Looking for a Financial Advisor to help build a path to your future?

Quick Advisor Selection Checklist

• Fiduciary & Fee-Only – Choose an advisor who is legally required to put your interests first and does not receive commissions from product sales. This structure helps minimize conflicts of interest.
• Planning-First with Tax Integration – Prioritize advisors who create a comprehensive written plan and proactively manage taxes through strategies like Roth conversions, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Social Security timing, and charitable giving. These decisions can have a significant long-term financial impact.
• Credentials & Specialization – Look for a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional who has met rigorous education, examination, and ethics requirements, and who specializes in your stage of life—such as retirement—for more tailored guidance.
• Transparent Fees & Process – Ensure you understand exactly what you’ll pay and what services you’ll receive before you commit. Ask the advisor to explain their onboarding steps in detail.
• Secure Custody – Your assets should be held with a reputable third-party custodian (e.g., Schwab) that offers modern reporting, robust cybersecurity, and clear safeguards.

A financial advisor helps you build and carry out a plan for your money—so you can retire with confidence and avoid unnecessary taxes. At Clerestory, that means helping you feel secure in your transition to retirement or helping professionals and families plan for the future. We provide services including estate planning, retirement planning, investment management, and more.

At Clerestory, we specialize in working with both younger professional families and those approaching and entering retirement, primarily in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. For working families, we help them create a strong foundation so they are able to achieve their long-term goals. For those close to retirement, we provide a plan to achieve a successful financial transition to retirement and support throughout their next phase of life.

For pre-retirees, our minimum flat fee is $10,000/year and is best suited for those with at least $1 ML in investable assets. We set flat fees based on the assets we will help you manage as well as the complexity of your planning needs. These typically range between $10,000- $30,000/yr.

For young families, our minimum flat fee for those at least 10 years from retirement is $4,000/year. Clients who have other factors adding to complexity will have a higher initial fee, ranging between $5,000- 7,000/year.

Two common models:

• Fee-only – Compensation is received exclusively from the client, either as a percentage of assets under management (AUM), a fixed annual fee, or an hourly/retainer arrangement. Fee-only advisors do not accept commissions from product sales, helping to minimize potential conflicts of interest. Many also serve as fiduciaries, legally obligated to act in the client’s best interest.
• Commission / Fee-based – Compensation is derived in whole or in part from the sale of financial products such as mutual funds, annuities, or insurance. Fee-based refers to a hybrid model that combines client-paid fees with product commissions, and is distinct from fee-only. Clients should clearly understand how the advisor is compensated, by whom, and at what point in the engagement.