Financial planners are independent or small-firm advisors who help individuals, families, and business owners with retirement planning, investments, insurance, tax strategy, and estate coordination. Fee-only and hybrid planners send invoices for planning engagements, hourly consultations, and recurring advisory retainers. Planners who earn commissions or bill assets under management usually have the fee deducted by the custodian, so invoices mostly apply to flat-fee, hourly, and subscription work.
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Fee-only planners typically use one of four models: a flat fee for a comprehensive financial plan, an hourly rate for project work or one-off questions, an ongoing retainer (often billed monthly or quarterly) for continuous planning, or a percentage of assets under management (AUM) that is usually deducted from the account by the custodian rather than invoiced. Flat plan fees are often set by the complexity of the household: number of accounts, equity compensation, business ownership, rental properties, and estate issues. Retainers commonly scale with income or net worth. Many planners combine an initial planning fee with a smaller annual or monthly fee for ongoing review. Fees should be disclosed in writing before work begins, and registered advisors must follow the disclosure rules in their Form ADV and state or SEC requirements.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive financial plan (initial) | flat fee | $1,500-5,000 |
| Hourly financial planning consultation | per hour | $200-400 |
| Ongoing planning retainer | per month | $150-500 |
| Annual plan review and update | flat fee | $500-2,000 |
| Retirement income or Social Security analysis | flat fee | $500-1,500 |
| Equity compensation or stock option planning | per hour | $250-450 |
| Investment policy statement and portfolio review | flat fee | $750-2,500 |
| Financial coaching session for early-career clients | per session | $100-250 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive financial plan: retirement projections, cash flow, insurance review, estate checklist (final deliverable and 90-minute presentation) | 1 flat fee | $3,200.00 | $3,200.00 |
| Employer stock option and RSU tax timing analysis | 3 hours | $300.00 | $900.00 |
| Follow-up Social Security claiming strategy meeting | 1 hour | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Less: deposit paid at engagement signing | 1 credit | -$1,600.00 | -$1,600.00 |
| Total | $2,750.00 | ||
Notes: Balance due within 15 days of invoice date. Fees are for planning services only and do not include investment management or product commissions. Payment by ACH, check, or card. Deposit was received on the engagement date per the signed advisory agreement.
Ties the charge to the scope and fee schedule the client agreed to, which matters for compliance and disputes.
Clients should see whether they are paying for a plan, a quarterly retainer period, or hours of consultation, such as "Q3 planning retainer, July-September."
Hourly work needs dates and time spent so the client can verify it against the meetings or analysis they received.
Many planners collect half the plan fee up front. Showing the credit prevents confusion about the remaining balance.
Registered investment advisor firms are often expected to identify themselves consistently with their Form ADV and state or SEC registration.
Reinforces the compensation disclosure and distinguishes the invoice from fees charged by custodians or fund companies.
Clients often pay large planning fees, so clear ACH or check instructions reduce delays and avoid sending sensitive account details by email.
Flat-fee plans commonly require 50 percent at signing and the balance on delivery or at the presentation meeting. Retainers are billed monthly or quarterly in advance, often by recurring ACH or card. Hourly work is usually invoiced after the meeting or at month end with net 15 or net 30 terms. Late fees are less common in this field than in trades, and many planners instead pause work or deliverables until the balance is paid, as stated in the agreement. Credit card fees can be significant on large plan fees, so many planners prefer ACH or check. Some advisors can bill fees from an account through the custodian, but that requires written client authorization and should follow applicable rules.
State the plan fee, hourly rate, retainer amount, and what is excluded before the first meeting. An invoice should never be the first time a client sees a number.
Plan building takes many hours of reviewing statements, tax returns, and benefits documents. A 50 percent deposit protects you if the client disappears after the discovery meeting.
Specify the number of meetings, response times, and whether tax return reviews or one-off projects are covered. Without limits, retainer clients tend to expand the scope without paying more.
Tracking hours shows whether your flat fees are profitable and gives you data to reprice complex households or add change-order fees.
Invoices may reference account or plan details. Avoid putting account numbers or Social Security numbers on them, and use secure delivery when possible.
Both are common. Invoicing works for flat-fee and hourly planning where you do not manage assets. Deducting AUM fees from an account generally requires written client authorization and compliance with custodian and regulatory rules. Check what applies to your registration.
You can if your signed agreement states the late fee and your state allows it. Many planners avoid late fees and instead specify that deliverables or ongoing services pause until the invoice is paid.
Spell out the cancellation terms in the agreement. Many planners bill in advance and refund the unused portion on a prorated basis, or require 30 days' notice. Whatever you choose, apply it consistently.
In most states, financial planning services are not subject to sales tax, but a few states tax certain professional or advisory services. Check your state department of revenue or ask your accountant.
Show the calculation: the asset value used, the fee percentage, the billing period, and any proration. Many regulators expect fee calculations to be clear and consistent with your disclosure documents.
Send a Financial Planner estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Financial Planner estimate template