Fee-only financial advice for people in Columbus, Indiana and across the country

When searching for fee-only wealth management in Columbus, Indiana, you need more than investment advice. You need a trusted partner who understands your goals, values, and long-term vision.

Fee-only wealth management services

Our fee covers the following wealth management services:

  • Financial planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Tax planning
  • Social Security analysis
  • Estate planning guidance
  • Cash flow projections
  • Investment management
  • Ongoing meetings & support
  • Tax-efficient investing
  • Charitable giving strategies
  • Family wealth transfer planning
  • Risk management reviews

Your financial strategy should reflect your unique priorities, whether you’re focused on:

Disciplined investment management

Successful investing requires more than reacting to market headlines

Professional wealth managers use:

  • Independent research
  • Long-term investment strategies
  • Disciplined portfolio management
  • Risk-aware decision-making

We Are Value Investors

  • We seek stocks that are significantly undervalued and are typically out of favor with other investors.

  • This is the antithesis of chasing whatever is currently “hot,” popular and typically significantly overvalued.

  • We’re long-term investors, not traders. We are disciplined and patient. On average, we hold stocks for three to five years.

We have remained true to our value discipline during good times for value and, more importantly, when value has been out of favor. When researching a stock, we evaluate it as if we were going to own the entire business for 5-10 years. We look for companies with solid business prospects, sound financial structures, and strong, shareholder-oriented management teams whose stocks are selling at a significant discount to what we think the business is worth.

The stocks we find attractive are typically out of favor with “the Street.” We have also had success investing in spin-offs, post-bankruptcy reorganizations, and other corporate restructurings. Our approach can be characterized as “buying straw hats in the winter.”

This process helps investors stay focused on long-term opportunities and avoid emotional investment decisions during periods of market volatility.

How much it costs

We are compensated by a percentage of your assets for our wealth management services. Our clear, transparent pricing schedule is:

1.5% 1.0%
on the first $500,000 of assets under management (AUM) on AUM above $500,000

As a fee-only financial advisor based in Indiana we accept no commissions and make no product sales. We are only compensated by clients, and we chose to set up our practice this way because we feel that charging AUM fees aligns our interest with yours.

There are no hidden costs. The only compensation we receive is what you see above.

Fee only financial advisor fees: example

Here is a real-life example of how our wealth management fee works. Bill and Betty are a 60-year-old married couple with $1,000,000 in assets under our management. Our fee is calculated in tiers: they pay 1.5% annually on the first $500,000 ($7,500) and 1.0% annually on the remaining $500,000 ($5,000), for a total annual fee of $12,500.

The fee is billed quarterly, at the beginning of each quarter, for the upcoming three months of service. Assuming their account value remains at $1,000,000, that works out to approximately $3,125 per quarter.

In return, Bill and Betty meet with their advisor every six months and receive a quarterly report on their portfolio performance. At the beginning of the relationship, their advisor created a financial plan tailored to their goals, which they review together annually. Their advisor is also available by phone and email throughout the year to answer questions as they arise.

What does fee-only mean?

A fee-only advisor is paid a percentage of your portfolio amount for wealth management and investment management services.

You can expect:

  • Fully aligned advice

  • Avoidance and minimization of conflicts of interest

  • Clear, transparent pricing stated upfront

  • Full disclosure, in writing, of all fees we earn from you

We will never:

  • Accept stock commissions

  • Accept insurance commissions

  • Accept kickbacks for referring you to someone or for recommending a product to you

  • Earn more money based on the number of products you buy

  • Earn more money if you invest in products we recommend

  • Suggest that you take a certain action in order to keep more money invested with us instead of put to uses outside your portfolio, such as paying down debt or buying real estate

Is a fee-only advisor worth it?

Yes, in most cases. When interests are not aligned between financial advisors and their clients, it can result in decisions being made that can adversely affect your retirement and overall financial future. A fee-only financial advisor’s interests are aligned with the best interests of clients and conflicts of interest are held in check.

Financial advisor fee comparison

There are many ways that financial advisors get paid. As a fee-only financial advisor in Columbus, Indiana, we charge fees very differently than commission-based advisors.

Fee-Only vs Commission-Based Advisors

Fee-only advisors are held to a fiduciary standard where as commission-based advisors are not. A commission-based advisor can make recommendations that are suitable but do not necessarily reflect the best possible course of action for the client, regardless of the financial result for the advisor. A commission-based advisor is a salesperson whereas a fee-only advisor provides a service.

AUM Commission-Based
Paid by client
Product sales incentives
Fiduciary standard
Clear pricing
Fee dependent upon size of portfolio
Fee dependent upon number of products or trades recommended

How much does a fee-only financial advisor in Indiana cost?

Fee-only financial advisors in Indiana tend to charge between $6,000 and $12,000 a year, but fee ranges vary in accordance with the type of clients served, their needs, and the depth of services provided.

How are fees paid?

All fees are paid in advance on the first day of the quarter. Fees are deducted directly from accounts.

Do you charge commissions?

No, we are a fee-only advisor. The only compensation we accept is a percentage of your assets for wealth management services provided.

Are you a fiduciary?

Yes, as a fiduciary financial advisor we are bound to the highest standard of care in the industry. We must act solely on your behalf and must minimize and disclose any conflicts of interest that may occur.