FULLY INFORMED PRICING
No hidden fees, referral fees, or commissions
The fee you pay for financial planning and advice shouldn't be based on the amount of assets you have
Unlike most financial firms:
- We don't sell financial products; we don't receive commissions or any third-party compensation
- We don't receive asset-based compensation based on the size of your investment portfolio or your estate
- We don't require that you have investment accounts or assets to manage
Why we don't use the AUM model
To understand why we don’t use this approach, it helps to know how it typically works.
Most financial advisors are paid based on a percentage of the assets they manage — usually about 1% per year. This is called an Assets Under Management (AUM) fee.
For example, if you have $1 million invested and your advisor charges 1%, you’ll pay about $10,000 per year — regardless of how much time the advisor spends or how complex your situation is.
The AUM model was built decades ago, when investment management was the main service advisors offered. Today, clients have low-cost access to diversified portfolios and need guidance that goes far beyond investments — integrating taxes, retirement, estate, and cash-flow planning.
Why our firm chose a different path
At Etzler Financial Advisors, we charge for time and expertise, not the size of your investment portfolio. That keeps advice objective, fair, and conflict-free.
We believe the people we serve should know exactly what they’re paying for and why. Whether your portfolio is $200,000 or $2 million, our focus stays the same — helping you make smart, informed decisions aligned with your goals.
AUM vs. Time-Based Planning
H
How Fees are Calculated
Example
Incentives
Fairness
Transparency
Traditional AUM Model
Percentage of assets managed (usually 1%)
$1M portfolio = $10,000/year
Advisor’s pay increases with your account size
Clients with more assets pay more, even for similar work
Automatically deducted from your account
Our Time-Based Model
Based on time and expertise required
10 hours × $250/hour = $2,500
No conflicts — advice focused solely on your goals
Fees reflect complexity and time, not wealth
You know exactly what you’re paying for
What does it cost to work with us?
- Services are customized to your personal situation and charged at the rate of $250/hour
- We offer an introductory consultation to help develop a personalized time estimate tailored to your specific needs
Comprehensive Financial or Retirement Planning
Comprehensive planning and advice to address your goals, objectives, and concerns
The typical fee ranges between $3,000 and $5,000 for most households*
Ongoing Planning, Advice, & Investment Management
Ongoing financial planning, advice, and support with or without investment management services
The typical fee ranges between $2,000 to $5,000 per year for most households*
* The estimated fee may be higher if you are a business owner, have a highly structured legal estate, own private or illiquid investments or otherwise have complexity in your financial life.
Employer Services
The fee for employer services is time-based and will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
Scope of services
Time to perform scope of services
Complexity of the assignment
If you’re ready for advice that’s clear, transparent, and focused entirely on your best interests, let’s talk
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Etzler Financial Advisors, LLC (“EFA”) is a registered investment adviser offering advisory services in the State of California and in other jurisdictions where exempted. The presence of this website on the Internet shall not be directly or indirectly interpreted as a solicitation of advisory services to persons of another jurisdiction unless otherwise permitted by statute. Follow-up or individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by EFA in the rendering of personalized advice for compensation shall not be made without our first complying with jurisdiction requirements or pursuant an applicable exemption.