Advisor Fees Comparison: What Retirees Should Know

An advisor fees comparison should do more than line up percentages. Retirees need to understand what each fee pays for, which conflicts may exist, how the bill changes as assets or needs change, and whether the service includes the retirement, tax, estate, and investment coordination they actually want.

If you want to discuss a planning relationship built around your full financial picture, schedule a call with Hoxton Planning & Management.

That distinction matters in retirement. Before retirement, many savers judge advice by accumulation: Did I save enough? Is my portfolio growing? After paychecks stop, the questions broaden. A retiree may need help deciding how to create cash flow, coordinate tax brackets, consider Roth conversions, update beneficiaries, manage risk, and weigh legacy goals. A fee that looks simple on paper may or may not cover that work.

Hoxton Planning & Management is a fee-only fiduciary firm serving serious savers who are nearing retirement or already retired. Its public Form ADV lists wealth management fees that generally range from 0.50% to 1.50%, investment management fees from 0.50% to 1.00%, and stand-alone financial planning fees from $3,000 to $50,000. Fees vary by engagement, so prospective clients should review the specific agreement and current disclosure documents rather than treating any range as a quote.

Advisor fees comparison at a glance

Advisor fees are commonly charged through assets under management, a flat or project planning fee, hourly billing, commissions, or a combination. For retirees, the useful comparison is not only “which number is lowest?” It is “what is the annual cost, what is included, and what incentives come with it?”

A side-by-side table helps, but retirees should compare each proposal on the same basis. Convert the quoted fee into annual dollars where possible. Then list the services attached to that dollar figure, such as retirement income planning, tax-aware withdrawal strategy, portfolio management, estate planning coordination, and meeting cadence.

What is an AUM fee, and how does it affect retirees?

An assets-under-management fee, often called an AUM fee, is calculated as a percentage of the assets an advisor manages. If an advisor charges 1.00% on $1,000,000 of billed assets, the annual advisory fee is $10,000 before considering any fund expenses, custodian costs, or other charges disclosed separately.

AUM pricing is common because it ties the advisor’s revenue to assets being supervised and can support an ongoing service relationship. For retirees, it may be practical when the engagement includes portfolio management, rebalancing, coordinated withdrawals, and recurring planning conversations. The fee can also rise or fall as billed assets change, even if the client’s calendar of planning needs remains similar.

• Ask whether pricing is tiered: Some fee schedules apply different rates to portions of the portfolio.
• Confirm the billed base: Not every household asset is necessarily managed or billed.
• Separate advisory fees from investment costs: Mutual fund or ETF expenses are different from the advisor’s compensation.
• Ask what planning is included: Investment management and comprehensive retirement planning are not automatically identical.

Hoxton Planning & Management describes a broader planning approach that considers present financial position, taxes, risk management, investments, estate planning, and retirement planning. When comparing an AUM engagement, retirees should ask which of those disciplines are part of their actual scope and how often the plan is revisited.

How do flat planning fees work?

A flat planning fee is a fixed dollar amount for an agreed scope. It may cover a one-time financial plan, a defined planning project, or an ongoing relationship that is priced separately from portfolio size. The appeal is straightforward: the client can see the planning fee in dollars before beginning.

Flat fees can be especially relevant when a retiree wants advice that extends beyond invested assets. Examples may include Social Security timing discussions, retirement income decisions, insurance reviews, estate planning coordination, charitable planning questions, or analysis of assets an advisor will not directly manage. The exact deliverables should be stated in writing.

Hoxton’s disclosure materials state that stand-alone financial planning fees range from $3,000 to $50,000, depending on the engagement. That range reflects how much scope can vary. A focused planning project is different from a highly complex household with business interests, multi-account tax considerations, or extensive estate coordination. Retirees should ask what drives the final fee and what triggers additional work.

For a clearer view of how a retirement planning engagement may unfold, review Hoxton’s planning process before comparing proposals.

Where do commissions fit into an advisor fees comparison?

Commissions are transaction- or product-linked compensation. A professional might receive compensation when a client buys a particular insurance product, annuity, security, or other financial product, depending on the arrangement. Commissions are not automatically hidden, but they do create a different incentive than a fee-only advice relationship.

Retirees should ask direct questions. Is the professional acting as a fiduciary for this recommendation? Is compensation paid by the client, a product company, or both? Could another product or no product solve the same problem? Which costs continue after the initial purchase? Clear answers help reveal whether the recommendation serves the retirement plan or is shaped by the compensation method.

Hoxton Planning & Management positions itself as a fee-only fiduciary, meaning its business model is based on advisory and planning fees rather than product commissions. Retirees who prefer that model can learn more about the firm’s fiduciary framing on its About page.

How should retirees compare annual advisor costs?

Retirees should compare advisor costs in annual dollars, based on the same planning scope. A percentage fee, flat fee, hourly estimate, and commission-linked recommendation cannot be judged fairly unless the household knows what it may pay now, what it may pay later, and what support comes with the price.

1. Write down the services needed. Include portfolio management, cash-flow planning, tax coordination, estate planning coordination, insurance review, and meeting frequency.
2. Convert percentages into dollars. For example, 0.75% of $1,000,000 equals $7,500 annually before any other disclosed costs.
3. Ask for the all-in picture. Advisory fees, planning fees, product costs, and underlying investment expenses should not be blurred together.
4. Identify one-time versus recurring costs. A planning project and an ongoing wealth management relationship answer different needs.
5. Compare service depth, not just price. A low fee is not automatically good value if the retiree needs decisions that are outside the engagement.

These examples are educational, not Hoxton quotes. The useful habit is the math. Once retirees force every proposal into comparable dollars and services, vague pricing becomes much easier to question.

Which advisor fee questions matter most before hiring?

The best fee questions reveal scope, incentives, and accountability. Retirees should ask them before signing an advisory agreement, not after the first invoice or after a product recommendation feels unclear.

• Are you fee-only, fee-based, commission-based, or compensated through more than one channel?
• Will you act as a fiduciary throughout our relationship and recommendations?
• What exact services are included in the quoted fee?
• What work requires a separate planning fee or outside professional?
• How often will my plan and portfolio be reviewed?
• How are fees billed, and will they appear directly on an invoice or account statement?
• What conflicts of interest should I understand?
• Where can I review your Form ADV or current disclosure brochure?

If you are collecting advisor questions before an introductory conversation, contact Hoxton Planning & Management to start with a clearer planning discussion.

What retirees should look for beyond the fee

A fee is one decision point, not the full test of an advisor relationship. Retirees often need a process for turning savings into sustainable choices. That may involve evaluating withdrawal decisions alongside taxes, portfolio risk alongside spending needs, and estate wishes alongside beneficiary designations.

Look for signs that an advisor can discuss the whole picture in plain language. Hoxton describes clients as serious savers near retirement or already retired, often busy delegators who value professional advice. Its homepage outlines a planning framework spanning retirement, taxes, investments, risk, estate issues, and current financial position. That kind of service description helps a retiree match the proposal to the decisions they actually face.

Retirees can also compare process. A thoughtful firm should be able to explain how information is gathered, how planning recommendations are developed, when implementation begins, and how ongoing reviews happen. When the process is murky, even a transparent fee schedule may not tell the whole story.

Advisor fees comparison: a practical decision framework

An advisor fees comparison works best when retirees match compensation to desired outcomes. A household wanting limited advice on one decision may evaluate hourly or project pricing differently from a household seeking long-term coordination of investments, retirement income, taxes, and estate considerations.

1. Define the job: One decision, one plan, or an ongoing relationship?
2. Define the compensation: AUM, flat, hourly, commission, or a mix?
3. Define the deliverables: Written plan, investment management, meeting cadence, coordination, and updates.
4. Define the conflicts: What incentives might affect advice, and how are they disclosed?
5. Define the proof: Review written disclosures and the engagement agreement before relying on verbal summaries.

No fee model removes the need for due diligence. The goal is to hire with open eyes. Retirees should know how the advisor gets paid, what the household receives, and whether the structure feels aligned with their expectations for retirement planning.

Frequently asked questions about advisor fees

What is the main purpose of an advisor fees comparison?

The purpose is to compare cost, scope, and incentives together. Retirees should translate fees into annual dollars when possible, ask what services are included, and understand whether compensation changes with portfolio size, billable hours, or product transactions.

Is an AUM fee always more expensive than a flat planning fee?

No. It depends on the assets billed, the percentage charged, the flat fee quoted, and the services included. AUM pricing and flat fees may cover different work, so comparing only one number can create a misleading conclusion.

Are commissions bad for retirees?

Commissions create a product-linked incentive that retirees should understand before acting. The key questions are how the professional is compensated, which conflicts are disclosed, whether alternatives were considered, and whether the recommendation fits the retirement plan.

What fees does Hoxton Planning & Management disclose?

Hoxton’s public Form ADV lists wealth management fees generally from 0.50% to 1.50%, investment management fees generally from 0.50% to 1.00%, and stand-alone planning fees from $3,000 to $50,000. Fees vary by engagement and should be confirmed in current disclosures and client agreements.

What should I bring to an introductory advisor conversation?

Bring your core questions, a sense of the decisions you need help making, and a request for written scope and fee disclosures. A productive first discussion should clarify fit, not pressure you into choosing a service before you understand it.

The bottom line

The best advisor fees comparison turns pricing into a decision tool. Retirees should compare AUM fees, flat planning fees, commissions, and hourly arrangements by asking four questions: What will I pay, what will I receive, what conflicts should I understand, and does this relationship address the retirement decisions in front of me?

Hoxton Planning & Management offers fee-only fiduciary planning and investment advisory services for serious savers nearing or living in retirement. If that model aligns with the help you want, schedule a call and use the conversation to compare scope, fit, and fee transparency carefully.