Business Arrangements Our annual retainer is based on the complexity of the relationship, the time, effort, responsibility and skill required to perform the necessary work entailed in providing comprehensive financial counseling services. This retainer is updated annually, usually at the time of the financial planning review, to adjust for inflation and/or for material changes in net worth or our responsibilities. We typically do not charge an hourly fee because we believe fee-for-time contracts detract from our focus on long-standing clients. Typically, our minimum retainer is $12,000. Perspectives on Fees and Services A client searching for financial planning expertise should understand that fees and services are interdependent. Good value is determined by the quality and breadth of the services in relation to the prices and fees. Factors to consider in assessing good value include the following: Financial counseling (what we provide) is more than what people often associate with the term "investment advice." Not all providers are staffed or structured for comprehensive financial counseling, in fact relatively few are. High quality advisors should have extraordinary backgrounds, education and experience. Many providers' services are highly targeted, not comprehensive. What may seem to be low cost may have very limited value. "Human capital" (the time and ability to provide advice tailored to unique circumstances) is rare. In some cases, there may well be a hidden cost of neglectful or poor advice. Conflicts of interest are inherent in many types of commonly used financial services. Comprehensive planning, as we practice it, encompasses the complete range of services necessary for professional, personalized planning. This is much more than elementary brokerage, even with today's bells and whistles, proffered by those who may market themselves as "financial advisors" or "wealth managers." While it may be difficult to illustrate the intangible factors described above, especially since different firms and organizations have varying services and fee structures, we think it's helpful to provide a general picture. (Click here to see Services Comparison Chart) The chart provides a compilation of those services we believe are essential to comprehensive financial counseling with an illustration of the probable costs associated with the various providers including Frederic T. Kutscher Associates. © Copyright 2009 - Frederic T. Kutscher Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Disclaimer