Updated:
Model Wealth
Model Wealth was established in 2012 in Wheaton, Illinois, by Randy Bruns, a CFP® and RICP® who structured the firm as a fee-only registered investment...
Model Wealth
Model Wealth was established in 2012 in Wheaton, Illinois, by Randy Bruns, a CFP® and RICP® who structured the firm as a fee-only registered investment adviser. The practice was built on the conviction that hourly and flat-fee billing aligns advisor and client better than percentage-of-AUM models. The firm’s four-person team — Bruns, Alex Offerman, Donovan Sanchez, and Anna Thornburg — operates from a single office in the Chicago suburbs. The firm delivers financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, and small businesses, with a concentration on clients approaching or in retirement. Its investment approach draws on academic research favoring simple, low-cost portfolios over complex, high-fee alternatives. Model Wealth constructs portfolios that sustain retirement lifestyles through market cycles; its materials describe keeping clients invested through the 2000-2002 downturn, the 2008-2009 crash, and the 2020 COVID drawdown. Service is national, conducted remotely for clients across the United States. The team numbers four professionals. Donovan Sanchez teaches in the Financial Planning Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign while pursuing a doctorate in Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University, creating a direct pipeline between the firm and academic planning research. The firm charges on an hourly basis for standalone financial plans, typically 12 to 18 hours of work delivered over four to six weeks, and offers wealth management on a flat-fee retainer for clients needing ongoing portfolio maintenance. Model Wealth’s structural differentiator is its pricing model: it is one of a small minority of RIAs that explicitly forgo AUM-based billing entirely. The firm warns prospective clients that charging a percentage of assets can encourage advisors to roll over employer-plan balances into managed accounts even when tax laws and expenses argue against it. By tying its revenue to hours worked or a flat retainer, Model Wealth removes the conflict embedded in standard fee schedules — a stance documented on its website alongside encrypted, two-factor-authenticated client portals and a fiduciary commitment.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
2012
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Wheaton
Corporate office
1755 S. Naperville Rd., Suite 100, Wheaton, IL 60189, United States
Principals
Randy Bruns
CFP®, RICP®
Alex Offerman
CFP®
Donovan Sanchez
CFP®
Anna Thornburg
Operations
Frequently asked questions
How is Model Wealth compensated?
Model Wealth is a fee-only firm that charges by the hour for financial planning and a flat fee for ongoing investment management. It does not use the percentage-of-AUM billing model common among RIAs. The firm argues that flat-fee and hourly structures remove the conflict that comes from incentivizing advisors to accumulate client assets.
What makes Model Wealth's fee structure unusual among RIAs?
Most registered investment advisers charge a percentage of assets under management, which can create an incentive to roll over 401(k) balances into managed accounts even when leaving them in place would be better for the client. Model Wealth exclusively bills by the hour or via a flat retainer, eliminating the incentive. The firm communicates this distinction upfront on its website, advising clients to scrutinize any advisor labeling themselves a fiduciary while charging AUM-based fees.
Who runs client engagements at Model Wealth?
The firm is led by Randy Bruns, with Alex Offerman handling quantitative analysis and Donovan Sanchez providing academic rigor from his role as an Instructor at the University of Illinois and his doctoral studies at Kansas State University. Anna Thornburg manages operations and scheduling. The firm markets itself as a collaborative practice where all four team members contribute to client outcomes.
Does Model Wealth manage assets for institutions or only for individuals?
Model Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, and small businesses. Its marketing focuses on pre-retirees and recent retirees, and the firm’s published materials do not indicate institutional mandates, endowment work, or separate accounts for pension funds or nonprofits.
How does Model Wealth build portfolios?
The firm follows an academically grounded, low-cost indexing philosophy. Its materials emphasize simple portfolio construction designed to endure market shocks — it cites guiding clients through the 2000-2002, 2008-2009, and 2020 drawdowns without panic selling. Specific asset-class allocations or fund families are not disclosed publicly.
What does Model Wealth charge for a financial plan?
A typical financial plan takes 12 to 18 hours of advisory work and is billed at an hourly rate. The firm estimates most plans are completed within four to six weeks. For clients who need ongoing portfolio maintenance beyond semi-annual check-ins, Model Wealth offers wealth management services on a flat-fee arrangement.
Is Model Wealth a fiduciary?
Model Wealth identifies as a fiduciary but cautions that the term is legally compatible with AUM-based fees that can still carry conflicts. The firm argues that its own hourly/flat-fee model aligns more closely with client interests than the standard RIA compensation structure.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on registered investment advisers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: