Guidepost Financial Planning

Guidepost Financial Planning

Barry L. Kaplan established Guidepost Financial Planning, LLC in 1982, setting up a fee-only registered investment advisory firm in Redwood City, California. The practice has been associated with the Garrett Planning Network, a national collective of financial planners who offer services on an hourly, as-needed basis, reinforcing its identity as a fiduciary advisory shop rather than a traditional asset-gathering firm. Guidepost operates on an advice-only model, charging clients by the hour for financial planning, portfolio reviews, and second-opinion services, without taking custody of client assets or charging fees based on a percentage of assets under management. This structure is designed to serve a broad demographic, including middle-income households that may not meet typical asset minimums at other advisory firms. The service menu typically spans retirement income planning, tax-aware distribution strategies, and general financial check-ups. With Barry Kaplan as president and principal, the practice has maintained a lean profile — often a solo or small-team operation centered on the owner's expertise. The firm holds a legacy position within the fee-only planning community, having joined the Garrett Planning Network to support its hourly, fiduciary delivery model. The practice has not publicly disclosed total assets under advisement or a roster of institutional relationships. Structurally, Guidepost stands apart through its singular focus on unbundled, advice-only engagements. Unlike the dominant AUM-based RIA model, where compensation rises with asset accumulation, an hourly practice earns revenue solely from time spent, removing the incentive to gather assets. Kaplan's long-tenured Redwood City practice belongs to a small cohort of planners who anchored this model in the profession, predating the wider adoption of flat-fee and subscription advisory formats by several decades (per the Garrett Planning Network, public record).