Our Fee-losophy
Our fee structure is governed by these principles:
- We will provide an entry-level minimum fee an E-6 could afford.
- 100% of our compensation will come directly from the client.
- Transparent, simple, and fair
To accomplish those things we calculate an annual fee based on the complexity of your financial situation. Our primary means of assessing complexity is to use the main pieces of your net worth as a proxy. Real estate, investment accounts, mortgages, student loans, etc. Once we understand that net worth, we make a few adjustments to it:
- We discount up to $100K from it for a Thrift Savings Plan balance
- We discount up to $100K from it for equity in your primary residence
- We add back in any student debt in excess of $100K
Once we have your modified net worth (MNW) figured out, we assess your annual fee as follows:
| Modified Net Worth (MNW) | Annual Planning Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $150K | $1500 |
| $150K - $500K | $1500 + [0.7143% x (MNW - $150K)] |
| $500K - $1.5MM | $4000 + [0.5% x (MNW - $500)] |
| $1.5MM - $5MM | $9000 + [0.25% x (MNW - $1.5MM)] |
| > $5MM | $17,750 + [0.1% x (MNW - $5MM)] |
The MNW formula determines what your maximum annual fee would be. Our next step is to review more specific elements of your financial situation, reducing the fee whenever we find less complexity than what your raw net worth suggests. We then present you with a specific quote for your first year of service, and if that quote is acceptable to you then we get to work. Most clients who elect to remain clients for more than twelve months will see a 20% reduction in their annual fee in their second year, with a minimum annual fee of $1200. RWS's maximum annual fee is $12K.
A video to help explain our fee structure:
Value We Provide
Now, you may be thinking that paying higher fees just because your net worth is higher doesn't make much sense. We couldn't agree more. Just as we believe your fees should be transparent, we believe just as passionately that higher fees should expect more service and more value in return. To that end, as your fees increase, we deliver accordingly.
| Service Tier | Wealth Builder | Wealth Manager | Legacy Planner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee Starting At | $125 | $250 | $500 |
| Services | |||
| Establish Goals | Included | Included | Included |
| Budget & Cash Flow | Included | Included | Included |
| Retirement Planning | Included | Included | Included |
| Education Planning | Included | Included | Included |
| Investment Management | Included | Included | Included |
| Insurance Analysis | Included | Included | Included |
| Military Pension Analysis | Included | Included | Included |
| Widow/Widower Transition Assistance | Included | Included | Included |
| Estate Planning | Basic | Basic | Advanced |
| Individual Tax Preparation | 50% Discount | Included | Included |
| Proactive Tax Service | 50% Discount | Included | Included |
| Tax Representation | 50% Discount | Included | Included |
| Aging Parent Care Planning | Included | Included | |
| Inheritance Planning | Included | Included | |
| Marriage/Divorce Planning | Included | Included | |
| Special Needs Planning | Included | Included | |
| Gift & Transfer Tax Preparation | Included | Included | |
| Partnership Tax Preparation | 50% Discount | Included | |
| S-Corp Tax Preparation | 50% Discount | Included | |
| Advanced Tax Strategies | Included |