Retirement-focused advice without product-sales commissions
Fee-Only Financial Planning for People 50+
Fairchild Capital helps adults age 50 and older coordinate retirement income, taxes, investments and major financial decisions through personalized, fee-only advice.
Fairchild Capital’s only compensation comes from advisory fees. Investment and account-related costs can still apply.
Understand how the relationship is paid
What does fee-only financial planning mean?
A fee-only financial adviser is compensated by clients through advisory fees rather than commissions for selling financial products.
That compensation structure can reduce certain product-sales conflicts, but it does not remove every conflict. Any fee arrangement can create incentives, which is why investors should understand what they will pay, which services are included and what other costs may apply.
Fairchild Capital’s current Form CRS states that the firm’s only compensation comes from advisory fees and that its professionals are not paid product-sales commissions. The firm offers standalone financial planning and a comprehensive service combining financial planning with portfolio management.
The short answer
Fee-only tells you where the advisory firm’s compensation comes from. It does not tell you everything about the scope, price or fit of the service. Review the agreement and disclosures, then ask how the adviser will be paid in your specific relationship.
Planning for a specific stage of life
Why work with a planner focused on people over 50?
The years before and after retirement combine decisions that are easy to evaluate separately but harder to coordinate: when to stop working, when to claim benefits, how to create income, which accounts to use, how much investment risk to take and what taxes or healthcare costs may follow.
Can you afford to retire?
Compare spending, income sources, savings and different retirement dates while making the assumptions understandable.
How will you recreate the paycheck?
Coordinate Social Security, pensions, cash and portfolio withdrawals instead of treating each source independently.
Which decisions affect future years?
Evaluate withdrawals, gains, Roth conversions and other choices within a multi-year retirement plan.
What must the portfolio accomplish?
Connect allocation, risk, liquidity and ongoing management with the retirement the investments need to support.
Fairchild Capital publicly states that it focuses on people age 50 and older and provides individualized retirement guidance. Learn more on the firm’s About page.
You should understand both the advice and how you are paying for it.
An introductory conversation can clarify Fairchild Capital’s services, compensation and potential fit.
Choose the relationship that matches the need
How Fairchild Capital’s services are structured
Standalone planning
Fairchild Capital’s Form CRS describes financial planning offered for a fixed fee based on scope and complexity or for an hourly fee. Standalone planning clients are responsible for implementation; Fairchild Capital does not place trades or continuously monitor their investments.
Comprehensive service
This relationship combines financial planning with portfolio management. Fairchild Capital provides continuous investment monitoring and uses discretionary authority in client accounts, subject to reasonable restrictions clients may impose.
Advisory fees
The comprehensive service uses a percentage-of-assets fee charged quarterly in arrears and may have minimum fees. The appropriate fee and service should be confirmed before engaging the firm.
Other costs
Clients can still incur expenses such as mutual-fund or ETF expenses, custody fees, retirement-account fees, brokerage charges or transaction costs. Fairchild Capital’s Form CRS states that the firm does not receive those fees.
Fairchild Capital reports no minimum account size or investment amount, but its comprehensive service may have minimum fees. Ask for the specific fee applicable to your circumstances.
A coordinated retirement picture
What can retirement-focused financial planning cover?
Retirement income
Connect Social Security, pensions, retirement accounts, taxable investments and cash with expected spending. Explore retirement income planning.
Tax considerations
Compare how withdrawals, conversions, gains and income sources may interact across multiple years. Individualized tax advice should be confirmed by a qualified tax professional.
Investments
Evaluate allocation, diversification, liquidity, risk and whether the portfolio supports the household’s plan. Explore investment management for retirees.
Benefits and healthcare
Consider Social Security, pensions, Medicare timing and other employer or government benefits relevant to retirement.
Risk and contingencies
Test how changes in markets, spending, inflation, health, longevity or family circumstances may affect the plan.
Estate coordination
Review beneficiaries, account ownership and legacy goals while coordinating legal documents and advice with a qualified attorney.
A good fit requires more than a compensation label.
Ask about experience, scope, communication, implementation, monitoring, total costs and the conflicts that may exist.
Interview the adviser
Questions to ask a fee-only financial planner
Who do you primarily help?
Ask whether the adviser regularly works with households in your stage of retirement and with the decisions you face.
Exactly how will I pay you?
Request the dollar amount or calculation method, billing frequency, minimum fees and what circumstances could change the cost.
What is included?
Clarify the planning topics, deliverables, meetings, implementation, investment management and ongoing monitoring included in the service.
What costs exist beyond your fee?
Ask about fund expenses, custody, transaction, account and third-party costs that may apply even though the adviser receives no product commission.
What conflicts should I understand?
Review Form CRS, Form ADV and the advisory agreement. Ask the adviser to explain material conflicts in plain language.
The Retirement Destination Roadmap™
How a relationship with Fairchild Capital begins
Fairchild Capital starts with a conversation about your goals, concerns and financial circumstances. The Retirement Destination Roadmap™ process is intended to help clarify important retirement questions and determine whether the relationship may fit.
Discuss the destination
Talk through when you hope to retire, what you want retirement to look like and which decisions currently feel uncertain.
Organize the financial picture
Review relevant income, investments, accounts, benefits, spending and other planning information.
Understand the options
Identify the questions requiring analysis and whether standalone planning or comprehensive service may be appropriate.
Make an informed decision
Review the proposed scope, fees, responsibilities and conflicts before deciding whether to engage Fairchild Capital.
Review Fairchild Capital’s current Form CRS and website disclosures before hiring the firm.
Related Fairchild Capital resources
Explore retirement planning, tax planning in retirement, retirement income planning and investment management for retirees.
Common questions
Fee-only financial planning FAQs
What does fee-only financial planning mean?
Fee-only means the financial advisory firm is compensated through client-paid advisory fees rather than commissions for selling financial products. Investors should still review the fee arrangement, conflicts and other investment or account costs.
Is fee-only the same as fee-based?
No. The terms are often used differently. Fee-only generally means compensation comes only from advisory fees, while fee-based may describe a professional or firm that receives fees and certain commissions. Confirm the actual compensation and services in current disclosures.
Does fee-only mean there are no investment costs?
No. Fund expenses, custody charges, transaction costs, account fees and other third-party expenses may still apply. Fee-only describes the advisory firm’s compensation, not every cost associated with an account or investment.
Who does Fairchild Capital primarily help?
Fairchild Capital states that it focuses on people age 50 and older who are approaching retirement or already retired and want help coordinating retirement income, taxes, investments and related decisions.
Does Fairchild Capital offer one-time financial planning?
Its current Form CRS describes standalone financial planning that may use a fixed or hourly fee. The exact scope, timing and price depend on the engagement and should be confirmed directly with Fairchild Capital.
Does Fairchild Capital manage investments?
Yes, through its comprehensive service combining financial planning and portfolio management. Its Form CRS states that comprehensive clients receive continuous investment monitoring and that standalone planning clients do not.
Does Fairchild Capital require a minimum investment?
Its current Form CRS reports no minimum account size or investment amount. However, minimum fees may apply to the comprehensive service, so prospective clients should ask what they would pay.
How should I compare financial planners?
Compare experience, services, compensation, total costs, conflicts, credentials, communication, implementation and ongoing responsibilities. Review Form CRS, Form ADV and the advisory agreement before hiring a firm.
Take the next step
Find a planning relationship built around your retirement.
Schedule an introductory conversation about your goals, Fairchild Capital’s services and whether the relationship may be a good fit.
