Firm Info
Firm Size
Services Offered
- Financial Planning
- Portfolio Management for Individuals & Small Businesses
- Selection of Others Advisors
Types of Clients
- Individuals (Not High Net Worth)
-
Individuals High Net Worth
*>=750k in Investable Assets or >=1.5m of Estimated Total Net Worth
- Pension & Profit Sharing Plans
- Charitable Organizations
Available Fee Structures
- Percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM)
- Hourly
- Fixed Fees (Other than subscription)
Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. Overview
Aspire Planning Associates, Inc is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm providing investment advice to its clients. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA, this firm has been in existence since 2019 and has quickly established its reputation in the market. Aspire Planning Associates, Inc primarily offers financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals and small businesses. Their services are designed to help clients navigate the complexities of the investment market and manage their financial goals. As a fee-only firm, Aspire Planning Associates, Inc does not receive commissions or any form of financial incentives from the investments they recommend to their clients. This helps maintain a high level of transparency and ensures that the recommendations are always aligned with the clients’ best interest. Through their investment advice only model, the firm helps clients make informed decisions about their financial future by providing unbiased advice. The firm's portfolio management services include the selection of other advisors, who are specifically chosen to best meet the needs of its clients. Aspire Planning Associates, Inc believes in customized investment solutions that take into account each client's unique financial situation. This individualized approach ensures that clients receive investment advice that is tailored to their specific goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Overall, Aspire Planning Associates, Inc strives to provide its clients with comprehensive and personalized investment advice to help them achieve financial success.
ASPIRE PLANNING ASSOCIATES, INC. has built a reputation for serving a diverse range of clients. The firm caters to individuals who are looking for an effective financial planning strategy to manage their wealth. In addition, ASPIRE PLANNING ASSOCIATES, INC. offers specialized services to high net worth individuals. These are clients who have a substantial amount of assets in their portfolio and require customized financial planning solutions to maximize their returns. Pension or profit-sharing plans are also amongst the client base that the firm caters to. These clients require expert advice to manage their employee benefit plans. Lastly, ASPIRE PLANNING ASSOCIATES, INC. extends its services to charitable organizations that wish to manage their endowment funds effectively. ASPIRE PLANNING ASSOCIATES, INC. offers a variety of fee structures depending on the type of service provided. The firm's most common fee structure is a percentage of assets under management (AUM). This fee is usually a percentage of the client's portfolio value and is charged annually. The hourly fee is charged for services that require a specific number of hours to complete, such as tax planning or estate planning. Fixed fees are also available for services such as financial planning or investment strategy development and implementation. Fixed fees are predetermined amounts and are based on the complexity of the task at hand. Clients are encouraged to discuss their specific needs with ASPIRE PLANNING ASSOCIATES, INC. to determine the most suitable fee structure.
Typical Clients, Fee Structures & Investment Minimum
According to Aspire Planning Associates, Inc.'s Part 2 Brochure, the investment minimum varies depending on the type of account and investment vehicle. For example, their investment minimum for their investment management service is $500,000, while their investment minimum for their financial planning services is $3,500. Additionally, their Part 2 Brochure notes that "Aspire may waive its account minimums in its discretion." Therefore, it's possible that Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. may allow investment amounts below their stated minimums in certain circumstances.
How This Office Can Help Walnut Creek, CA Residents
Aspire Planning Associates is committed to helping clients in Walnut Creek, CA achieve their financial goals. The services offered include retirement planning, investment management, tax planning, and estate planning. These services are customized to meet the specific needs of clients and ensure that they have peace of mind when it comes to their finances. Living in Walnut Creek, CA, clients may be faced with a variety of financial situations. High housing costs, rising healthcare expenses, and a competitive job market can all impact a person's financial well-being. Aspire Planning Associates offers personalized financial planning and education to ensure clients are equipped to make informed decisions about their money. By creating a comprehensive financial plan, clients can feel confident that they are on the right path to achieving their financial goals.
Services Offered by Aspire Planning Associates, Inc.
Core Advisor Services
Financial Planning
Financial planning services encompass the process of devising strategies for your future financial well-being, including preparing for events such as retirement, funding your child's college education, or planning for the transfer of assets.
Portfolio Management for Individuals & Small Businesses
Portfolio management entails the careful selection and strategic management of investment combinations tailored to meet the needs of individuals and small businesses.
Market Timing Services
Market timing services involve the endeavor to generate short-term profits from investments by capitalizing on opportunities to buy at low prices and sell at high prices.
Other Services
Selection of Other Advisors
The firm provides support in selecting and engaging other advisors who possess specialized expertise to complement your financial needs.
Publication of Periodicals or Newsletters
The firm engages in the dissemination of diverse financial educational materials through the publication of periodicals.
Educational Seminars & Workshops
The firm organizes and conducts seminars or workshops aimed at enlightening investors on various financial concepts.
Fee Structures
Financial advisory fees usually are based on the services provided. Fee types charged by Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. most likely consist of the following fee types: asset-based, hourly or fixed. Wrap fee programs, or the practice of bundling services for a single fee, are not offered by the firm.
Available
Percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM)
This fee structure charges a percentage of the assets under management by the firm. Fee structures are often tiered based on the amount of assets managed, with higher AUM often charged a lower rate.
Between 0.50% and 2.00% of assets under management (annually), often lower for a robo advisor. Fees are typically charged quarterly by the firm and will show on your investment statement. View typical advisor costs here.
~96% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
If you have $1 million managed by a firm at a 1% management fee, you would be charged $10,000/year to manage your assets (or $2,500 per quarter). This would be automatically deducted from your investment portfolio.
Hourly
Similar to an attorney, a financial consultant might charge fees based on hourly rates. This fee structure can be advantageous when seeking specific or ad hoc advice.
Charges generally span from $150 to $400 per hour, depending on the extent of the services required.
~33% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
If you needed hourly consulting to sell a business or transfer your estate to your children but did not want your assets managed by a firm, you could consult a firm at an hourly rate to answer any questions you may have.
Fixed Fees (Other than subscription)
Fixed fees are a one-time, lump-sum payment rendered for a specific service, such as creating a financial plan without ongoing management or implementation. This option is beneficial if you solely require guidance for a particular objective rather than a long-term consultancy or asset management.
Fixed fees for creating a financial plan often range from $1,000 to $3,000.
~49% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
If you did not want a firm to manage your assets but needed to create a retirement plan, life transition plan such as divorce or loss of a spouse, estate transition plan, business financial plan, or any other financial planning, you could consult with an RIA firm to help you with the creation of that plan.
Unavailable
Subscription (Newsletter or Periodical)
Commissions
Occasionally, advisors are compensated through commissions by selling certain financial products, such as mutual funds or life insurance policies, or as a broker-dealer by facilitating the buying and selling of securities. Advisors who receive commissions may be incentivized to make specific suggestions to clients in order to secure a commission. Advisors who operate on a fee-only basis do not earn commissions, whereas fee-based advisors may do so.
Often 3% - 6% of the value of the security.
Only ~3% of registered firms say they offer this fee structure, but other advisors may receive “soft dollars”. Many mutual funds charge 12b-1 fees to cover the promoting and selling of the fund’s shares. While your advisor does not charge these fees, they may receive a kickback for recommending the investment.
An advisor selling their client on a life insurance policy and receiving a commission on the sale of that policy, or recommending a specific investment and receiving a kickback for that recommendation.
Performance-based Fees
Advisors typically obtain performance-based fees if a portfolio surpasses a predefined benchmark. This fee is determined through various methods, but is most commonly assessed as a percentage of investment gains. Performance-based fees may incentivize advisors to undertake riskier decisions in pursuit of generating higher returns.
“Two and Twenty” is common among hedge funds with a 2% management fee and a 20% incentive fee above the “hurdle rate,” or performance threshold the fund is compared against.
32% of registered firms offer this fee structure.
A hedge fund earns a 15% return with a 20% performance fee in above the performance of the S&P 500, which grew 7% that same year.
20% of fund growth in excess of S&P 500’s 7% growth for that year = 15% hedge fund growth - 7% S&P 500 growth = 8% difference x 20% = 2% performance fee (in addition to the management fee).
Other
Firms occasionally offer unconventional fee structures when charging clients. For more detailed information about a firm’s specific fee structures, please refer to their Form ADV and Part 2 Brochure.
Types of Clients
*The Securities & Exchange Commission defines someone as “high net worth” if they have $750,000 or more in investable assets or $1.5M of estimated total net worth.
This Office Location
Other Office Locations
This firm has no other locations.
State Registrations
Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. is registered to service clients in the following states:
- California
- Louisiana
- Texas
Disciplinary History
Aspire Planning Associates, Inc. does not have any disclosures. Please visit it's Form ADV for more details.