First Step Wealth Planning logo

First Step Wealth Planning

Updated today

Client assets under management

$31,285,253

Clients

19

53% high-net-worth

Advisors

1

of 1 employees

Firm type

Independent

1 advisor with up to 2 employees

Clients per advisor

19

Typical

Average account size

$1,646,592

About

First Step Wealth Planning serves individual and high‑net‑worth clients with comprehensive wealth planning and one‑time project-based financial plans, and provides discretionary investment management as part of its ongoing services. Comprehensive clients receive a written financial plan and are scheduled for at least three meetings per year to monitor progress and implement agreed recommendations.

The firm’s investment framework is grounded in modern portfolio theory and a primarily passive approach, using low‑cost ETFs and model portfolios from a large provider while also applying fundamental, charting, and cyclical analyses where appropriate. It may engage outside managers (including J.P. Morgan, 55IP, and Parametric) for portfolio management, retains discretionary trading authority, and conducts regular quarterly reviews of accounts.

Distinctive features noted in the brochure include a fixed, flat‑fee billing model rather than a traditional percentage‑of‑assets fee and a relatively concentrated practice scale — roughly $31.3 million in discretionary assets across 19 clients — which produces an unusually high asset‑per‑client profile compared with many independent advisers. The firm also discloses a recent material change in which it discontinued a wrap fee program, and it does not accept commissions or performance‑based fees.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Selection of other advisers

Expertise

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Wealth management Cash flow / budgeting

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Fee options

Fixed

Project Based Financial Planning fixed fee ranges from $4,400 to $10,000 per engagement.

Percentage

$0 - $3,000,000: $12,000 fixed annual fee $3,000,001 - $5,000,000: $20,000 - $30,000 fixed annual fee range $5,000,001+: $30,000 - $40,000 fixed annual fee range (may include additional complexity fee)

Other

Minimum fee: $12,000 annually for assets $0 - $3,000,000 Fee-only: Fixed fees as described above for comprehensive wealth planning and project based financial planning.

Main office location

First Step Wealth Planning

Wilton NY, United States

Number of offices

1

Most active in

New York

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

Erik N

CFP®, RICP®

Wilton, NY

First Step Wealth Planning

First Step Wealth Planning is a firm that serves people seeking guidance on retiring with financial and emotional confidence. Our clients are nearing or already retired, looking for advice on retirement income, tax planning, and investments, and typically have accumulated over $1.5 million. The traditional method of retirement planning is broken. It's about facts and figures as a means to sell products. A traditional firm's business model relies on managing investments for a percentage fee, and they dedicate their time and resources to convincing you that their investment opinions are superior to those of other firms. After over 20 years of working for those firms, I broke away and started First Step Wealth Planning to provide people with the guidance they seek without feeling pressured to purchase investment and insurance products. Guided Planning is a method that helps people clarify their emotional goals and align them with their money. It’s a way to help people figure out for themselves what really matters to them and how money will play a role in those relationships. By the end of the process, they feel confident that their plan accurately reflects who they are, what they want to do, and why. They are clear on their goals, the reasons behind them, and what they need to do to move forward. Guided Planning aligns all aspects of your wealth with how you want to spend your time in retirement and is offered at a flat rate. Half up front, the rest at completion. Implementation of the plan and ongoing guidance include tax planning, investment management, income maximization, and wealth transfer planning. All provided for a flat monthly rate. If this sounds like the type of relationship you would like to have with a financial planner, visit the website to set up a complimentary consultation to see how Guided Planning may be a good fit for you.

Income planning Wealth management Retirement income strategy Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)
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