Start the Conversation 

Our clients can choose to work with us in one of two ways. The first option is a One-Time Planning Session. This session is ideal for those who want a comprehensive retirement income plan but prefer to monitor and implement it on their own. Think of it as us creating a detailed roadmap for your retirement journey, identifying key strategies for:

• Withdrawal sequencing to maximize income efficiency
• Social Security filing strategies tailored to your situation
• Roth conversion planning to optimize tax efficiency

After our in-depth discussion, you'll have a clear plan to follow on your own.

The fee for this service is $3,500.

🔹 View a sample plan
🔹 Explore the step-by-step planning process

  If you’d like to consider a long-term relationship with our firm, please read about our Comprehensive Engagement in the next question

Of the two ways we work with clients, this is the most robust. Our Comprehensive Engagement goes beyond planning—it’s a long-term partnership where we not only build the retirement roadmap plan but also turn on the GPS and guide you throughout your journey. This includes:

• Unlimited access to our team via Zoom, email, or phone
• Annual strategy meetings to plan for the year ahead
• Ongoing updates to your Retirement Roadmap
• Portfolio management, including allocation, rebalancing, and tax efficiency strategies
• Online access to monitor your investments in real time
• Coordination with CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals
• Execution of our Carroll Advisory Group client service calendar

The 2025 fee for Comprehensive Engagement is $10,609, which increases annually by 3%. Fees are deducted directly from accounts managed by us at Charles Schwab, with no hidden fees or commissions.

Before our meeting, we’ll ask you to provide information on:

• Your marital status and age – Helps us understand household dynamics for planning.
• Social Security benefits – Estimated amounts and timing considerations.
• Retirement savings – Approximate balances and the types of accounts (401(k), IRA, Roth, etc.).
• Pensions – Expected monthly amounts, survivor benefits, and payout options.
• Monthly income needs – Your estimated net income requirement in retirement.
• Key topics you want to cover – Specific questions or concerns, such as tax strategies, investment allocation, or withdrawal planning.

We don’t need an exhaustive list of specific details—just a big-picture overview to make our conversation productive.

No need to track all of this now—we’ll send you an email with a secure form where you can easily submit everything before our call.

Our fees depend on the type of engagement you choose:

One-Time Planning Engagement

The flat fee is $3,500.

Comprehensive Engagement

For ongoing planning and portfolio management, we charge a flat annual fee of $10,609 for 2025.

You can read about each of these services in previous questions. 

One-Time Planning Engagement

Our seven-step planning process is designed to be smooth and efficient, minimizing your workload while maximizing clarity.

1. Conversation with Devin – We start with a discussion to determine if our planning services align with your needs. Before our call, we ask for summarized financial details so we can focus on strategy rather than gathering numbers.
2. Planning Engagement & Payment – If you decide to move forward, we’ll send you an engagement agreement and payment link via Stripe for secure processing.
3. Questionnaire & Document Upload – You’ll receive an information request form and a secure portal link to upload necessary documents. Once submitted, you’ll enter the queue and receive a timeline for plan completion.
4. Deep Dive Call – As your plan progresses in the queue, we’ll schedule a call to refine details, discuss plan assumptions (market returns, inflation, spending models, etc.), and identify strategies for analysis.
5. Plan Presentation – Once finalized, you’ll receive a 25–45 minute video walkthrough of your plan along with the document, allowing you to review it at your convenience.
6. Plan Updates – After reviewing your plan, you’ll have a 30-day window to request adjustments or additional scenarios for spending, taxes, Social Security, Roth conversions, and more.
7. Wrap-Up – You may schedule a follow-up meeting with Devin to discuss insights, next steps, and any remaining questions.

Comprehensive Engagement

For those seeking an ongoing partnership, the process is straightforward:

1. Account Setup & Transfers – We gather necessary details and process account transfers electronically.
2. Onboarding Call – We meet to collect additional information needed for account management.
3. Retirement Roadmap Planning – Your initial plan is created, addressing key areas like withdrawal strategies, Social Security, and tax efficiency.
4. Investment Allocation Discussion – Once the plan is complete, we review and finalize your portfolio allocation.
5. Ongoing Strategy Execution – Our team implements your client service and planning schedule, ensuring continuous guidance and adjustments.

Learn more about our ongoing services HERE

Over the years, Carroll Advisory Group has had the privilege of working with wonderful clients. At some point, each of them faced a big decision: Should they trust our firm with their financial future?

We understand that this is a monumental decision—one that should only be made after careful inquiry and consideration. That means asking lots of questions. There’s no room for hesitation. While asking direct, probing questions may feel uncomfortable in everyday conversation, we believe it’s essential when choosing the right financial team to guide your future.

To make this process easier, our team has compiled every question prospective clients have ever asked us and published it on our FAQ page.

📌 Visit Our Full FAQ Page

If there’s a question we haven’t covered, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Email us at [email protected], and we’ll be happy to answer.