Most financial advisors are vague about how they get paid. I'm not. Here's everything — who pays me, how much (when relevant), 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. Comprehensive Retirement Income Planning and Wealth Management are professional services with transparent fees. Both categories are held to a fiduciary standard — I am always required to act in your best interest only.
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.
Comprehensive Retirement Income Planning and Wealth Management are fee-only paid services — always fully disclosed upfront
Insurance and Social Security planning is no charge. Comprehensive Retirement Income and Financial Planning, as well as Wealth Management, are always fee-only and always in your best interest.
Parts A, B & Supplement selection — plus complimentary Part D guidance (no commission on Part D)
Compensation: Commission paid by insurance carrier at enrollment
Claiming age 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
A comprehensive, personalized retirement analysis — delivered as a formatted report just for you
Offered free to clients who schedule a full consultation
Full retirement income plan covering all financial aspects — tax strategy, distribution planning, income sequencing, estate coordination
Fee-only — no commissions. As a fiduciary, I am required to always work in your best interest.
Fee-only investment management through Sequent Planning — low-cost ETF portfolios, no account minimum
Fee-only through Sequent Planning, LLC (RIA). As a fiduciary, I am required to always work in your best interest.
Here is every service I offer and exactly how my compensation works for each one.
| Service | Your Cost | How I'm Compensated | Any Conflict of Interest? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Supplement Planning | $0Premium same as applying direct | Commission from carrier at enrollment | Minimal — I recommend the best plan for you; commission is same across carriers |
| Part D Drug Plan Guidance | $0Complimentary — no commission | None — Part D carries no commission; this is complimentary guidance | None — I have no financial stake in your Part D selection |
| Social Security Analysis | $0Complimentary service | None — no products, no commission | None — I have no financial stake in your SS decision |
| Long-Term Care Insurance Review | $0Premium same as applying direct | Commission from carrier at enrollment | Minimal — I compare multiple carriers and recommend what fits your situation |
| Retirement Clarity Kit | $0Free to consultation clients | None — complimentary service | None |
| Comprehensive Retirement Income Planning | Flat fee or monthly advisoryContact to discuss which fits your needs | Fee paid by you — one-time flat fee or ongoing monthly advisory | None — fee structure aligns my interests entirely with yours |
| Investment Management (Sequent) | AUM fee — contact for ratesAnnual % of managed assets | AUM fee — percentage of assets, no commissions | Managed — aligned incentive to grow your account; fully disclosed |
I disclose all compensation in detail prior to any enrollment or engagement. You'll always receive a written disclosure of how I'm compensated before we do business of any kind.
This is my signature offer — a 60+ page, completely personalized retirement analysis that covers your Social Security strategy, Medicare options, long-term care exposure, tax burden projection, and income plan. It's not a generic template. It's built specifically around your numbers, your situation, and your goals.
Financial planners typically charge $400 or more for a document like this. I provide it free to every client I meet with. No obligation to do business afterward — ever.
No — and here's why it would backfire if I did. Medicare Supplement commission is set by the carrier regardless of plan tier. Plan G and Plan N have similar commission structures. My reputation depends on recommending what's right for you, not what pays more. And most carriers I work with pay similar commissions, so there's little financial incentive to favor one over another.
Yes, I discuss them honestly — but my specialty is Medicare Supplements. I believe Supplements generally offer superior protection for most people. I'll walk through both options with you. If Advantage genuinely makes sense for your situation, I'll say so. I don't push any product that isn't right for the client.
Comprehensive Retirement Income Planning is available as a one-time flat-fee engagement or as an ongoing monthly advisory relationship — whichever fits your situation better. Both cover a complete retirement income plan: income projections, tax strategy, Roth conversion modeling, RMD planning, and full coordination with your Medicare, Social Security, and LTC decisions. Investment management through Sequent Planning is a separate AUM-based engagement. Contact me to discuss which approach makes the most sense for you.
No. Sequent Planning has no account minimum for investment management — which is unusual for a boutique RIA. This means I can serve clients who are early in building investable assets, not just those with large portfolios. Sequent focuses on low-cost, evidence-based ETF portfolios.
Absolutely. There is no requirement or expectation to ever hire me for any paid service. You can receive a full Medicare review, Social Security analysis, LTC assessment, and the Retirement Clarity Kit with zero obligation to purchase any product or engage any paid service. I mean that sincerely.
As a fiduciary, I am required — and fully committed — to always work in your best interest only, for every service I provide. This applies to both insurance planning and financial and investment planning. It is not optional, and it is not situational. Every recommendation I make must serve your needs, not my revenue. The compensation disclosure table on this page shows exactly how I'm paid for each service so you can hold me accountable to that standard.
Medicare planning, Social Security analysis, and LTC review — all free, all no-pressure, and all focused entirely on what's right for you. Book a consultation and see for yourself.
Book My Free Consultation →No credit card. No commitment. No obligation — ever.