Invite others
Invite your team members and accounting professionals any time you like.
Client-centered, fee-only planners, like Benchmark Strategic, are compensated for their knowledge and services, much like an attorney or a physician.
We do not receive commissions from the sale of products such as insurance or investments. Both our financial planning and investment management services are offered on a fee basis, unlike commission-based advisors who receive compensation through transactions.
Our fee model allows you to choose the amount of service and financial advice you require. In essence, it is a user pay approach — we do not assume that the more money you have, the more financial advice you need.
Fee-only advisors have fewer inherent conflicts of interest,
and their fee structures might be hourly, include an annual retainer, or be based on a percentage of your investment assets.
How we are paid
We feel that it is critical for our clients to understand what they are paying for and how they are paying for it. Our goal is to be as transparent as possible when discussing compensation for our advice, so that we can freely research, recommend and implement strategies without partiality or restrictions.
Your fees will be based on your decision for us to proceed with the following:
- Creating your financial plan
- Implementing your plan
- Providing you with ongoing service
At each stage of the process, all fees will be clearly outlined and agreed with you before we proceed.
The fee charged depends on:
- The investment needed to complete the service,
- The degree of complexity and level of expertise required to complete the services,
- Any risks associated with providing the service.
We split our investment adviceand associated portfolio management from financial advice. This allows us to target fees according to your particular and unique needs: investment and/or financial advice.
Fee-only financial planners tend to cost less and deliver more.
One of the most obvious cost savings is because fees are typically less than commissions.
Financial Advice Fee
Our initial half-hour discovery meeting is complimentary. After that, it will depend on your unique circumstances and needs. Our typical fee ranges from:
| Initial Planning Fee | Monthly Retainer Fee |
|---|---|
| $500 - $4000 | $100 - $500 |
This includes 2-3 meetings up-front, ongoing review, annual comprehensive review, and anytime access for questions as they arise.
The cost of the planning will depend on its scope:
- Financial Advice/Analysis (minimum charge)$500
- Retirement Planning "Mini-Strategies"$750-1125
- Comprehensive Financial Plan$1875-3750
- Hourly rate for advance planning or consulting$150 (incl. GST)
With assets under management of $250,000 or more, financial planning services are included in the investment management fee.
Investment Advice Fee
For our portfolio advisory and management services, there are no implementation, set-up or upfront fees and there are no exit fees. We charge a single ongoing fee for the monitoring, management and administration of your investment portfolio, per the following table.
| Assets Under Management | Management Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 - $499,999 | 0.95% |
| $500,000 - $999,999 | 0.85% |
| $1,000,000 - $1,999,999 | 0.75% |
| $2,000,000 - $4,999,999 | 0.65% |
| $5,000,000 - $9,999,999 | 0.55% |
| $10,000,000 or more | 0.5% |
SMSF Pricing Plans
Self-Managed Superannuation Funds continue to be the largest and fastest growing sector in the superannuation industry.
Setup
Setting up your SMSF at no cost (limited time)
$0/mo +GST
- Establishment of SMSF
(SMSF deed, ABN, TFN, GST registration) - Trustee minutes and consent forms
- Corporate Trustee (additional charges apply)
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Complete Package
Complete SMSF establishment package
$2000/inital fee +GST
- Establishment of SMSF
(SMSF deed, ABN, TFN, GST registration) - Trustee minutes and consent forms
- Corporate Trustee (additional charges apply)
- Superannuation rollovers (2 per member)
- Binding death nominations
- Bank account establishment
- Update employers on how to contribute to SMSF
- Investment strategy
- Insurance review
Accounting & Tax
Complete SMSF administration package
$225/mo +GST
- Expert technical support from our experienced SMSF accountants
- Financial statements
- Income tax returns
- Annual audit
- Annual minutes
- Pension and Lump Sum documentation
- Actuarial Certificate (additional charges apply)
- Online reporting 24/7
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All plans cover the basics
Ready to start the conversation?
Request your complimentary firstappointment.