How Paladin Advisor Group Charges for Its Services: Your Questions Answered
Paladin charges for two services: financial planning and investment management. Each is priced clearly, billed independently, and designed to deliver real value at every stage of your financial life. Here is how both work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services does Paladin offer, and how are they priced?
Paladin offers two distinct services: comprehensive financial planning and investment management. They are priced and billed independently. Engaging in one does not automatically enroll you in the other. You may work with us on planning only, investment management only, or both in combination.
How does the financial planning fee work?
Financial planning is offered under a fixed annual retainer that covers the full scope of planning work delivered throughout the year, including plan development, ongoing reviews, and advisory access.
The retainer can be paid in full at the start of the engagement or spread across quarterly or monthly payments. Clients who pay in full receive a discount. No markup or financing charge applies to the installment options.
What does the financial planning retainer include?
Your retainer covers ongoing guidance across your full financial picture, including:
- Goal setting and priority establishment
- Cash flow analysis
- Retirement projections
- Insurance review and optimization
- Tax planning coordination
- Bi-annual comprehensive plan reviews
- Quarterly progress check-ins
- Major life event planning support
- Estate planning coordination
- Business planning consultation
- Unlimited email consultation
- Access to an online financial dashboard
- Educational content, seminars, and webinars
How does the investment management fee work?
Investment management fees are based on a percentage of the assets we manage on your behalf, commonly referred to as an AUM (assets under management) fee. The percentage declines as your portfolio grows, so larger accounts pay a lower effective rate.
The fee is billed quarterly in arrears based on your account value at the end of each billing period. The specific rate applicable to your account is disclosed in your Investment Advisory Agreement and Form ADV Part 2A, provided before your account is opened.
What does investment management include?
The AUM fee covers ongoing portfolio oversight, including:
- Portfolio design and construction
- Investment selection
- Asset allocation and rebalancing
- Tax-loss harvesting when appropriate
- Performance monitoring and reporting
What is tax-loss harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of selling investments that have declined in value to realize a loss, which can offset taxable gains elsewhere in your portfolio. It is applied when circumstances make it appropriate, not on a fixed schedule.
If I enroll in both services, do the fees combine or offset each other?
They do not offset each other. Each fee is charged independently according to its own agreement. If you engage both services, you will be billed for each separately.
Each engagement also stands on its own. If your needs change and you want to modify or end one service, that decision does not affect the other.
Is there a minimum account size for investment management?
No. Your advisor can help you determine whether a managed account makes sense given your current assets and planning priorities.
How does Paladin get paid, and does that create any conflicts?
We do not earn commissions on financial products. Our compensation comes directly from the fees you pay for planning and investment management. That keeps our incentives straightforward: we are paid to deliver planning and portfolio work, not to recommend specific products.
A fiduciary advisor is legally obligated to act in your best interest. When you understand exactly how your advisor is compensated, you can evaluate whether the incentives align with your goals. For more on how that works in practice, see our guide to what fiduciary financial planning means.
Can fees change after I engage?
Yes. Existing clients are notified in writing at least 30 days before any fee increase takes effect. Any waivers, discounts, or exceptions that apply to your engagement are documented in your client agreement.
How do I know which services are right for my situation?
Start with a direct conversation about your goals, income, and current assets. From there, it is straightforward to identify which services fit your situation now and how your engagement may evolve over time.
You can also explore how our financial planning process is structured before committing to anything.
What to Do Next
Bring these questions into any conversation with a financial advisor:
- How is your fee calculated, and what does it include?
- Do you earn any compensation beyond what I pay you directly?
- Are planning and investment management priced separately?
- What happens to my other services if I want to change or end one engagement?
We are happy to walk through our fee structure and apply it to your specific situation. Schedule a complimentary consultation to get started.
Representatives registered with and offer only securities and advisory services through PlanMember Securities Cooperation, a registered broker/dealer, investment advisor and member FINRA/SIPC.
Paladin Advisor Group and PlanMember Securities Cooperation are independently owned and operated.
