Fee-Only Planning Puts You First

Choosing a financial advisor can feel like decoding a foreign language. Fee-based, commission-based, fiduciary, dual-registered—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you’ve ever wondered who’s truly in your corner when it comes to financial planning, this post is for you.

“Fee-only” and “fee-based” may sound similar, but they’re very different. No compensation model is perfect. However, we believe fee-only financial planning is the best option available today because it most closely aligns your interests with those of your advisor.

What Does Fee-Only Financial Planning Really Mean?

A fee-only financial planner is paid only by you—the client. No commissions, kickbacks, or hidden incentives.

This means the advice you receive is based on what benefits you—not what boosts the advisor’s paycheck. In addition, your advisor has a fiduciary obligation to act in your best interest at all times.

At Flip Flops and Pearls, we see that as non-negotiable.

Fee-Only vs. Fee-Based vs. Commission-Based Planning

Here’s how the compensation models break down:

• Fee-Only: Paid directly by you for financial advice and planning. No product commissions.

• Fee-Based: May charge a planning fee and earn commissions from selling products like mutual funds, insurance, or annuities.

• Commission-Based: Paid solely through selling financial products—often incentivized to push what pays them most.

Imagine visiting a doctor who earns more by prescribing a specific medication—even if it’s not right for you. Fee-only financial planning eliminates that kind of conflict.

Why Fee-Only Financial Planning Matters for High-Income Professionals

If you're earning well into six figures and managing a growing portfolio or business, you don’t have time to decode the fine print. You want answers to two key questions:

• Is this advice truly in my best interest?

• Are there hidden agendas I should worry about?

With fee-only financial planning, the answer to both is clear: your interests come first. You're paying for unbiased expertise, not transactions. We aim to be your long-term advisor, not a salesperson in disguise.

Why We Chose to Be a Fee-Only Firm

Flip Flops and Pearls was founded on one idea: you deserve clean, conflict-free advice that aligns with your goals.

We don’t sell financial products, and we don’t earn commissions. We get paid to help you make informed decisions—and to build the kind of relationship that lasts for decades, not just through a fiscal quarter.

Is Fee-Only Perfect?

No model is flawless. Occasionally, even fee-only financial planning can present subtle conflicts—especially when fees are based on assets under management (AUM).

For example, you might ask whether to withdraw portfolio funds to pay off a mortgage at 7.6%. On paper, that may be wise. But if your advisor charges based on AUM, recommending that withdrawal would lower the assets they manage—and reduce their fee.

A good advisor recognizes that conflict, lays out the pros and cons, and guides you based on what’s right for you—not what affects their paycheck.

Final Thoughts

Fee-only financial planning isn’t just a payment model—it’s a mindset. We sit on the same side of the table, focused on your long-term success.

If that’s the kind of relationship you want, we’re ready to help.