Transparent Services.
No Commissions. No Surprises.
ONGOING - PRIMARY SERVICE
Focused Growth Planning
Best for folks in their 50s & 60s preparing for retirement, and CRE brokers who want expert, proactive guidance on retirement tax decisions — and a CFP® who stays in your corner year-round.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED
Safety-first investment approach built around your specific timeline, income needs, and preferences
Tax planning that runs during the year — not just at filing time
Roth conversion strategy specific to your income bracket situation and timeline
Withdrawal sequencing (deciding which accounts to pull from & when) to minimize your lifetime tax bill
Planning throughout the year — income timing, contribution decisions, tax opportunities, no April tax-time surprises
Retirement account strategy — Solo 401k, SEP IRA, Roth vs. traditional for your situation, contribution sizing for variable income years
Capital gains planning for the most tax-efficient outcome for your goals with the money
IRMAA and Medicare premium monitoring for retirees
Ongoing monitoring and course-corrections as tax law and your life change
Minimum - $500,000 in managed accounts
Meetings - Proactive meetings 2x per year in the spring and fall to address the changes in your life
Access - Ongoing relationship with your advisor. No call center, or new advisor every few years. You want consistency.
PROJECT PLANNING - HOURLY
Hourly Planning
Best for DIY investors or anyone needing guidance on a specific problem — a second opinion, a one-time plan, a retirement readiness checkup, or a review of your current tax and retirement account strategy.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED
Professional analysis of your current investment plan with specific recommendations
Tax return review to identify errors, missed deductions, and planning opportunities
Retirement account review — Account eligibility, contribution limits, Roth conversion windows
Retirement planning guidance specific to your income structure and timeline
Identification of financial risks and gaps you may not be aware of
Simple one-page action plan with detailed implementation steps for greater context
Email support after plan delivery for follow-up questions
Rate - $150 / hour: Typically $1,500 - $3,000 total, depending on complexity
Typical Project - Your plan is broken into 4 main sections: Investments, Tax Planning, Retirement, & Risk Management
Timeline - 3 to 8 weeks, depending on how quickly you want to move
Additional services: Investment management for DSTs and Employee Benefit Plan consulting are also available.
WHO THIS IS BUILT FOR
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You've spent decades building. Now the job is making sure you keep it — through tax-smart withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversion planning, Social Security timing, and an investment strategy built to pay you reliably rather than just grow.
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Your income is lumpy, your tax situation is complex, and your retirement plan probably isn't where it should be. The work is coordinating your S corp structure, your Solo 401k, your CPA, and your investment portfolio into one coherent strategy — during the year, not after it.
INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY
1 Safety first
Immediate financial needs come before growth. Don't take unnecessary risks in the market. If you're living off investments, you need a plan for when — not if — the next time markets drop. The two worst retirement outcomes are running out of money and dying with a pile of unused money. A safety-first approach addresses both.
2 Patience beats
mania
Markets take from the impatient and give back to the patient. Chasing last year's returns produces below-average results. Maintain a long-term focus and master the emotional side of investing — especially when markets get scary.
3 Invest efficiently
Avoid unnecessary fees. Don't pay more tax than required. Don't own the same companies ten times through ten "different" funds. These drags are quiet and consistent, and they compound against you over time.
4 Academically
grounded
Investment selection is built on a tested framework: markets are generally efficient, the price you pay always matters, and profitable companies outperform unprofitable ones over time. Evidence — not trends or headlines
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Fee-only financial planners typically charge in one of three ways: a percentage of assets under management (AUM), usually 0.5%–2.0% per year; an hourly rate, typically $150–$400/hour; or a flat annual retainer. At Focal Point Financial Planning, ongoing clients with $500,000+ in managed accounts pay an AUM-based fee on managed accounts, starting at 1.5% on the first $500,000, with costs tiering down above that amount. Hourly planning is available at $150/hour for project-based work, with most projects ranging $1,500–$3,000. There are no commissions or product-based compensation of any kind.
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Commercial real estate brokers with variable commission income face specific financial planning challenges that are unique to them: irregular cash flow, self-employment taxes, S corp or LLC structure decisions, access to rare commercial property investments, Solo 401k contribution timing, and QBI deduction optimization. A fee-only fiduciary CFP® who works specifically with self-employed business owners, such as CRE brokers, can coordinate these moving parts across the full year, (not just at tax filing time) which typically results in meaningfully lower tax liability and a better structured retirement savings strategy.