Guidepost Financial Planning

Guidepost charges on an hourly, fee-only basis rather than through assets-under-management or commission-based structures. This model allows clients to pay only for the planning work or advice they need. The firm does not take custody of client assets, which removes the conflict of interest associated with gathering assets to generate fees (per SEC registration, public record).

Barry L. Kaplan, the president and principal, is the central figure in all planning and advisory decisions. The practice operates as a small, owner-led firm, meaning investment philosophy and client recommendations are driven directly by Kaplan. No separate investment committee or external portfolio management structure has been disclosed (per SEC registration, public record).

Neither. Guidepost is a retail-facing Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing personal financial planning to individuals and families. Its structure as a fee-only, hourly practice serving middle-income and mass-affluent clients places it squarely in the financial planning profession, not the family office or venture capital sectors.

The firm provides only financial planning advice and does not participate in fund commitments, direct venture deals, or private investments on behalf of clients. Its model is consultative: Guidepost develops plans and recommendations, but clients implement those strategies through their own chosen custodians and accounts.

Guidepost does not target specific investment stages or sectors in the institutional sense. The practice focuses on personal financial goals — retirement income, tax planning, and portfolio construction — rather than seeding companies or sectors. Its client base is individuals, not institutional allocators.