Most financial advisors are vague about how they get paid. I'm not. Here's everything — who pays me, how much, and why. You should always know this before working with any advisor.
My insurance planning services — Medicare Supplement and Long-Term Care — are always at no charge to you. Here's exactly why, with no vagueness.
I'm licensed to sell insurance and appointed with multiple carriers. When you enroll in a Medicare Supplement or LTC policy through me, the insurance carrier pays me a commission from the premium you pay. Your premium is identical whether you work with me or apply directly. The carrier has built the commission into the product. By working with me, you get a licensed specialist at no incremental cost to you.
Your Social Security analysis is also complimentary — included with every consultation because it's deeply connected to your Medicare and tax planning. No commission involved.
The important distinction: Insurance planning (Medicare, LTC) is carrier-compensated — always free to you. Retirement Income Planning and Wealth Management are professional services with transparent fees. Both are held to a fiduciary standard — I am always required to act in your best interest.
Medicare Supplement or LTC Insurance through a carrier I'm appointed with
Built into the product premium — the same premium you'd pay applying directly
Your premium is identical. You get a licensed specialist. The carrier funds that service.
Always fully disclosed upfront — flat fee or AUM, your choice
Medicare planning, Social Security strategy, and Long-Term Care planning are carrier-compensated or complimentary — no charge to you, ever.
Parts A, B & Supplement selection — plus complimentary Part D guidance
Compensation: Commission paid by insurance carrier at enrollment
Claiming optimization, spousal coordination, break-even analysis, and SS tax planning
Compensation: None — this is a complimentary service
Needs analysis, product comparison, Virginia cost data, and spouse protection strategies
Compensation: Commission paid by insurance carrier at enrollment
For retirement income planning and investments, you choose the model that fits your life. Two paths. Same expertise. Same Alan.
Whether you want to stay in control of your own investments or hand everything off completely, you get the same planning expertise, the same personal relationship, and the same fiduciary commitment to your best outcome. The only difference is who executes the investment strategy.
You keep full control of your investments at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard. I provide the professional strategy, the written plan, and the ongoing guidance. You execute.
Best for: Independent-minded people approaching or already in retirement with savings in traditional accounts — 401k, IRA, or brokerage — who want a professional strategy, a clear plan, and the confidence to execute it themselves
You delegate completely. I manage your investment portfolio professionally, handle all the rebalancing, and integrate it with your full retirement plan. You relax.
Best for: those who want full delegation and prefer one advisor managing everything
Start with a one-time Blueprint if you want the plan and the roadmap. Move to the Navigator if you want me alongside you throughout retirement.
Your complete retirement roadmap — delivered as a written plan you keep and use forever
Compensation: Flat fee paid directly by you · No commissions on planning
The ongoing advisory relationship — I'm alongside you every step of the way through retirement
Compensation: Flat fee paid directly by you · No commissions on planning
Think of your advisory fee as a salary. On a $1M portfolio, that's $10,000 a year. The question isn't whether the fee is a small percentage — it's what job that salary is paying for, and whether someone is showing up for all of it.
| Portfolio Size | DIY, No Advice | Retirement Navigator | Traditional AUM (1%) | You Save vs. AUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $0/yr No plan, no guidance |
$1,800/yr $1,500 if paid annually |
$5,000/yr | $3,200/yr |
| $750,000 | $0/yr No plan, no guidance |
$1,800/yr $1,500 if paid annually |
$7,500/yr | $5,700/yr |
| $1,000,000 | $0/yr No plan, no guidance |
$1,800/yr $1,500 if paid annually |
$10,000/yr | $8,200/yr |
| $1,500,000 | $0/yr No plan, no guidance |
$1,800/yr $1,500 if paid annually |
$15,000/yr | $13,200/yr |
| What's included | Nothing | ✓ Full retirement plan ✓ SS strategy ✓ Medicare review ✓ Tax planning guidance ✓ Investment guidance |
✓ Portfolio management ✓ Planning (varies) |
Same expertise You stay in control |
Retirement Navigator ongoing fee is $1,800/year (billed at $150/month or $450/quarter), or $1,500/year paid annually. Year 1 requires $1,050 upfront ($600 planning fee + first quarter). Traditional AUM comparison assumes 1.00% annual fee on total portfolio. DIY column reflects $0 advisor cost only — does not account for the potential cost of uninformed decisions. Past performance and fee savings not guaranteed.
They're not the same job. Most traditional financial advisors specialize in accumulation — growing the portfolio. Retirement income planning is a different specialty: making the portfolio last, coordinating income sources, managing taxes, and protecting against risks that didn't exist during the saving years.
"I prefer to be your architect, not your contractor. If your plan needs an annuity, I'll provide the blueprints for a fee-only version that puts more money in your pocket. Because I don't rely on commissions to pay my bills, I can tell you the truth about whether you actually need one at all."
"Has your advisor shown you a year-by-year tax map of which accounts to draw from first — specifically designed to keep your income below the IRMAA thresholds that trigger higher Medicare premiums?"
"Has your advisor modeled your spousal Social Security coordination strategy — not just your claiming age, but how the timing of the higher earner's claim affects the survivor benefit for the rest of your spouse's life?"
"Does your advisor review your Medicare plan every October during Annual Enrollment — and coordinate that review with your income and tax projections for the coming year?"
If the answer to any of these is "no" — you have a planning gap that is likely costing you real money, regardless of how well your portfolio is managed.
"You are currently paying an advisor $10,000 a year on a $1M portfolio. If you hired an employee for $10,000 and they only showed up once a quarter to show you a chart of the stock market — but never helped you with your Medicare, your Social Security filing, your tax sequencing, or your long-term care risk — would you keep paying them?"
That $8,200 gap between what you pay in AUM fees and what the Retirement Navigator costs isn't just money saved. It's the difference between a portfolio manager and a retirement income specialist. Those are two very different jobs — and most people only know they're paying for one of them.
Many clients keep their existing investment manager and engage Alan separately for retirement income planning, Medicare guidance, Social Security optimization, and tax sequencing — the specialties most investment advisors don't cover. You can keep your advisor for your investments and hire Alan for your retirement plan. Often, once clients see the depth of the planning and the transparency of the flat fee, the light bulb goes on.
30 minutes · No obligation · No pressure
Here is exactly how I'm compensated for every service I offer — no guessing, no fine print.
| Service | Your Cost | Who Compensates Alan | Fiduciary Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Planning Supplement & LTC selection, enrollment, annual review |
$0 Free to you |
Insurance carrier commission Built into your premium — same either way |
✓ Yes |
| Social Security Planning Claiming strategy, spousal coordination, SS taxation |
$0 Complimentary |
No compensation Provided as a complimentary service |
✓ Yes |
| Long-Term Care Planning Needs analysis, policy comparison, carrier quotes |
$0 Free to you |
Insurance carrier commission Built into your premium — same either way |
✓ Yes |
| Retirement Blueprint One-time comprehensive retirement income plan |
$2,000 One-time flat fee |
You — direct flat fee No commissions, no conflicts |
✓ Yes |
| Retirement Navigator Ongoing advisory membership, quarterly calls, annual reviews |
$600 + $150/mo Starts with $1,050 · then $150/mo, $450/qtr, or $1,500/yr · Year 2+: $1,500–$1,800/yr |
You — direct flat fee No commissions, no conflicts |
✓ Yes |
| Investment Management (AUM) Full portfolio management through Sequent Planning, LLC |
1.00%–1.25%/year ~$300k minimum |
You — advisory fee on assets All planning services included, no separate fee |
✓ Yes |
Start with a free 30-minute conversation. We'll talk through your situation, your goals, and your comfort level — and I'll tell you honestly which approach makes the most sense for you.
Book a Free 30-Min Conversation →