In a world where investment products are increasingly commoditized and portfolio construction is no longer a differentiator, advisors who deliver personalized guidance around tax, estate, and financial planning are standing out—and getting paid for it. That's the hidden message of a deceptively simple new class for professionals led by Utah Valley University professor Craig Israelsen, Ph.D. While ostensibly about low-expense investing, it provides a way of building a fee-only business model that is compliant and puts clients first.

90 bps on $100 Million? Yes, and It’s Still a Bargain

Imagine offering clients a globally diversified, low-cost investment portfolio for just 10 basis points. Now imagine layering on your expertise—guidance on tax strategies, specialized investments, financial planning, real estate, and even estate planning—and charging 70 to 90 bps in ongoing advisory fees. You’re now delivering serious value at a price point that’s still below what many retail clients are paying for less personal service. Do the math: at 90 bps on $100 million in assets, that’s $900,000 annually. While we’re not suggesting every advisor charge that, the structure makes it easier to justify your fee. Even at 70 bps, you’re providing a high-value service that looks like a bargain—especially compared to bundled, opaque pricing models. This is how to create a fee-only business model.

The Value Isn’t in the Products—It’s in the Personal Advice And Relationship

What makes this fee-only business model work is that it isn’t about picking hot funds or selling proprietary strategies. Instead, the foundation is the seven asset/12 category portfolio: a well-diversified, ultra-low-cost model designed to deliver market returns with minimal expense drag. Your value comes from customizing this portfolio to client needs and integrating it with deeper advice: tax-loss harvesting, legacy planning, Roth conversion timing, alternative asset integration through SDIRAs, and retirement income sequencing.

AI Explosion = More Noise. Human Advisors = More Value

We're past the 'information explosion' era. We’re now in the 'AI explosion' era. Financial data is everywhere, and clients are overwhelmed. This is your opportunity. Your clients don’t need more data—they need clarity. Your job is to translate complexity into personalized action. That’s not something AI can do—at least not with a fiduciary duty.

Silent Genius: What This Course Doesn’t Say Is Just As Important

Professor Israelsen’s class doesn’t shout. It shows. And what’s quietly brilliant is what it doesn’t say out loud: This is a system for running a high-margin, client-first practice without ever selling product. It teaches fiduciaries how to organize their fees around the value they deliver, not the funds they select. That’s the future of advice.

Your Advice Is Worth It—Clients Just Need to See the Math

Clients are often shocked to learn that a 1% fee can cost them hundreds of thousands over a lifetime. That’s why leading with a 10 bps investment cost positions you as a hero. From there, layering on 70–90 bps for real advice—tax, real estate, estate planning—is not only justifiable, it’s welcome.

Real Niche = Real Money

Advisors who specialize—especially in areas like SDIRAs, gift and estate planning, working with physicians, or real estate tax planning—can command the full 90 bps and retain happy clients. Why? Because they’re solving high-stakes, high-impact problems. And the results speak for themselves. Over a long career, we’ve seen countless advisors earn far above industry averages simply by becoming invaluable to their niche.

Scaling Advice Without Sacrificing Standards

This course outlines a system built to scale. You’re not just cobbling together portfolios—you’re building a business around a scalable fee-only business model. One that trains junior advisors, delivers consistent advice, and grows with every client you serve.

Want to Be in the Top 1%? Here’s Your Playbook

Earning $900,000 per year? That puts you in the top 1% of U.S. earners. And with a $100 million book charging 90 bps for advice, it’s entirely possible—and fully ethical. The key isn’t working more. It’s organizing your services, pricing transparently, and scaling what clients truly value.

Final Word: This Is Must-See CE/CPE

Whether you’re a CFP®, CPA, CIMA®, or IAR, this is the CE/CPE session that transforms your business. It doesn’t just educate—it reorganizes your entire outlook. This course shows how to build a practice that reflects your values, rewards your expertise, and protects your clients' futures.

How Basis Points Build Trust and Revenue

In this model, basis points become your communication tool. A fee-only business model that clearly breaks out 10 bps for investing and 70–90 bps for advice builds client trust instantly. It signals transparency, eliminates sticker shock, and lets clients decide what they’re paying for. That kind of clarity makes selling easier—and scaling faster.

Clients Want a Process, Not Just a Portfolio

Modern financial consumers are savvy. They’re looking for a process, not a pitch. A structured, repeatable model—like the one laid out in this course—delivers just that. With well-defined investment principles and a predictable fee schedule, you reduce friction in every conversation. That’s how you grow a loyal, profitable client base within a fee-only business model.

Behavioral Coaching: The Value Clients Feel

Portfolios perform. But advisors deliver peace of mind. Helping clients stick to a plan during volatile markets, avoid poor timing, and stay focused on long-term goals is often the most valuable thing you do. It’s also what justifies your fee more than any back-tested return stream. This is where a scalable, fee-only business model turns advice into long-term equity—for both you and your clients.

Train Your Team to Scale Your System

You don’t need to be the only one delivering value. With the right structure, you can train junior advisors, associate planners, and operations staff to follow your model. That way, clients get consistent advice, you protect your time, and the firm continues to grow—without diluting the integrity of your process or your fees.

This Isn’t Theory—It’s a Tested Model

Craig Israelsen’s class is rooted in academic research but forged in the real world. We’ve seen hundreds of advisors adopt this structure and thrive. It simplifies compliance, elevates professionalism, and helps retain clients through life transitions. If you're building a fee-only business model and want a roadm