If you’re weighing whether to work with a financial advisor, the first thing you probably want to know is what it costs and how the advisor gets paid. This page lays out exactly what Catalano Financial charges for planning, investment management, and the ongoing relationships we build with financial delegators across The Woodlands and greater Houston. I’m Peter Catalano, and I believe you should see the pricing plainly before you ever sit down at my table.

What does financial planning cost at Catalano Financial?

Here is the full menu, so you can see where you fit before we talk. Most people start with either the Financial Roadmap or Comprehensive Financial Planning, and some move into an ongoing relationship from there.

Service	What you get	Price
Financial Roadmap	A written plan with priorities, opportunities, and next steps, plus one review meeting	$500 per household
Comprehensive Financial Planning	A five-phase plan covering retirement, investments, tax considerations, insurance, and estate coordination	$6,000 per household
Strategic Portfolio Management	Ongoing management of your investment accounts	1.25% annually on the first $1,000,000, lower above that
Strategic Wealth Partnership	The most complete ongoing advisory relationship	Generally begins at $15,000 per year
Life, disability, and annuities	Help selecting and obtaining coverage	No separate advisory fee; commissions paid by the carrier

These are per-household figures. I may negotiate or waive a planning fee based on the size and complexity of a relationship, and any exception gets documented in writing.

What does the $500 Financial Roadmap include?

The Financial Roadmap is a standalone engagement built to organize your financial life and clarify your priorities before you make a significant decision. It starts with a discovery meeting about your values, goals, and current circumstances, followed by my analysis of the information you provide. You receive a written Roadmap with observations, planning opportunities, and prioritized next steps, plus one meeting to walk through it and answer questions. Target delivery is 30 calendar days after the agreement is signed, the fee is received, and you’ve sent everything I need.

If you decide to move into Comprehensive Financial Planning within six months, the full $500 is credited toward that fee. Some clients take the Roadmap and implement on their own; others use it to decide what kind of relationship makes sense next.

How is investment management priced?

Strategic Portfolio Management uses a progressive annual fee based on the assets I manage for your household, billed monthly in arrears and generally deducted from your custodial account.

Assets I manage	Annual rate
First $1,000,000	1.25%
$1,000,001 to $5,000,000	0.80%
Above $5,000,000	0.50%

To make that real: a $1,000,000 household pays about $12,500 a year, roughly $1,042 a month before market changes. A $2,000,000 household pays 1.25% on the first million plus 0.80% on the next, which comes to $20,500 a year before market changes. There is generally a $250,000 minimum in managed assets. Custodial fees, fund expenses, and transaction costs are charged by third parties and are separate from what I bill.

For context, a 2026 Datos Insights study reported an average advisory fee of 0.96% of assets under management and an average annual retainer fee of $6,815. As summarized by Kitces, the average retainer increased from $4,484 in 2023. These industry benchmarks provide useful context when comparing advisory fees, although actual fees vary based on assets, services, and the complexity of the relationship. You can read more about how I build and monitor portfolios on my investment planning page

What is the Strategic Wealth Partnership, and who is it for?

The Strategic Wealth Partnership is my most complete ongoing relationship, and fees generally begin at $15,000 a year, billed quarterly in advance. It’s built for financial delegators who want one professional coordinating the whole picture rather than a single product or an investment account by itself. That means ongoing planning, portfolio management if you select it, retirement income planning, tax and estate coordination with your CPA and attorney, insurance reviews, and regular strategy meetings.

The fee reflects the scope of responsibility, the complexity of your financial life, and the level of coordination across professionals, not just the assets under management. If your situation is simpler, one of the flat-fee planning engagements above is usually the better starting point. You can see how this fits the broader picture on my wealth management page.

How do you get paid, and how do you handle conflicts of interest?

I charge for advice directly, and I’m also separately licensed to sell insurance, which makes Catalano Financial a fee-based firm rather than fee-only. Planning fees can be paid directly by you. Investment management fees are generally deducted from your managed accounts. When you buy a life insurance policy or an annuity through me, the insurance company may pay me a commission, and that commission is separate from and in addition to my advisory fees. It is never credited against them.

I’ll name the conflict plainly: commission products give any advisor a financial incentive. When I provide investment advice I act as a fiduciary, and I recommend an insurance product only when I believe it fits your objectives, your plan, and your circumstances. You are never obligated to buy insurance through me. You can also verify how any adviser is compensated by reading their Form ADV Part 2 and checking FINRA BrokerCheck or the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database. My CRD number is 298405.

One thing I won’t do is dress up returns. Markets move, and no advisor can control them, so I focus on the parts of your plan we can actually manage: cost, risk, taxes, and coordination.

Where do you serve, and how do I book?

Catalano Financial is based at 1095 Evergreen Circle, Suite 200, in The Woodlands, Texas, and I primarily serve clients in The Woodlands, greater Houston, and across Texas, while also working with clients elsewhere where I’m permitted. I hold the CLU and ChFC designations, I’m a registered investment adviser in Texas, and I’ve worked in financial services since 1992.

The simplest first step is a discovery call, and it costs nothing. Book one at this link or call 832-696-0990. Inquiries are generally acknowledged within one business day.

Frequently asked questions

What does the first meeting cost for a financial delegator?

The discovery call is free. It’s a conversation about your situation, your priorities, and whether we’re a fit, with no fee and no obligation. From there we’d agree on whether the $500 Roadmap, the $6,000 Comprehensive plan, or an ongoing relationship makes the most sense.

Can the $500 Roadmap fee count toward more planning?

Yes. If you engage me for Comprehensive Financial Planning within six months of your Roadmap being delivered, the full $500 is credited toward that $6,000 fee. After six months, I may recommend a new Roadmap engagement.

Is there a minimum to have you manage my investments?

Generally yes, about $250,000 in accepted managed assets for Strategic Portfolio Management. I can waive or negotiate that minimum based on the size and complexity of a relationship, and any exception is documented in writing. Households with related accounts, such as joint, individual, and retirement accounts, can be aggregated for the tiered fee.

Are you a fee-only advisor?

No. I’m fee-based, which means I charge advisory fees and I may also receive commissions when you buy insurance or an annuity through me. I disclose that plainly, act as a fiduciary on investment advice, and recommend a product only when I believe it fits your plan. You’re always free to obtain insurance elsewhere.

How long does a financial plan take to complete?

Comprehensive Financial Planning is generally completed within 30 calendar days after I’ve received the signed agreement, the fee, and all the information I need. Timing can extend if documents come in slowly or if a custodian or outside professional needs to weigh in. The Roadmap follows the same 30-day target.