Helping You Make Important Retirement Decisions With Greater Visual Clarity
Flat Fee Fiduciary Financial Planning with No AUM fees, for Individuals and Couples Preparing for or Living in Retirement.
Questions People Ask About Retirement, Taxes & Planning
Most people are not looking for more complexity. They are looking for greater clarity around retirement timing, tax strategies, retirement income, investments, and how the pieces of their financial life may work together in a coordinated plan. Below are some of the most common questions people ask as they prepare for retirement or navigate important retirement decisions.
-
A flat-fee fiduciary financial planner is compensated through a transparent fixed fee for planning services rather than a percentage of your investments.
As fiduciaries, we are legally obligated to act in our clients’ best interests. Our flat-fee structure is designed to reduce conflicts and keep the focus on thoughtful retirement, tax, and long-term financial planning.
Awaken Financial Designs does not charge asset-based (AUM) fees. If clients choose investment implementation through third-party platforms such as Altruist, any platform or model fees are paid directly to those third parties.
-
Comprehensive financial planning is the process of organizing the different areas of your financial life into one thoughtful and coordinated strategy.
This may include:
• Early retirement feasibility analysis
• Tax-aware retirement planning
• Cash flow and lifestyle planning
• Social Security timing analysis
• Retirement income and withdrawal strategy
• Roth IRA conversion analysis when appropriate
• RSUs, stock options, and deferred compensation planning
• Estate planning coordination
• Implementation and action planningRather than isolated recommendations, the goal is to create a clearer understanding of how the pieces of your financial life may actually work together over time.
-
Early retirement planning, in our philosophy, means designing the ability to retire before age 60 with greater confidence and clarity.
It is not simply about stopping work earlier. It is about:
• Building financial independence sooner
• Designing income before traditional retirement age
• Coordinating tax strategy around peak earning years
• Structuring sustainable retirement income and withdrawal planning
• Understanding what may actually be possible long before “normal” retirement ageWe believe thoughtful financial planning should create greater freedom, flexibility, and intentionality over how you spend your time and live your life.
-
Tax strategy is foundational to how we approach retirement and financial planning.
Rather than reacting only during tax season, we model multi-year scenarios and integrate tax planning into broader retirement, investment, and income decisions. This may include:
• Roth IRA conversion analysis
• Capital gains planning
• Tax bracket and standard deduction management
• Social Security taxation considerations
• Strategic asset location and withdrawal sequencing
• RSU, stock option, and deferred compensation planningWhen appropriate, we also coordinate with your CPA or tax professional to help ensure planning decisions work together more intentionally over time.
-
Investment guidance and coordination may be included as part of comprehensive retirement and financial planning.
Depending on a client’s preferences and needs, this may include:
• Investment allocation and portfolio review
• 401(k), TSP, and employer retirement plan analysis
• Brokerage account coordination and evaluation
• Investment Policy Statement (IPS) development
• Discretionary investment management when appropriate
• Non-discretionary investment guidance
• View-only account aggregation and coordinationFor clients seeking optional ongoing planning and investment management relationships, implementation may be available through Altruist, a modern custodial and investment platform.
Planning always comes first. Any investment implementation approach is discussed collaboratively and designed around the client’s broader retirement, tax, and long-term financial goals.
-
Protection planning is designed to help reduce financial risk, create greater long-term stability, and support more sustainable retirement outcomes.
This may include:
• Life insurance analysis
• Long-term care planning
• Disability coverage review
• Downside-protection strategies
• Lifetime income planning considerations
• Coordinated review of IRA, Roth IRA, brokerage, and retirement accounts for income, tax, and legacy planning purposesWhen appropriate, protection-oriented strategies may be evaluated as part of a broader retirement and financial plan.
-
Thoughtful financial planning is not purely mathematical. Emotions, stress, communication, and life transitions often influence financial decisions just as much as spreadsheets and projections.
As Certified Yoga Teachers and practitioners of Pranayama (breathwork) and Meditation, David and Ashley incorporate mindfulness-based perspectives into how they approach conversations around retirement, money, and intentional living.
This may include:
• Couples communication and planning conversations
• Retirement vision and lifestyle discussions
• Breathwork and mindfulness practices
• Value-based decision-making frameworks
• Conversations around balance, freedom, and intentional livingThese practices are not financial strategies. They are tools that may help support greater clarity, awareness, and thoughtful long-term decision-making.
-
Thoughtful financial planning is not purely mathematical. Emotions, stress, communication, and life transitions often influence financial decisions just as much as spreadsheets and projections.
As Certified Yoga Teachers and practitioners of Pranayama (breathwork) and Meditation, David and Ashley incorporate mindfulness-based perspectives into how they approach conversations around retirement, money, and intentional living.
This may include:
• Couples communication and planning conversations
• Retirement vision and lifestyle discussions
• Breathwork and mindfulness practices
• Value-based decision-making frameworks
• Conversations around balance, freedom, and intentional livingThese practices are not financial strategies. They are tools that may help support greater clarity, awareness, and thoughtful long-term decision-making.
1. Initial Conversation
A relaxed discussion focused on your goals, questions, retirement concerns, and overall financial picture.
2. Information Gathering
We organize important financial details including investments, retirement accounts, taxes, income sources, and planning priorities.
3. Plan Development & Analysis
We build and model retirement, tax, income, and financial planning scenarios designed around your unique situation.
4. Plan Presentation & Next Steps
You receive a comprehensive written plan along with clear visuals, projections, and coordinated recommendations you can implement over time.
Some clients implement independently, while others choose ongoing planning and investment coordination support.
Two Ways to Work With Us
Option 1: One-Time Retirement & Financial Plan Flat Fee
A comprehensive planning experience designed to help individuals and couples better understand retirement timing, tax strategies, retirement income, Roth IRA conversion opportunities, and other important financial decisions through coordinated visual planning.
Option 2: Ongoing Planning Relationship Flat Fee no AUM Fees
An ongoing relationship for individuals and couples seeking continued retirement, tax, investment, and long-term planning guidance through life's changing decisions.
Every person and couple is different. A complimentary introductory meeting helps determine which planning approach, if any, may be appropriate for your situation. Transparent pricing information, including our One-Time and Ongoing Flat-Fee Planning options, is available at the bottom of this page.
Who Often Finds Value In This Type Of Planning
Individuals and couples who are preparing for retirement, already retired, exploring tax strategies, evaluating Roth IRA conversion opportunities, or trying to make important retirement decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
Some people are looking for a comprehensive one-time plan, while others prefer an ongoing planning relationship as life evolves. Many also appreciate the flexibility of a virtual-first experience and the transparency of flat-fee financial planning.
Ready to Explore What May Be Possible?
If this approach resonates with you, we invite you to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting to explore your questions, goals, and retirement planning opportunities.
Transparent Pricing
We believe financial planning fees should be transparent and easy to understand. Unlike traditional advisors who charge a percentage of your investments, we charge a flat planning fee with no AUM percentage fees, so our compensation is not tied to how much money you have invested.
Every situation is unique, and fees vary based on complexity, scope of services, and planning needs. Below are general ranges for our most common engagements.
-
There is no cost or obligation for an initial meeting.
This conversation allows us to better understand your situation, goals, questions, and planning needs. It also gives you an opportunity to learn more about Awaken Financial Designs, ask questions, and determine whether our approach feels like a good fit for your situation.
If we believe we may be able to help, we will explain the planning process, discuss the appropriate service option, and provide a clear flat-fee proposal before any engagement begins.
Not every conversation results in a planning relationship, and that is perfectly okay. The goal of the meeting is simply to explore your options, gain clarity, and determine whether moving forward together makes sense for both parties.
-
Most engagements range from $3,000–$5,000 depending on complexity.
-
Most engagements begin around $7,500 annually, billed quarterly.
Optional Investment Management
Clients in our ongoing planning relationship may choose to manage their own investments or utilize our optional investment management services.
Unlike many traditional advisory arrangements, Awaken Financial Designs does not charge an assets-under-management (AUM) fee. If we assist with investment management and portfolio implementation, no additional AUM fee is charged by or paid to our firm.
The examples and visuals shown above are for educational and illustrative purposes only. Actual retirement outcomes, tax strategies, Roth IRA conversion results, investment performance, retirement income, and financial decisions vary based on each individual's circumstances, goals, assumptions, and future market conditions.