Flat-Fee Financial Planning for FamilyCare: What it is—and why it meets families where they are

Caregiving doesn’t give much warning. One week is calm; the next brings a discharge date, new meds, and a scramble for rides and grab bars. If that’s you, take a breath. You’re not behind—you’re in the middle of something big. In moments like this, how you pay for advice matters. Flat-fee, advice-only planning is designed for real life: clear steps now, and room to adjust as things change—without tying costs to markets or product sales.

What “flat-fee, advice-only” means

Most families aren’t shopping for products—they’re looking for judgment, time, and coordination they can trust. Flat-fee, advice-only planning separates guidance from product incentives and portfolio size. You agree on the work and the price before anything begins, then you get help that centers your situation—no hidden agendas. This structure reduces second-guessing (“Are we being sold something?”) and lowers the emotional noise at a time you need calm.

• No products or commissions. Guidance isn’t tied to selling anything.
• No AUM (assets-under-management) fee. Cost doesn’t rise or fall with the market.
• Clear scope. You know what will be done—and why—before you start.
• As-needed support. Use it in short bursts (a consult, a project, a check-in) when life actually changes.

If all you can manage this week is “Please help me sort the meds and figure out next steps,” that’s enough.

Why flat-fee fits caregiving (care now & preparing ahead)

Caregiving comes in waves. Some weeks are pure triage; other weeks are paperwork and “let’s get ahead of this.” A fee model that lets you engage right when it matters is kinder and more practical. It respects that your energy is limited, that roles shift within families, and that clarity often comes in small chunks. You can stabilize an urgent problem today and, when things quiet down, build the scaffolding that prevents the next crisis.

• For “care now.” Discharge planning, home safety, stopgap care, claims and benefits, two-week cash-flow.
• For “prepare ahead.” Organizing documents/accounts, confirming POA acceptance with institutions, mapping housing choices and costs, aligning family roles.
• For the whole family. Spouses, adult children, POAs, and the person receiving care stay on the same page.
• For clarity. Checklists, timelines, and “who does what by when.”
• For timing. Help at meaningful moments—new diagnosis, a fall, a move, a paperwork roadblock.

It’s okay if your plan is simple at first. Simple is how you start moving.

The money piece (why fee structure matters)

Caregiving is expensive—in dollars and in energy. Percentage-based fees (1–2% of assets, every year) can quietly draw from funds you’ll later need for meds, equipment, home changes, transportation, and respite. Flat fees mean you pay for work, not portfolio size. That preserves resources for the things that actually change the day-to-day: safety, support, and the ability to rest.

A quick picture (start $500,000, 20 years, 6% gross return):

• No AUM (flat-fee): about $1.60M
• 1.0% AUM: about $1.33M (≈ $277k less)
• 1.5% AUM: about $1.21M (≈ $398k less)
• 2.0% AUM: about $1.10M (≈ $508k less)

Your reality will differ. The point: percentage fees compound; caregiving families deserve every extra dollar they can keep.

Benefits caregivers actually feel

Families feel the difference in quieter minds and steadier weeks. Costs are predictable; decisions are written down; siblings see the same plan; the person doing most of the work isn’t carrying all the mental load alone. You choose when to lean in and when to pause, matching support to the season you’re in, not to market cycles.

• Predictable costs when the budget is already stretched.
• Faster triage when something changes suddenly.
• Less friction among siblings/POAs because roles are clear and neutral.
• Fairness when wealth is tied up (home, pensions, rentals) but complexity is high.
• Control. You’re not paying more just because markets rise.
• Focus on care, not on products or performance reports.

If the only win today is “we know what to do tomorrow morning,” that’s a real win.

When flat-fee shines

This approach is at its best when help comes in bursts and when you want planning separate from product sales. It fits long-distance caregiving, sudden hospitalizations, memory-care transitions, and the logistics of coordinating multiple helpers. It’s built for families juggling mortgages, pensions, Social Security, rentals, or a small business—real lives that don’t fit neatly in a single investment account.

• Care now: discharge to-dos, med organization, home safety, short-term care options, paperwork.
• Prepare ahead: POA/healthcare directive/HIPAA (with your attorney), account/beneficiary alignment, institution-specific POA acceptance, housing decision tree with costs.
• Not “all in stocks.” Pensions, annuities, rentals, or a business in the mix.
• Keep investments separate. You self-manage or prefer a different provider.

You don’t have to change everything to make progress. One good step reduces five worries.

A simple process families can use

Overwhelm shrinks when steps are small, owners are named, and timeframes are realistic. The plan should be understandable to anyone who picks it up—especially the sibling who flies in once a quarter. Write it down, keep it short, and adjust as life shifts. Progress isn’t loud; it’s steady.

1. Get the picture. What’s happening now? What could change soon? Who’s involved?
2. Write it down. One concise plan: cash-flow, document to-dos, care options, timeline.
3. Coordinate. Match tasks to the right people (attorney, CPA, HR/benefits, care pros).
4. Follow through. Use a dated 2-week checklist so progress feels doable.
5. Set review triggers. Health changes, safety issues, new bills, POA friction, waitlist updates.

Plans don’t fail because people don’t care—they fail because life is heavy. Keep steps small.

Quick reference: first 2 weeks (care now)

The early days after a health event are about stability: safety at home, medication clarity, a short-term care bridge, and money basics you can actually stick to. No one needs eve ry step. Choose the two or three that make this week calmer, and give yourself permission to revisit the rest later.

• Get the written care plan + medication list from the discharge team.
• Put follow-ups and rides on a shared calendar.
• Check home safety (entry/bath/bedroom); consider grab bars, shower chair, bedside commode.
• Choose a short-term care bridge (family rotation, respite, adult day, in-home help).
• Make a one-page Care Snapshot (diagnoses, meds, allergies, providers) for wallet/fridge.
• Map a simple 2-week cash-flow (meds, supplies, care hours).
• Verify POA/healthcare proxy; if there are gaps, contact your attorney.
• Call banks/insurers about POA acceptance steps; note any internal forms.
• Divide roles among siblings/POAs; write it down.
• Hold a 14-day review to tweak what isn’t working.

If the list feels long, circle the three that help you sleep tonight.

Quick reference: 2–8 weeks (preparing ahead)

Quieter weeks are a gift. Use them to prevent the “I wish we had known” moments. Centralize essentials, make sure authority will be honored where you’ll need it, price realistic living arrangements, and set an easy rhythm for family communication so you can respond rather than react.

• Keep providers, prescriptions, insurance IDs, and emergency contacts in one place.
• Inventory accounts/beneficiaries; store logins securely with a trusted backup.
• Confirm POA/healthcare directive/HIPAA with your attorney; keep copies handy.
• Call institutions to learn their POA process (many have internal forms).
• Sketch a care decision tree (home with help vs. senior living) with cost ranges and triggers.
• Plan retirement-tax moves (RMDs, Roth conversions, QCD timing) with potential care costs in mind.
• Set a simple family communication plan and a 6-month readiness review.

Preparing isn’t predicting everything—it’s making the next choice easier.

Questions to ask any planner about fees

You deserve plain answers you can show the whole family. Get the basics in writing so expectations stay clear and boundaries are respected. Good fee conversations reduce stress later—especially when a crisis forces quick decisions.

• How are you paid? Flat-fee, hourly, AUM, commission—or a mix?
• What’s included? Deliverables, meetings, coordination, revisions.
• What changes the price? Scope changes, more meetings, new tasks.
• Can you show an example scope + price? One for “care now,” one for “prepare ahead.”
• How will you coordinate with our attorney/CPA/HR if needed?

If you feel rushed or confused, pause. Clarity is part of the service.

Red flags worth noting

When time and energy are scarce, hidden incentives and vague processes add weight. If something feels off—pressure to move assets, fuzzy deliverables, fees that rise just because markets rise—it’s reasonable to step back and ask for a better fit.

• Compensation tied to selling products.
• Fees that rise with markets even if your needs don’t.
• Vague deliverables; no written scope.
• No plan for coordinating with other professionals.
• Pressure to move assets before providing planning.

The right planning structure should make you feel steadier, not smaller.

Bottom line

Flat-fee, advice-only planning matches the rhythm of caregiving—short sprints during crisis, steady adjustments when life settles, and clear costs throughout. It helps families act quickly, plan thoughtfully, lower conflict, and protect resources for what matters most: the person you love.

Questions or something you’re stuck on?

Caregivers Resource Group
Pittsburgh-based • Virtual nationwide
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 412-240-4840

www.caregiversresourcegroup.com

Educational content only; not legal or tax advice. All investment advisory services are provided through Advice Only. Further details are available in our ADV or at www.adviceonly.com.