What Is the Garrett Planning Network?

What Garrett Planning Network is

The Garrett Planning Network was founded in 2000 by Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, with a simple thesis: a lot of middle-income households need planning advice but can't justify the cost of an AUM or retainer engagement. By billing hourly, an advisor can profitably serve a household that needs ten hours of work — say, a retirement-readiness review or a second opinion on an existing portfolio — without forcing the household into a six-figure asset minimum or a long-term retainer.

What Garrett Planning Network membership requires

Fee-only compensation. No commissions, no third-party compensation.
Hourly availability. Members must be willing to work with clients on an hourly basis. Many also offer retainer or project-based fees, but the hourly option is the defining commitment.
The CFP certification (or active progress toward it) is required for full membership.
No asset minimums for the hourly engagement.

When hourly planning is a good fit

Hourly billing tends to be the cheapest option for one of these scenarios:

A retirement readiness review. 6–10 hours of work to model your situation across taxes, Social Security, and withdrawals. Often $1,500–$3,500 total.
A Roth conversion review. 4–8 hours focused on the tax-bracket and IRMAA implications of converting in a given year. Often $1,000–$2,500.
A second opinion on an existing plan. 4–6 hours of independent review of work done by another advisor. Often $1,000–$2,000.
A divorce financial review. Hours vary widely depending on the complexity of the marital estate.

For ongoing planning needs that recur every quarter — tax projections, equity-comp coordination, multi-account portfolio management — a flat-fee retainer or AUM engagement is usually more cost-effective than paying hourly.

Why Garrett Planning Network matters for consumers

Hourly billing is one of the lowest-friction ways to test the fee-only model. You can hire an advisor for a defined project, get a clear written deliverable, and walk away — no ongoing commitment, no AUM lock-in. For households whose wealth is real but not yet liquid, or whose planning needs are episodic rather than continuous, the network's hourly model is often the right fit.

How to verify Garrett Planning Network membership

The Garrett Planning Network maintains a public advisor directory at garrettplanningnetwork.com. Verify membership directly there.

Compare with other fee-only networks

NAPFA — the largest fee-only association; pricing models vary across members.
XY Planning Network — fee-only with a subscription / retainer focus.
Alliance of Comprehensive Planners — fee-only, retainer-based, tax-focused.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Garrett Planning Network?

The Garrett Planning Network is a national association of fee-only financial advisors who charge by the hour, founded in 2000 by Sheryl Garrett. The hourly model is designed to make planning accessible to households who don't need ongoing advice or who have a specific question they want answered.

Are Garrett Planning Network members fee-only?

Yes. Garrett Planning Network requires fee-only compensation: no commissions, no 12b-1 fees, no third-party compensation. The defining feature on top of that is the hourly billing model.

When does hiring a Garrett advisor make sense?

Hourly-billed planning is often a good fit for households with a specific, time-bounded question — a retirement-readiness review, a Social Security claiming decision, a divorce financial review, or a one-time second opinion on an existing plan. It can be a much cheaper option than ongoing AUM or retainer engagements for these one-off needs.

How can I verify Garrett Planning Network membership?