Owner resources
What Fee-Only Investment Management Costs, and What Vital Charges
Fee-only means you pay the advisor directly and the advisor earns no commissions on what you buy. You should still know the price in dollars before the first meeting. Below is how fee-only pricing is usually structured, what Vital actually charges according to its Form ADV Part 2A, and the questions worth asking any advisor.
Educational only. Not an offer of advisory services or personalized advice. Vital Investment Management, LLC is a fee-only fiduciary and SEC-registered RIA (CRD #300811). Fee information is summarized from Form ADV Part 2A dated October 1, 2026; the brochure controls. Led by Dillon Goodman, CPA, CFP®.
What “fee-only” means
A fee-only advisor is paid directly and only by clients. The firm does not earn commissions for selling investment products. Vital Investment Management, LLC is a fee-only fiduciary registered with the SEC. Brokerage commissions or transaction fees charged by a custodian are billed by the custodian, and Vital receives no part of them. Fee-only says how an advisor is paid. It does not say how much, and it does not mean other costs disappear.
The four ways fee-only pricing is usually built
| Model | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of assets managed | An annual rate applied to the assets the firm manages, usually billed quarterly | Dollar cost grows with account value; ask whether the rate is flat or tiered |
| Fixed planning fee | A set price for a written financial plan or project | Confirm what the plan covers and what is billed extra |
| Hourly | Time billed at a stated rate | Ask for an estimate range and a cap |
| Monthly or retainer | A recurring fee for ongoing planning | Confirm what is included each month and how to cancel |
Vital’s actual fee schedule (from our Form ADV Part 2A)
The figures below summarize Item 5 of Vital’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure, dated October 1, 2026. The brochure is the controlling document. If anything here differs from it, the brochure governs. You can also look the firm up on the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site (CRD #300811).
| Service | 2026 fee per Form ADV Part 2A | Billing notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asset management, new assets in 2026 | Flat 1.00% per year on all assets under management | Billed quarterly in arrears on the account value at quarter-end; prorated for partial periods; negotiable at the firm’s discretion; household accounts may be combined |
| Initial written financial plan, asset-management clients | Waived | Applies to clients already paying an asset management fee |
| Initial written financial plan, planning-only clients | Fixed fee, generally at least $1,500 | Amount set in the planning agreement; due on delivery of the plan |
| Hourly planning | $300 per hour | Minimum $300; generally no more than $12,000 for an hourly engagement |
| Ongoing monthly planning | $200 per month (basic) to $500–$700 per month (more complex) | Billed monthly in arrears |
| Company retirement plan (pension) consulting | 0.85% per year of plan assets, or lower if negotiated | Billed quarterly in arrears from plan assets |
| Account minimum | None | A written advisory agreement is required |
| Performance-based fees | None | Vital does not charge or accept performance-based fees |
Clients who began before 2026 may still be on the earlier tiered schedule described in the brochure (1.50% on the first $100,000, 1.00% to $2 million, 0.75% to $4 million, and 0.50% above, blended). The brochure also notes that Vital’s fee may be higher than fees charged by other advisers for similar services, and that lower fees for comparable services may be available elsewhere.
What 1% looks like on a $1 million account
The arithmetic is simple. At the 2026 flat rate of 1.00%, a $1,000,000 managed account would pay about $10,000 a year in advisory fees, or roughly $2,500 a quarter. Because the fee is calculated on the quarter-end value, the dollar amount rises and falls with the account. At $2,000,000 the same rate would be about $20,000 a year. Fees are negotiable at the firm’s discretion, so these are illustrations of the published rate, not quotes.
The advisory fee is not the only cost. Mutual fund and ETF expense ratios, custodian transaction fees, and other third-party charges are separate. Vital does not receive any of them. When you compare advisors, compare the all-in annual cost in dollars, not only the headline rate.
What the fee covers at Vital
For asset-management clients, the fee covers ongoing investment management and an initial written financial plan, plus access to eMoney planning software. For business owners, the planning work often covers business cash and treasury questions, retirement-plan decisions, tax coordination with your CPA, and transition planning. Services outside the initial plan’s scope may be billed hourly, and that is agreed in writing before the work starts.
Questions a $1M+ owner should ask any fee-only advisor
- What will I pay in dollars per year at my asset level, all in, including fund expenses and custodian charges?
- Is your rate flat or tiered, and is it negotiable?
- Are fees billed in advance or in arrears, and on what value?
- What is included: financial planning, tax coordination, business cash, retirement-plan advice, estate coordination?
- Do you or your firm pay or receive referral fees or any other compensation tied to my account? (Vital discloses its promoter and employee referral arrangements in Item 14 of its brochure. Clients do not pay higher fees because of them.)
- Are you a fiduciary at all times, and where is that in writing?
- How do I end the relationship, and what happens to fees already billed?
Read the firm’s Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS before you sign anything. Vital’s are available through the SEC adviser search and Form CRS.
Related reading
- How we work
- Investment management
- Business retirement plans: SEP vs SIMPLE vs solo 401(k) vs cash balance
- Tax-coordinated investing with your CPA
- Firm facts
FAQ
How much does a fee-only financial advisor cost?
Fee-only advisors usually charge a percentage of assets managed, a fixed planning fee, an hourly rate, or a monthly retainer. At Vital, the 2026 asset management fee in Form ADV Part 2A is a flat 1.00% per year on new assets, billed quarterly in arrears. Planning is $300 per hour, generally at least $1,500 for a fixed-fee plan, or $200 to $700 per month for ongoing planning.
What would Vital charge on a $1 million account?
At the published 2026 rate of 1.00%, about $10,000 per year, or roughly $2,500 per quarter, calculated on the quarter-end account value. Fees are negotiable at the firm’s discretion, and fund expenses and custodian charges are separate.
Does Vital have an account minimum?
No. Vital’s Form ADV Part 2A states there is no minimum investment amount. A written advisory agreement is required.
Does Vital earn commissions?
No. Vital is fee-only and does not receive any portion of brokerage commissions or transaction fees charged by custodians. Vital does not charge performance-based fees.
Where can I verify Vital’s fees?
Item 5 of Vital’s Form ADV Part 2A, available through the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site under CRD #300811. The brochure controls if anything on this page differs.
Talk with Dillon Goodman
Book a discovery call to go over the fee schedule in dollars for your situation before you decide anything.
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