Hello friends. I am trying to find a financial advisor that can help me plan for retirement. I have been browsing the website of Wiser Wealth Management in Marietta, Georgia, where I currently reside. Although their website makes them seem amazing, I still like to conduct my homework before making a financial commitment. Does anyone know anyone who works at Wiser or has used them in the past for any kind of financial planning?
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The majority of our retirement assets are held in my spouse’s DCP and 401K. In roughly 1.5 years, he intends to retire. We engaged a Financial Advisor at a fixed charge. He created a comprehensive retirement plan for us and makes investing recommendations based on the money in our husband’s 401(k) and DCP. In addition, he makes recommendations for our savings and brokerage accounts. His fee is a lot less than the 1% that consultants who want to control how our money is invested charge, but we still have to make the trades ourselves. I heartily endorse using a flat-fee counselor. He has provided us with comfort and truly wise counsel.
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This is helpful information. I am already regretting not seeking a flat-fee advisor years ago when I had to make DCP elections. I also appreciated the suggestion from Constant-Dot to map out fixed expenses, but since my DCP payouts are spread over time and I might be able to adjust some of the elections, it feels a bit overwhelming!
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I hired a CFP for a one-time consultation and paid by the hour. As I approach retirement, I am pleased with the work she did. She reviewed all my assets 401Ks, IRAs, brokerage accounts, pensions, savings, checking, real estate, etc. and my income, and asked detailed questions about my retirement plans. While she made some mild recommendations regarding my investments, her focus was more on tax issues, Social Security considerations, and when to stop working. I believe it was money well spent.
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How to find such fee only people?
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The same query, How did you locate the one-time fee? Do all CFPs charge a fee?
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No. I discovered that most CFPs charge based on assets under management AUM. I had to search extensively to find one that offered a flat fee or hourly rate. I just began by exploring options and asking questions.
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Agreed 
I do believe the AUM business model is starting to shift, even if only slightly. However, finding someone who charges by the hour is still challenging. I did come across a larger firm that offers a flat fee, but it operates on a subscription model, and I was not sure I needed ongoing advice. The value of a good CFP goes beyond just buy/sell recommendations, I was looking for assistance with retirement timing, Social Security planning, estate planning, and more.