Only Fee-Only

Hosted by Broc Buckles and Peter Ciravolo

Business EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

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Episodes

168

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

This podcast interviews fee-only financial planners to learn about how they are helping their clients and serving their specific niches.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 7, 202622 min

#177 - 100 Great Clients: Building the Practice You Actually Want - Andrew Damcevski

What does a successful financial planning firm actually look like? For Andrew Damcevski, founder of AJD Wealth Management, the answer isn’t building the biggest firm possible. It’s working with 100 great clients, providing a high level of service, and building a business that gives him control over his time. In this episode, Andrew joins us to talk about his path from starting in the insurance world and moving to the fee-only world, starting and selling a firm, and eventually launching AJD Wealth Management. We get into the value of learning sales early in your career, the realities of starting from scratch, why keeping your personal expenses low can give new firm owners more runway, and the tradeoffs between building a large enterprise and intentionally staying small. Sometimes the goal isn’t a bigger practice. It’s building the practice you actually want. Andrew's website: ajdwealth.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-damcevski-cfp%C2%AE-tpcp%C2%AE-4832b365/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

July 23, 202626 min

#166 - Becoming the Advisor He Couldn't Find: Ethan Kok's Fee-Only Journey

What happens when a Dow Chemical employee turned real estate investor can't find a financial planner willing to look at his whole picture? He becomes one himself. In this episode of Only Fee Only, Peter and Broc talk with Ethan Kok, owner of Sage Wealth Planning. Ethan shares how his search for real financial advice as a young investor in Midland, Michigan opened his eyes to the fee-only model — and ultimately pulled him out of a corporate career and into financial planning. He breaks down how he built his early client base by mastering Dow's complex employee benefits, why offering flat-fee planning to clients without big portfolios is an opportunity most advisors miss, and what he learned from purchasing Sage from its founder, including why the transition plan matters just as much as the purchase price. Ethan also talks about his team's shared passion for tax planning, how his appreciation for insurance planning has grown over the years, the "downer meeting" his firm uses to help clients get real about life insurance and estate planning, and his advice for anyone at a big company thinking about a career change into this profession. Ethan's Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-kok/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

July 16, 202629 min

165 - Equity Compensation & Flat-Fee Financial Planning with Marcel Miu

Your clients may have millions in company stock and still struggle with the decisions that matter most: exercise now or later, hold or sell, diversify or stay concentrated. In this episode, we sit down with Marcel Miu , founder of Simplify Wealth Planning in Austin, Texas, to discuss how advisors can help clients navigate equity compensation while building a successful advisory firm. Marcel shares his journey from JP Morgan and Cohen & Steers to launching his own fee-only RIA, and why technical expertise alone isn't enough to grow a business. We discuss the realities of client acquisition, how marketing has evolved, why LinkedIn isn't the opportunity it once was, and why advisors need multiple marketing channels instead of relying on a single strategy. We also explore flat-fee financial planning versus AUM, particularly for tech professionals whose investment portfolios may be simple but whose planning needs are anything but. Marcel explains why a flat-fee model often creates better alignment, how to set clear expectations, and how to determine whether a client is the right fit. Marcel's Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-miu/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

July 9, 202630 min

#164 - Why Real Estate Agents Need Financial Planning | Cody Hawkins, PeaceLink

A $10,000 commission check can feel like a reset button—until the next closing gets delayed. In this episode, we're joined by Cody Hawkins, Lead Planner at PeaceLink Financial Planning, to discuss why his firm specializes in helping top-producing real estate agents navigate the unique financial challenges that come with variable income and running a business. We discuss: Why lifestyle creep can become a major challenge for successful agents How to create predictable cash flow despite inconsistent income Common tax mistakes 1099 professionals make The importance of quarterly tax payments and proper business structure Why liquidity matters just as much as building long-term wealth How PeaceLink helps clients separate business and personal finances Cody also shares his path into financial planning, how PeaceLink found its niche serving real estate professionals, and why focusing on systems instead of chasing the next commission helps clients build lasting financial confidence. Whether you're a financial advisor looking to better serve business owners or a real estate professional trying to create more stability, this episode is full of practical takeaways. Cody's Linked and Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-hawkins-cfp%C2%AE-5129a217a/ https://www.peacelinkfp.com/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

June 25, 202626 min

#163 - The Me Money Method: Behavioral Budgeting Without the Guilt — with Linda Grizely

Money advice tends to break down in one predictable place: the messy middle between knowing what you should do and actually doing it this week. That's where Linda Grizely shines. Linda is a financial coach, speaker, and podcast host who took a winding path into financial services. She brings a rare mix of empathy and practicality for people who feel behind, ashamed, or priced out of traditional financial planning. We talk about what she learned in sales-driven environments, why advice-only and coaching can better serve everyday households, and how meeting people where they are changes everything. Linda shares how her own life experiences shaped her mission to help the people many advisors overlook, especially clients without the assets for an AUM relationship or the budget for a full fee-only plan. The through-line is simple: clear education, no jargon, and systems that make progress feel possible. Then we get into her Me Money Method, a behavioral approach to budgeting and cash flow that turns gray-area spending into an intentional container. You will hear the story that inspired it, how it reduces guilt, improves communication between couples, and creates better choices without shaming lattes, shoes, golf trips, or vacations. Linda also breaks down five money personality types and how advisors can listen for cues to tailor strategies people will actually follow. If you want a realistic way to track spending, build money habits, and lower money stress, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Linda's Website: https://www.lindagriz.com/ Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely/?skipRedirect=true Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

June 11, 202628 min

#162 - Design Your Business Around Your Lifestyle - Rafael Melendez

Money decisions are rarely just about math. The hardest part is often the human side. Rafael Melendez of NextGen Financial Planning joins us to discuss how fee-only financial planning helps younger families move from stress and uncertainty to confident, intentional decisions. We explore Rafael’s path into the profession, what he learned from sales-driven environments, and how those experiences shaped his client-first approach. We also break down what “fee-only” really means and why it can be a great fit for people who need planning guidance without having millions invested. Rafael shares his journey from joining NextGen during the pandemic to becoming a partner as the firm evolved. We discuss firm ownership, balancing growth with flexibility, and his advice for aspiring RIA owners: design the life you want first, then build the business around it. We also walk through a real-world planning scenario involving a high-stress job, stock compensation, student loans, and the decision to earn less in exchange for a better quality of life. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share with a planner friend, and leave a review. What value matters most in your next financial decision? Rafael's Social and Website https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-melendez/ https://www.nextgenfinancialplanning.com/

June 4, 202633 min

#161 - Clearing the Head Trash and Building a Lifestyle Practice, with Colin Page

A hedge fund job that started with weeding a garden? Colin Page's career story is unique, but the lessons are practical for anyone building a fee-only financial planning firm. We sit down with Colin, founder of Oakleigh Wealth Services in Charlottesville, Virginia, and trace his path from teaching high school math after the 2009 financial crisis, to more than a decade investing in distressed securities and bankruptcies, to launching his own independent practice. We talk about what changes when you move from markets to people. Colin shares why hedge fund work can feel disconnected from real goals, and what pulled him toward fiduciary planning for retirees and near-retirees: retirement income, tax-efficient withdrawals, Medicare choices, and legacy planning. We also get specific about the messy early decisions every advisor faces around niche, marketing, compliance, and building a firm without an existing book. Colin breaks down the mental game too: pricing "head trash," choosing between AUM, advice-only, and flat-fee models, and designing onboarding that respects your time. His document-first consultation approach is a simple filter that signals seriousness and keeps a lifestyle practice sustainable as referrals grow. If you're trying to build a practice that supports your life, not the other way around, this one is worth your time. Subscribe for more conversations with fee-only advisors, share this with a friend building their firm, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of building a practice feels hardest right now? Colin's Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-page-oakleigh/ Website: https://www.oakleighwealth.com/ Music in this episode was obtained from bensound.

May 28, 202632 min

#160 - The High-Income Paradox with Sean Rawlings

Your income can grow fast and still leave you feeling behind. That's the paradox we dig into with Sean Rawlings, founder of WealthBound Advisors, who works with young, high-income earners scaling toward $500K or seven figures only to realize they have no system for taxes, spending, or big decisions. Sean shares his story: Southern California roots, a start at a mutual firm, and the growing discomfort of watching "financial planning" turn into product pitches. He explains what pushed him toward independence, how he found the fee-only model, and why building an RIA is more achievable than many new advisors think. From there, we get specific. Sean covers what great onboarding looks like for first-time planning clients, how he uses modern tools (including AI like Claude) to stay efficient while keeping things high-touch, and the biggest pain point for fast-growing earners: tax planning around variable income. We close with real estate as an asset class, when it's worth the complexity, and how concepts like cost segregation and 1031 exchanges fit into a coordinated plan. Sean's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-rawlings/?skipRedirect=true Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

May 21, 202628 min

#159 - Scaling a Fee-Only RIA Without Losing the Mission -Chelsea Ransom-Cooper

A lot of wealth management still assumes you've already "made it" before you deserve real advice. Chelsea Ransom-Cooper, CFP®, co-founder of Zenith Wealth Partners, is challenging that assumption by building a fee-only RIA designed to serve women and people of color with relatable, high-quality financial planning. Chelsea walks us through the turning points that shaped Zenith: discovering fee-only planning through early networking, recognizing in 2020 that her client base didn't reflect the people who inspired her to enter the profession, and partnering with co-founder Jason Ray to build what they couldn't find in the market. She shares a concrete early-business tactic we loved — using a simple "30-name" validation list to prove demand and build confidence before making the leap, then turning those early conversations into her first wave of clients. We also get specific on how to scale without losing the mission. Chelsea explains how Zenith thinks about capacity (targeting 60 to 80 clients per advisor), support staffing, and using EOS to put the right people in the right seats. We dig into their flexible fee structure, including why they hold a minimum fee for service, avoid asset minimums, and blend planning engagements, retainer-style work, and AUM as clients' balance sheets evolve. Chelsea also shares how she manages a packed calendar through delegation, why that creates real growth opportunities for the next generation of advisors, and how her "zone of genius" in equity compensation helps her stand out. If you care about accessible financial advice, building a sustainable fee-only firm, and scaling with intention, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a fellow advisor or founder, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Chelsea's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ransom-cooper-cfp-6b198346/ Zenith Wealth Partners Website: https://zenithwealth.partners/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

May 14, 202621 min

#158 - From Planning Firm Employee to Solo RIA Founder: Matt Ryan's Story

A lot of advisors want to launch their own fee-only RIA, but the gap between "I'm ready" and "I have clients" can feel enormous. We're talking with Matt Ryan, founder of Focused Mission Financial in San Diego, about how he made the leap in 2022 after nearly a decade inside planning-focused firms, and what it actually looked like to build momentum from the ground up. We get specific about how his growth really happened: boots-on-the-ground marketing through coffees, lunches, and golf, backed by consistent touchpoints like a newsletter and short-form video. Matt also shares the truth about shiny objects, including paid lead programs like SmartAsset, and why some tactics fall flat for a solo RIA without the time and speed to follow up like a larger team. On the client service side, Matt walks us through how his process evolved into a formal six-step onboarding system, plus what changed when he hired an operations specialist to tighten workflows. We also dig into his work with self-employed clients, including solo 401(k) planning and tax planning, and how those needs show up differently than traditional retiree households. Finally, we talk about scaling with intention, integrating clients from a retiring advisor's book, and setting a boundary around lifestyle so growth never crowds out family time. If you're building an advisory firm, refining your financial planning process, or trying to find marketing that fits your personality, you'll take away practical ideas you can use right away. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the show with another advisor, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Matt's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ryan-fmf/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound