Flat Fee Financial Planning & Investment Management
Motif Planning provides ongoing financial planning and investment management for high-income families who want one advisor coordinating their full financial life.
You pay one annual fee. No commissions, percentage-based AUM fee, or investment minimum.
| Annual fee | $10,000 per year (billed quarterly) |
| Includes | Financial planning + investment management |
| Investment minimum | None |
| Cancellation | 30 days’ notice |
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“If you are looking for a financial planner who genuinely listens, I highly recommend Spenser. He didn’t just look at the numbers; he took the time to understand my personal situation and built a customized plan around it.
He is remarkably knowledgeable, sharp, and easy to work with. Having his guidance has given me a real sense of stability and I feel so much more secure and confident about my financial future thanks to his advice 🙂“
– Malvika, client since 2026
Disclosure: Motif Planning has not provided any compensation for the testimonials shown. The testimonials shown have been selected from among all client feedback. To our knowledge, no other conflicts of interest exist regarding these testimonials. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success. View all reviews at Wealthtender.
Flat fee vs AUM pricing
Motif Planning charges one annual fee for ongoing financial planning and investment management.
Your fee does not automatically increase as your portfolio grows.
The more your portfolio grows, the larger the difference between a flat fee and percentage-based pricing can become.
| Portfolio size | Motif Planning flat fee | 1% AUM* fee |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | $10,000/year | $10,000/year |
| $2,000,000 | $10,000/year | $20,000/year |
| $3,000,000 | $10,000/year | $30,000/year |
| $5,000,000+ | $10,000/year | $50,000+/year |
*AUM stands for assets under management.
Under percentage-based AUM pricing, the advisory fee is calculated as a percentage of the assets managed.
Who this is for
This tends to fit best for families who want ongoing planning, not a one-time financial plan.
You may be a good fit if:
- Your household earns $350k+
- You have accumulated meaningful savings and investments
- You have kids or plan to
- You have RSUs, stock options, bonuses, deferred comp, or complex benefits
- You want proactive tax planning
- You want financial planning and investment management for one flat fee
- You want year round access when financial decisions come up
- You value having one advisor coordinate your full financial life
What the fee covers
The annual fee includes:
- Ongoing financial planning
- Investment management and portfolio design
- Lifetime tax planning
- Equity compensation planning
- Cash flow and savings strategy
- Employee benefits review
- Insurance review
- College planning
- Retirement and work optional planning
- Estate planning coordination
- CPA and attorney coordination
- At least two planning meetings per year
- Ongoing access throughout the year
What the annual fee helps you solve
High-income families often already have many of the right pieces in place. The challenge is coordinating decisions across taxes, investments, benefits, equity compensation, insurance, college, estate planning, and family goals.
Your ongoing relationship with Motif Planning brings those decisions together.
That is where flat fee planning can create value.
| Common question | How Motif Planning helps |
|---|---|
| Are we overpaying in taxes? | We look for planning opportunities across your 401(k), HSA, Roth strategy, equity comp, charitable giving, investments, and CPA coordination. |
| What should we do with RSUs, stock options, or bonuses? | We help you decide what to keep, what to sell, how to plan for taxes, and how to reduce concentration risk. |
| How much should we be saving versus spending today? | We coordinate income, bonuses, cash reserves, investments, retirement, college, major purchases, giving, and lifestyle spending. |
| Are our investments working with the rest of our plan? | We build and manage a diversified long-term portfolio across taxable accounts, IRAs, HSAs, employer plans, and company stock while coordinating investment decisions with taxes and your other goals. |
| Do we have the right insurance? | We review life, disability, umbrella, health, home, and auto coverage so your family has the right protection. |
| What should we do first? | We help turn competing decisions into a clear order of operations. |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Motif Planning tends to fit best for high-income families who have already built a strong financial foundation and want ongoing financial planning and investment management.
Most clients earn $350k+ as a household, have kids or plan to, have accumulated savings and investments, and want help coordinating taxes, investments, equity compensation, employee benefits, insurance, college, retirement, and major life decisions.
If you’re unsure, schedule a call and we can talk it through.
No. Motif Planning does not require a minimum portfolio size.
Our annual fee is based on the ongoing financial planning and investment management relationship rather than the amount of assets you have.
No. Investment management is available as part of your ongoing relationship, but you are not required to transfer your investment accounts to Motif Planning.
If you prefer to manage your own accounts, we can still provide investment recommendations and coordinate those investments with your financial plan.
Download our Investment Philosophy white paper (PDF)
The annual fee includes ongoing financial planning, investment management, tax planning, equity compensation planning, cash flow strategy, employee benefits, insurance, college planning, retirement planning, estate planning coordination, CPA and attorney coordination, at least two planning meetings per year, and ongoing access throughout the year.
There is no additional advisory fee for investment management.
A flat fee keeps the cost of your advisory relationship from automatically increasing as your investment portfolio grows.
You receive ongoing financial planning and investment management for the same annual fee, so your cost is based on the relationship rather than a percentage of your wealth.
We meet at least twice per year, usually once in the spring and once in the fall.
You can also reach out during the year when financial decisions come up, such as open enrollment, RSU vesting, bonus planning, tax questions, job changes, major purchases, or family decisions.
Yes. You can cancel with 30 days’ notice.
Motif Planning does not offer a pause option because ongoing planning requires consistent attention and limited client capacity.
