Financial Planning Built Around Your Goals, Not Our Commissions
Fee-based financial planning in New Hampshire means you know exactly what you're paying, exactly what you're getting, and exactly whose interests are being served — yours.
At F3 Capital, our planning process starts with your full financial picture before a single product is ever discussed. We're an RIA with a fiduciary obligation to every client, which means we're legally required to put your interests first. That's not a tagline. It's the structure of how we operate.
What "Fee-Based" Actually Means — and Why It Matters
Fee-based financial planning means our compensation is tied to the planning work we do, not to the products we recommend. We charge a transparent, agreed-upon fee for our services. If an insurance product or annuity is part of your plan, we'll tell you why it belongs there — and what it costs — before anything moves forward.
This stands in contrast to commission-based models, where an advisor's income depends on what they sell you. In those arrangements, the line between advice and sales can blur in ways that aren't always visible to the client. Fee-based planning removes that conflict by design.
For retirees and pre-retirees in New Hampshire, this distinction matters more than most people realize. The decisions you make in the years surrounding retirement — when to claim Social Security, how to draw down your accounts, how to structure your income — are permanent. Getting objective guidance on those decisions is worth paying for directly.
Why Independent, Fee-Based Advisors Serve You Differently
There's a meaningful difference between a fee-based advisor who works inside a large brokerage firm and one who operates as a fully independent RIA. At F3 Capital, Nathan Fox owns the firm outright. There is no broker-dealer, no parent company, and no proprietary product shelf we're required to recommend from.
That independence shapes every recommendation we make. When we suggest a particular investment strategy, withdrawal approach, or protection instrument, it's because the analysis supports it — not because it satisfies a quota or earns a higher payout.
Independent fee-based advisors also tend to operate with greater transparency on total cost. You'll know what our planning fee covers, what any third-party product costs, and how those numbers interact with your overall financial plan.
How Our Fees Are Structured
We charge a flat planning fee or an assets-under-management (AUM) fee, depending on the scope of services you need. Both structures are disclosed upfront, in writing, before we begin any work together.
- Flat planning fees cover the development and delivery of a comprehensive financial plan, including all planning meetings and ongoing plan updates.
- AUM fees apply when we're managing your investment portfolio on an ongoing basis, and are calculated as a percentage of the assets we manage.
- If a product recommendation involves a commission component — such as a term life policy or annuity — we disclose that clearly and explain how it interacts with your overall planning fee.
There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no pressure to purchase anything. Our goal is a relationship where you always know what you're paying and why.
What Our Fee-Based Financial Planning Covers
Comprehensive Financial Plan Development
We build a full financial plan that maps your current position against your retirement goals, income needs, tax situation, and timeline. This isn't a one-page summary — it's a working document that evolves as your life does.
Investment Management and Portfolio Strategy
Your investment strategy is built around your plan, not the other way around. We manage portfolios with attention to risk tolerance, time horizon, tax efficiency, and income distribution needs — particularly for clients approaching or already in retirement.
Tax Efficiency and Roth Conversion Planning
One of the most valuable and underused components of a financial plan is tax strategy. We work with our CPA partner to model Roth conversion opportunities, tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, and RMD planning so you're not paying more than you should at any stage.
Social Security and Medicare Coordination
Claiming Social Security at the wrong time can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a retirement. We model your claiming options against your income needs, health picture, and spousal situation to help you make the decision that holds up over time. Medicare planning runs parallel — we help you understand your coverage options before and after you turn 65.
Wealth Protection and Estate Planning Coordination
Common Questions About Fee-Based Financial Planning
What is the difference between fee-based and fee-only financial planning?
Fee-only advisors are compensated exclusively through client fees and accept no commissions of any kind. Fee-based advisors charge planning fees but may also receive commissions on certain products, such as insurance, when those products are part of the client's plan. At F3 Capital, we disclose all compensation clearly and upfront — so you always know how we're paid and why a recommendation is being made.Is fee-based financial planning worth the cost?
For most people approaching or living in retirement, yes. The decisions that surround retirement — Social Security timing, withdrawal sequencing, tax strategy, healthcare planning — have permanent consequences. Paying a transparent fee for objective, fiduciary guidance on those decisions typically delivers far more value than the fee itself.How is F3 Capital different from a fee-based advisor at a large brokerage?
F3 Capital is a fully independent RIA. Nathan Fox owns the firm with no broker-dealer affiliation and no proprietary product requirements. That independence means our recommendations are driven by your plan, not by a firm's product shelf or internal sales targets.What does a fee-based financial plan actually include?
Our plans cover retirement income strategy, investment management, Social Security and Medicare coordination, tax efficiency, Roth conversion analysis, wealth protection, and estate planning coordination. The scope is tailored to your situation — and the plan evolves as your life does.Do you work with clients outside of Portsmouth, NH?
Yes. While our primary office is in Portsmouth, we serve clients throughout New Hampshire and across New England, and we work with clients remotely across the country. We're licensed in 13+ states and built to serve clients wherever they are.How do I know if I'm ready to work with a fee-based financial advisor?
If you have accumulated assets you want to protect and grow, a retirement timeline you're actively thinking about, or financial complexity that a single product can't address, you're likely ready. A good starting point is a planning conversation — we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.
