Levi Larsen
Founding Financial Planner at Nino
Levi is a Certified Financial Planner with more than a decade of experience helping individuals and families plan their finances.
Schwab, Edelman, Beacon Pointe
VP at Charles Schwab, Director of Financial Planning at Edelman, Senior Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe.
10+ years
helping individuals and families plan their finances.
37
Nino articles Levi reviewed for accuracy.
What Levi reviews
The topics of the Nino articles Levi checks for accuracy.
- Financial advisors
- Tax planning
- Personal finance software
- Financial advisor fees
- Flat-fee planning
- Flat-fee advisors
- Budgeting apps
- Choosing a financial professional
- Equity compensation
- Financial planning
Reviewed by Levi
Levi reviewed each of these for accuracy. An article’s updated date records a later content edit, not a new review.
When a Financial Advisor and CPA Are Not Enough
A CPA files and defends your return, and a financial advisor plans what your money does next. Most complex households need both, and someone owning the gap.
Best AI Financial Advisors and Planning Apps in 2026
What an AI financial advisor can and cannot do, and how ChatGPT, Origin, Monarch, Copilot, Range, Wealthfront, Betterment, and Nino compare in 2026.
CFP vs CPA: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?
A CPA is a state-licensed accountant who handles your taxes. A CFP is a certified planner who advises on your whole financial plan. Here is when you need each.
Facet vs Range vs Domain Money: Pricing, Tax Filing, and Who Each Fits (2026)
Facet, Range, and Domain Money compared on 2026 price, renewals, tax filing, who prepares the return, investment fees, and meeting access.
How Much of Your Paycheck Should You Save? A Guide for High Earners
The usual answer is 15% to 20% of pay. High earners usually need more, because Social Security replaces less of a large salary. Here is the order to save in.
What Is a CFP? Certified Financial Planner Requirements and Costs
What the CFP mark means, what it takes to earn it, how far the fiduciary duty reaches, what CFP professionals charge, and how to check one before you hire.
Where to Put Cash Above Your Emergency Fund: T-Bills, Money Markets, or Savings
Keep 3 to 6 months of spending in insured savings. Park cash you need within a few years in T-bills, money market funds, or CDs, and invest the rest.
Managing a Windfall: Withholding Is Not Your Tax Bill
How much of a windfall you keep depends on where it came from. Classify it, reserve for the tax, then pay down debt, hold cash, and invest the rest.
Personal Capital Alternatives (2026): Beyond Net Worth Dashboards
Personal Capital is now the free Empower Personal Dashboard. Here is how to choose among Empower, Monarch Money, Origin, Facet, and Nino, depending on whether you want to track your net worth or get a plan and your taxes filed by one team.
TurboTax Alternatives (2026): When DIY Tax Software Is Not Enough
TurboTax is built to file your return: DIY, Expert Assist, or Full Service. Here is how to choose among TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, Keeper Tax, Facet, and Nino when you still want seasonal tax software, or software that can grow into financial planning and tax with an in-house CPA and CFP.
Origin Alternatives: How to Choose When a Money App With Optional CFP Sessions Is Your Starting Point
Origin lists a $99/yr membership (with a limited $1 first-year promo) plus bookable CFP sessions and DIY tax through April for eligible members. Here is how to choose among Origin, Nino, Facet, and Domain Money when you want a money app membership, or software that can grow into financial planning and tax with humans on one team.
Range Alternatives: How to Choose When a Flat-Fee Specialist Team Is Your Starting Point
Range lists Premium at $3,950/yr, Platinum at $5,950/yr, and Titanium at $12,500/yr with personal tax filing on Titanium. Here is how to choose among Range, Nino, Facet, and Domain Money when you want a specialist team membership, or software that can grow into financial planning and tax with humans on one team.
Best Flat-Fee Financial Advisors in 2026: How to Compare Memberships, Hourly Planners, and CPA-Led Teams
Nino Advisor is $3,600 a year with federal and state filing; Facet lists $2,600 to $8,700, Domain Money $3,900 to $9,000 in year 1, and Range $3,950 to $12,500. Here is how to compare Nino, Facet, Domain Money, Range, Harness, and Garrett Planning Network by fee shape, tax filing, and fit.
Financial Advisor With Tax Filing Included: Who Actually Prepares Your Return
Nino Advisor includes federal and state filing from $3,600 a year. Facet includes partner filing from Plus ($5,500 standard), Domain Money from Strategic ($5,200 in year 1), and Range only in Titanium ($12,500). Here is who prepares the return at each, and what "included" really covers.
Garrett Planning Network Alternatives: How to Choose When Hourly, Advice-Only Planning Is Your Starting Point
Garrett Planning Network does not publish one hourly rate; its FAQ says rates vary by member, with no income or account minimums for hourly engagements and a fee quote after a no-obligation Get Acquainted session. Here is how to choose among Garrett Planning Network, Nino, Facet, and Domain Money when you need one-off hourly advice, or ongoing financial planning and tax on a flat fee.
Keeper Tax Alternatives: How to Choose When Bookkeeping and Tax Filing Are Your Starting Point
Keeper Tax lists Monthly bookkeeping at $20/mo and annual plans from $199 to $1,199/yr with filing on Standard+. Here is how to choose among Keeper, Nino, Facet, and Domain Money when you need tax filing alone, or tax plus financial planning with a human team.
Kubera Alternatives: How to Choose When a Paid Net Worth Tracker for Crypto, Real Estate, and Alternatives Is Your Starting Point
Kubera Essentials is $250 a year and Kubera Black is $2,500 a year, after a 14-day trial with a $1 non-refundable fee. Here is how to choose among Kubera, Nino, Empower, and Monarch Money when you need a balance sheet alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
Morgan Stanley Alternatives: How to Choose When a Full-Service Financial Advisor or a Morgan Stanley Robo Is Your Starting Point
Morgan Stanley's Select UMA advisory program lists a maximum Morgan Stanley Advisory Fee of 2.0% a year (negotiated with your Financial Advisor), and its Core Portfolios robo charges 0.30% a year with a $500 minimum. Here is how to choose among Morgan Stanley, Nino, Vanguard Personal Advisor, and Facet when you want advice, planning, and tax help without a percentage-of-assets wrap.
Quicken Alternatives: How to Choose When Desktop Money Management and Budgeting Software Are Your Starting Point
Quicken Simplifi lists at $6.99 a month billed annually ($3.99 a month first-year offer); Quicken Classic Deluxe is $6.99, Premier $8.99, and Business & Personal $12.49 a month, all billed annually. Here is how to choose among Quicken, Nino, Monarch Money, and Empower when you need tracking alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
YNAB Alternatives: How to Choose When Zero-Based Budgeting and Giving Every Dollar a Job Are Your Starting Point
YNAB is $14.99 a month or $109 a year, with a 34-day free trial and sharing for up to 6 people. Here is how to choose among YNAB, Nino, Monarch Money, and Empower when you need a budget alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
Betterment Alternatives: How to Choose When Automated Investing and Optional Premium Advice Are Your Starting Point
Betterment Digital is $5 a month or 0.25% a year (thresholds apply); Premium is 0.65% with advisor access (min $100k). Here is how to choose among Betterment, Nino, Wealthfront, and Empower when you need a robo alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
Empower Alternatives: How to Choose When a Free Dashboard and Optional AUM Advice Are Your Starting Point
Empower's Personal Dashboard is free; Personal Strategy advisory lists 0.89% AUM on common bands. Here is how to choose among Empower, Nino, Wealthfront, and Betterment when you need free tracking alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
Wealthfront Alternatives: How to Choose When Automated Investing and Cash Are Your Starting Point
Wealthfront is automated investing at 0.25% plus cash management. Here is how to choose among Wealthfront, Nino, Betterment, and Empower when you need a robo alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
Monarch Money Alternatives: How to Choose When Budgeting and Net Worth Tracking Are Your Starting Point
Monarch Money is paid budgeting and net worth software. Here is how to choose among Monarch, Nino, YNAB, and Empower when you need tracking alone, or financial planning and tax with a human team.
Fee-Only vs. Fee-Based Financial Advisors: What Actually Changes?
Fee-only and fee-based describe how an advisor can be paid, not the quality of the plan. Compare compensation, conflicts, fiduciary duty, tax coordination, and total dollar cost.
When Should You Exercise Stock Options?
Exercise stock options when the tax, cash cost, expiration risk, and company concentration fit one plan. This framework compares ISOs, NSOs, private-company risk, and holding periods.
What Is a Flat-Fee Financial Advisor?
A flat-fee advisor charges a dollar amount instead of a percentage of your portfolio. Compare the math, included services, and questions to ask before signing.
Domain Money Alternatives: Compare Cost and Ongoing Support
Compare Nino, Facet, and Range with Domain Money, including first-year fees, renewals, required services, and software access.
Nino Is Live in Beta
A look back at Nino’s beta: accounts, equity scenarios, and financial questions in one place, with a human team to help.
What Happens When You Die Without a Will?
State law determines who inherits probate property when there is no will. Beneficiary designations, surviving parents, and state rules still matter.
Facet Alternatives: Compare Planning, Tax Filing, and Software
Compare Nino, Range, and Domain Money with Facet by required services, annual cost, tax-filing scope, and access to software.
What Is a Trump Account? Eligibility and Contributions
Trump Accounts are retirement accounts for eligible children. Learn who can open one, how the $1,000 pilot contribution works, and what to check before funding.
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Keep the Cash?
Compare interest saved with after-tax returns, liquidity, and household risk before paying down a mortgage.
Should You Sell Employer Stock When It Vests?
A useful sell-or-hold decision weighs tax reserves, company concentration, and cash needs. Here is how to compare them.
How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?
Typical 2026 advisor fees by model, in dollars: AUM percentages at $500,000 to $5 million, flat retainers, hourly rates, one-time plans, robo-advisors, and tax preparation.
Buy, Borrow, Die: How It Works and What It Costs
Borrowing against appreciated assets can defer capital gains tax, but interest, collateral calls, and estate rules can outweigh the benefit.
Introducing Nino
Why we built Nino: AI software to understand your finances, with optional human help to plan your finances and taxes and put the plan into action.
Written by Levi
What Happens When You Die Without a Will?
State law determines who inherits probate property when there is no will. Beneficiary designations, surviving parents, and state rules still matter.
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Keep the Cash?
Compare interest saved with after-tax returns, liquidity, and household risk before paying down a mortgage.