The best place to find a fee-only financial advisor in 2026 is a fee-only planner network: NAPFA, XY Planning Network, or Garrett Planning Network. Those directories list planners paid only by clients, with no product commissions. Hourly and project work commonly runs $150 to $400 or more an hour, and XY Planning Network’s 2026 fee guide cites a Kitces median of $4,500 a year for subscription planning. Nino is the option on this page for households that want planning and tax filing together on one flat fee: Advisor plans are $3,600, $4,800, or $12,000 a year.
Two questions narrow the search:
- Do you want a one-time plan or an ongoing relationship? Garrett members lean hourly and project. XYPN and NAPFA members offer hourly, subscription, flat, or asset-based pricing set by each firm.
- Do you want tax filing in the same engagement? Ask each planner who prepares and signs the return. Nino includes federal and state filing on every Advisor plan.
What is a fee-only financial advisor?
A fee-only financial advisor is paid only by the clients they advise, with no commissions on insurance, annuities, or funds. NAPFA defines it as planners “compensated directly by their clients for advice, plan implementation and for the ongoing management of assets,” and lists hourly rates, retainers, flat fees, and a percentage of assets as the ways they can be paid.
The opposite is not “expensive.” It is fee-based, which means the advisor charges fees and can also earn commissions on products. Nino’s explainer on fee-only vs fee-based financial advisors covers the difference and the questions to ask either kind. For how a fixed dollar price works, see what a flat-fee financial advisor is.
Fee-only removes one conflict, commission pay. It leaves others: an advisor paid on assets earns more when you keep money in the managed account, and an hourly planner earns more when the work takes longer. Ask how the firm handles the conflict its fee creates.
How much do fee-only planners cost?
Cost depends on the fee model. Figures below were checked October 27, 2026:
- Hourly or project: XY Planning Network’s 2026 fee guide puts project and on-demand work at $150 to $400 or more an hour. Garrett Planning Network members quote a project estimate after a no-obligation first meeting.
- Subscription or flat annual fee: the same XYPN guide cites a Kitces Research median of $4,500 a year for subscription planning in 2024, about $375 a month. Published flat memberships at Facet, Range, Domain Money, and Nino are compared in the best flat-fee financial advisors roundup.
- Percentage of assets: the same guide says 1% at $1 million remains common, which is $10,000 a year. Kitces reports that 86% of advisory firms still use AUM as their primary pricing method.
Ask every shortlist firm to price the same scope in dollars: the plan, any investment management, tax planning, and who prepares your return. Nino’s guide to how much a financial advisor costs breaks down each model.
Which fee-only planner networks are best in 2026?
Each entry links to the network’s own page. Membership rules were checked October 27, 2026.
NAPFA. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Members must work only fee-only and accept no commissions. NAPFA says its NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors “are fiduciaries at all times.” Its Find an Advisor directory filters by fee structure (fixed fee, AUM, or hourly) and by focus, such as tax or retirement planning. Each member firm sets its own price. Best for someone who wants a fee-only filter and will compare a few firms by specialty.
XY Planning Network. A membership network of more than 2,300 fee-only advisors. XYPN’s membership standards require members to be paid only by clients, to sign a fiduciary oath, and to offer planning without an asset minimum; only CFP professionals are listed in its Find an Advisor directory. Each firm sets its own flat, subscription, hourly, or asset-based fee. Best for someone who wants an independent CFP professional and will compare a few firms. See XY Planning Network alternatives.
Garrett Planning Network. A network of hourly fee-only planners founded in 2000. Its FAQ says members “don’t sell products, only their time and expertise,” that hourly rates vary by member, and that there are no income or investment account minimums for hourly engagements. Members must hold the CFP or PFS credential within five years of joining. You get a fee estimate at the end of a no-obligation Get Acquainted session. Best for a one-time plan or a second opinion. See Garrett Planning Network alternatives.
How do the fee-only networks compare?
| Network | Who is listed | Fee model | Asset minimum for planning | Fiduciary filter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAPFA | Fee-only member firms | Fixed, AUM, or hourly | Set by firm | “Fiduciaries at all times”; fee-only |
| XY Planning Network | CFP professionals at fee-only firms | Set by firm | No asset minimum | Fiduciary oath; fee-only; CFP required |
| Garrett Planning Network | Hourly and project planners | Hourly or project | None for hourly work | No commissions; CFP or PFS within 5 yrs |
A directory listing is a filter, not an endorsement. Still read Form ADV Part 2A Item 5 and Form CRS for the firm you will hire.
How do you find a fee-only advisor near you?
Most fee-only planners now work by video, so “near you” matters less than state licensing, specialty, and fee model.
- NAPFA Find an Advisor. Filter by fee structure, client type, and planning focus.
- XY Planning Network Find an Advisor. Every listed planner is a CFP professional at a fee-only firm with no asset minimum for planning.
- Garrett Planning Network. Hourly and project planners, useful when you want advice without an ongoing contract.
Then shortlist three firms and ask each to price the same scope in dollars. For how to read the filings after you have names, see how to verify a fiduciary financial advisor.
How do you check that an advisor is really fee-only?
The label is a marketing claim until the filings back it up.
- Form ADV Part 2A, Item 5. Item 5 is “Fees and Compensation.” It must say whether the firm or its people accept compensation for selling securities or other products. Find it on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site.
- Form CRS. The relationship summary, on the same site, states the fees you pay, the conflicts of interest, and how the firm’s professionals are paid. Read the “How do your financial professionals make money?” answer.
- FINRA BrokerCheck. If the advisor shows a current broker registration, they can earn commissions in that role, which a fee-only advisor does not. A fee-only advisor appears as an investment adviser representative only.
- Directory membership. NAPFA and XY Planning Network both require fee-only compensation, so a current listing is a second check. It does not replace the filings.
Last, ask in writing: “Are you, your firm, or any affiliate paid by anyone other than me, including referral fees?” A fee-only advisor can answer no without qualification.
Where Nino fits
Nino is the option on this page that sells financial planning and tax filing together on one flat fee. Unlike traditional wealth managers, Nino never takes control of your investments. You retain full ownership and decision-making authority. Clients pay Nino directly, and Nino takes no commissions and sells no products. A CFP professional builds the plan, a CPA plans your taxes through the year and files federal and state returns, and the AI software connects your accounts so both work from the same numbers. Advisor plans are $3,600, $4,800, and $12,000 a year; the software alone starts at $20 a month.
If you want a flat-fee membership that also manages a portfolio, compare Facet, Range, and Domain Money in the best flat-fee financial advisors post and the best financial planning companies roundup.
Book a free consultation to see which plan fits your return and your household, or compare plans and pricing.