Tax filing prep & cash flow | 1099/W-2 review, IRA contributions, HSA/FSA check, RSU/bonus planning, debt payoff plan | Tax organizer checklist; contribution plan; 12-mo cash map |
| Q2 (Apr–Jun) | Investments & mid-year tax | Rebalance, asset location review, Roth conversion projection, ESPP/RSU mid-year tax check | Portfolio summary; mid-year tax estimate; trade tickets plan |
| Q3 (Jul–Sep) | Risk, insurance & benefits | Policy review (life/disability/umbrella), open enrollment preview, emergency fund tune-up | Coverage gap memo; benefits selections draft; savings targets |
| Q4 (Oct–Dec) | Year-end moves | Tax-loss harvest or gain realize, Q4 Roth conversions, charitable bunching/QCD, RMDs, savings max-out | Year-end checklist; 1099-B/1099-R prep notes; contribution confirmations |
Tip: advisors may shift focus by your situation (equity comp, retirement date, new baby). Ask them to show your customized calendar.
Meeting cadence examples
- Lite (hourly/“as-needed”): 1 planning session + 1 check-in; email within 2 business days.
- Standard (flat-fee retainer): 2–3 planning meetings (Q2 & Q4 core) + mid-year touch; email within 1–2 business days; written recap after each meeting.
- Ongoing (AUM): 2–4 meetings/yr; quarterly portfolio review; proactive outreach for tax and market events.
Service tiers (what you actually get)
| Tier | What’s included | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Scoped sessions (2–7 hours), written summary & checklist, optional follow-up | Targeted questions (e.g., RSUs, Roth conversion, second opinion) |
| Flat-fee retainer | Published calendar, 2–3 meetings, tax coordination, on-call questions, deliverables each cycle | Households wanting planning without paying by assets |
| AUM | Everything in flat-fee + continuous portfolio management and trading | Hands-off investors with ongoing needs and larger portfolios |
Copy-ready service calendar (template you can ask for)
“Please confirm you’ll provide this calendar in writing”
- Q1: Tax organizer review, contribution plan, cash map (written memo).
- Q2: Portfolio review & rebalance, Roth conversion projection (summary + trade plan).
- Q3: Insurance/benefits review, open enrollment planning (coverage memo).
- Q4: Year-end tax moves (TLH/charity/RMD), savings max-out (year-end checklist).
- SLAs: Email response within 2 business days; urgent within 24 hours.
- Deliverables: Written recap after each meeting; annual “one-page plan.”
Make sure the firm has the capacity to deliver this calendar. See households per advisor & SLA red flags.
Questions to ask before you sign
- “Can I see last year’s service calendar?” (anonymized is fine)
- “What changes for me specifically?” (equity comp, state taxes, retirement date)
- “Who is on my team and what’s your household cap per advisor?”
- “What’s included vs billable extra?” (tax prep, estate attorney coordination, trading)
A good calendar only works with realistic capacity—read our post on advisor capacity & SLAs.
Related reads & tools
- Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor
- Flat-Fee Financial Advisor · Hourly Financial Advisor
- AUM Fees Explained · How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?
- AUM Fee Calculator
- Find a Financial Advisor (Hub)
Education only; not tax or investment advice. Confirm your firm’s Form ADV and written service calendar before engaging.
A service calendar is the deliverable half of the bargain. For the price half, the financial advisor fee comparison converts AUM, flat, hourly and retainer quotes into the same annual dollars.