Gianola Financial Planning is a fee-only financial planning firm founded in 1995 and based in Worthington, Ohio. The firm offers personalized financial planning, investment advice, retirement planning, tax planning and preparation, insurance review, estate planning assistance, and small business planning. Gianola Financial Planning operates as a fiduciary, legally required to act in your best interest. The firm creates customized strategies using strategic asset allocation, primarily recommending index mutual funds, actively managed mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, Treasury securities, and certificates of deposit. Client accounts are held at independent qualified custodians like Charles Schwab & Co., and trades are executed with advance client consent on a non-discretionary basis. The firm does not manage portfolios on an ongoing, continuous basis for an assets-under-management fee, but instead charges fixed annual retainer fees and project fees.
Fee Structure
Gianola Financial Planning offers a Full Retainer engagement for ongoing comprehensive financial planning, with fees calculated based on your income, assets, complexity, and anticipated time. The minimum initial fee for full retainer clients is $3,500. Services include:
- Goal setting, budgeting, and cash flow management
- Retirement planning and income management
- Portfolio analysis, specific investment advice, and implementation
- Tax planning and tax preparation
- Insurance and benefit analysis
- Estate planning review and charitable giving
- Twice-a-year portfolio and net worth reviews
- Unlimited phone and email support between meetings
- Financial Jump Start — $1,500 for a one-time, two-and-a-half-hour review focusing on two to three specific planning topics, including 30 days of follow-up phone or email support.
- Special Financial Planning Projects — $1,000 to $2,500 for special projects such as implementing recommendations from a Financial Jump Start.