Carriere Financial Planning

The firm constructs retirement income plans that integrate Social Security claiming strategies, tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, and risk-aligned portfolio construction. The focus is on withdrawal sustainability — ensuring that portfolio distributions, combined with Social Security and any pension income, can support a client's lifestyle across a multi-decade retirement. Portfolios are typically built using low-cost ETFs and index funds, and the planning process explicitly models tax impacts across taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts to minimize lifetime tax drag.

Yes. As a registered investment advisor (RIA), Carriere Financial Planning is bound by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to act as a fiduciary, meaning the firm is legally obligated to put client interests ahead of its own. This differs from the suitability standard that applies to many broker-dealer representatives, who are only required to recommend products that are suitable — not necessarily optimal — for a client's situation. Carriere's fee-only compensation structure reinforces this fiduciary posture by removing commission-based conflicts.

No. The firm operates on a fee-only basis, which means compensation comes directly from client advisory fees rather than product commissions. This distinguishes Carriere from hybrid advisors and broker-dealer representatives who may recommend annuity products, cash-value life insurance, or proprietary mutual funds that generate commissions or trails. The firm's public communications consistently emphasize a low-conflict, transparent fee model.

The firm's practice focuses on individuals and families navigating the transition into retirement or already in the distribution phase. Typical clients are pre-retirees within five to ten years of leaving the workforce and current retirees seeking to optimize their drawdown strategy. Carriere does not appear to serve institutional clients, endowments, or corporate retirement plans — the practice is purpose-built around personal retirement planning for households.

The firm charges fee-only advisory fees, likely structured as either a percentage of assets under management or a flat annual retainer for financial planning services. The specific fee schedule has not been publicly documented in detail, but the firm's positioning as an independent, fiduciary RIA suggests fee transparency and a compensation model that does not fluctuate with product sales. Prospective clients would receive a Form ADV Part 2A disclosure document detailing exact fee structures prior to engagement.