Financial planning worksheet, calculator, and charts on a desk

Minnesota flat-fee financial advisor

Financial Planning Without AUM Fees

Flames Financial Planning helps households coordinate investment management, tax planning, retirement planning, and family wealth decisions under a fixed annual membership. Flagship and Signature include tax filing support, legal document creation, and unlimited updates.

$2,000-$6,200 Flat annual membership options based on planning complexity.
0% AUM Your fee is not a percentage of your portfolio.
Tax support Tax planning and tax filing support included in Flagship and Signature.
Minnesota-based Local roots with virtual planning flexibility.

What Flames FP does

One Relationship for the Financial Decisions That Affect Each Other

Investment decisions affect taxes. Tax decisions affect retirement. Retirement decisions affect estate planning and family wealth. Flames FP is designed to connect those decisions in one flat-fee planning relationship.

Flames Financial Planning is a flat-fee financial advisor based in Minnesota. Memberships can include investment management, tax planning, retirement planning, family wealth coordination, and ongoing advisor access without AUM fees. Flagship and Signature also include tax filing support, legal document creation, and unlimited updates.

Memberships

Flat Annual Pricing Based on Planning Needs

Your cost is based on the complexity of the planning relationship, not the size of your investment portfolio.

Tier 1

Flames Foundational

$2,000 / year

Billed quarterly in advance

For young professionals, young families, and households building their financial foundation.

What's included

Financial planning and organization Cash flow, savings strategy, benefits, insurance, and next-step planning.
Investment management IRA, Roth, taxable, and other core accounts without AUM fees.
Tax-aware planning Ongoing planning that connects taxes, cash flow, and investing decisions.
Ongoing advisor relationship Year-round support, proactive check-ins, and implementation guidance.
Tier 3

Flames Signature

$6,200 / year

Billed quarterly in advance

For pre-retirees, retirees, and households with advanced retirement, tax, and family wealth decisions.

What's included Everything in Flames Flagship +

Advanced retirement income planning Social Security, Medicare, withdrawal strategy, and RMD planning.
Legacy and gifting strategy Family wealth transfer, charitable planning, and beneficiary decisions.
Proactive planning updates Unlimited updates for life changes, planning refinements, and document needs.
Family-office style coordination Coordinated guidance across taxes, retirement, estate, and family decisions.

Flagship and Signature include legal document creation and unlimited updates. Membership scope can still vary by household complexity.

Services

Planning, Investments, Taxes, Retirement, and Estate Guidance

Flames FP is not built around portfolio management alone. The point is coordinated advice.

Investment Management

Portfolio guidance connected to taxes, retirement, cash flow, and your broader plan.

Explore services

Estate Planning Guidance

Legal document creation, beneficiary strategy, legacy planning, and family wealth coordination.

See the one-flat-fee bundle

Ongoing Advice

Help with decisions that come up during the year, not just a one-time plan.

View all services

Who we help

Built for Households With Real Financial Complexity

Flames FP can be a fit if you want an advisor helping coordinate investments, taxes, retirement, and estate guidance instead of treating each decision separately.

  • High-income families and growing households
  • Physicians and corporate employees
  • Young families building their financial foundation
  • Pre-retirees and retirees planning income and taxes
  • Minnesota households who value virtual planning flexibility
Family reviewing financial planning decisions with an advisor

Flat fee vs AUM

Why Not Just Pay 1% of Your Portfolio?

A traditional 1% AUM advisor earns more as your portfolio grows. A flat-fee advisor charges a fixed membership fee for the planning relationship.

$500,000 portfolio

A 1% AUM fee is about $5,000 per year.

$1 million portfolio

A 1% AUM fee is about $10,000 per year.

$2 million portfolio

A 1% AUM fee is about $20,000 per year.

Client proof

What Clients Say About Working With Flames FP

Short excerpts from Google reviews highlight the parts of the relationship that matter most: personal fit, coordinated advice, and trust. See Google reviews.

Personal fit

"Working with Joel has been a life changer."
Kirsten, Google review

Advisor relationship

"Financial planning is accessible, personal and enjoyable through Joel's expertise!"
Jonny, Google review

Trust and confidence

"Joel at Flames is an exceptional financial planner who has consistently exceeded our expectations."
Anthony, Google review

Client testimonials from Google reviews. Reviewers were not compensated. Individual experiences vary and are not indicative of future results or outcomes.

Learn

Guides for Comparing Financial Advisors

Learn how flat fees compare with AUM fees, what financial advisors cost, and what to ask before hiring an advisor.

Flat Fee vs AUM

Compare a flat annual membership with a traditional percentage-of-assets fee.

Read the guide

Financial Advisor Cost

Understand AUM fees, flat fees, hourly planning, project fees, and commissions.

Read the guide

One Flat Fee Bundle

See how investments, taxes, retirement, and estate guidance can fit under one annual fee.

Read the guide

FAQ

Common Questions

Does Flames Financial Planning charge AUM fees?

No. Flames FP uses flat annual membership pricing instead of charging a percentage of assets under management.

What does Flames Financial Planning include?

Depending on the membership, Flames FP can include financial planning, investment management, tax planning, retirement planning, family wealth coordination, and ongoing advisor access. Flagship and Signature also include tax filing support, legal document creation, and unlimited updates.

Can a flat-fee advisor include tax filing and investment management?

Yes. Flames FP can include investment management and tax planning under a fixed annual membership instead of an AUM fee, with tax filing support included in Flagship and Signature.

How much does Flames Financial Planning cost?

Flames FP offers annual memberships of $2,000, $4,200, or $6,200 depending on planning complexity.

Does Flames FP work with Minnesota clients?

Yes. Flames FP is Minnesota-based and can work with local and virtual clients where permitted by registration and compliance requirements.

Next step

Want to See Whether a Flat-Fee Membership Fits?

Schedule a discovery call to talk through your questions, the planning work involved, and which membership may fit best.