Fee-only financial planning for families — coordinated across college, retirement, and legacy.
Family financial planning is the coordination problem: retirement saving, 529 funding, term life insurance, estate documents, tax-advantaged accounts, and multi-generational aging-parent support all compete for the same dollar. Wirehouse advisors tend to optimize for AUM, not for the full picture. Fee-only advisors model tradeoffs across all these
What our matched specialists handle
- Max 401k or fund 529s more aggressively?
- We have three kids, two of them likely college-bound — how much is enough?
- My spouse works — who should own the term life insurance and what amount?
- Aging parent moving in — what financial planning changes?
- We're thinking about a bigger house — how does that fit with retirement?
- Roth vs traditional 401(k) — whose matters more in a two-income household?
Tools & guides
Family Multi-Goal Savings Calculator
Project your household savings trajectory across retirement and children's college simultaneously.
Family Financial Planning Guide
Detailed framework — rules, tradeoffs, and common mistakes.
Family Budget Planner
Before "401(k) or 529?" comes "how much do we actually have left over?" Enter income and all expense categories to see your savings rate, where your money goes, and which categories are over the target range — with a priority stack for where the surplus should go.
529 Funding Strategy
How much to save per year by child's age — benchmarks, plan selection, superfunding, and the SECURE 2.0 rollover exit.
Term Life Insurance Calculator
DIME-method coverage calculator for two-earner households — per-earner debt, income, mortgage, and education breakdown.
Insurance Layering for Families
How to layer term life, disability, and umbrella insurance — coverage gaps, dual-earner examples, and advisor value-add.
Disability Insurance Calculator for Families
How much individual DI do you actually need? Enter your income, employer LTD terms, and emergency fund to see your coverage gap and estimated premium range.
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) Calculator
Enter both earners' incomes and see which 401(k) strategy produces more after-tax retirement wealth — based on your actual household tax bracket.
401(k) vs. 529 Prioritization Calculator
Should you max your 401(k) or fund a 529 first? Enter your kids' ages and see your monthly 529 target — plus a priority framework for capturing employer match first.
Estate Planning for Families with Minor Children
Guardian designation, will vs. trust, beneficiary designation traps, and the funded-trust problem — what every family with kids under 18 needs to have in place.
When a Parent Moves In: Financial Checklist
Housing cost decisions, the $7,500 DCAP FSA (OBBBA 2026), dependent deduction, medical expense deduction, retirement impact, and Medicaid basics — before and after the move.
Bigger House vs. Retirement Savings Calculator
Calculate the true retirement wealth cost of a home upgrade — opportunity cost of the extra down payment, monthly payment drag, home equity gain, and the net impact at retirement.
College Cost & 529 Savings Calculator
Enter your child's age and target school type to see the projected 4-year cost (with tuition inflation) and your monthly savings target — using College Board 2025-26 data.
Backdoor Roth IRA for High-Earning Families
Household income above $252K? Here's how to still contribute $15,000/year to Roth accounts — the mechanics, the pro-rata trap, and the mega backdoor option for families with after-tax 401(k) access.
HSA Strategy for Families: The Triple Tax Account
The only account with three simultaneous tax advantages — 2026 family limit $8,750. How to use an HSA as a stealth retirement account instead of a healthcare debit card, plus HDHP vs. PPO break-even for families with kids.
FAFSA Strategy for Middle-Income Families
How families earning $150K-$500K can still maximize college financial aid — SAI calculation, asset placement (retirement accounts excluded, 529 ownership matters), merit aid strategy, and how CSS Profile differs from FAFSA at private colleges. 2026-27 guide.
Dependent Care FSA vs. Childcare Tax Credit 2026
OBBBA raised the Dependent Care FSA limit to $7,500 — which now wipes out the $6,000 childcare credit base entirely. Calculator shows exactly which benefit saves more at your AGI and state tax rate.
529 vs Roth IRA for College Savings
Both grow tax-free — but the Roth IRA is invisible to FAFSA, and unused funds stay in retirement. Calculator shows the tax-savings advantage of 529 vs the flexibility value of Roth at your marginal rate. Updated for 2026 ($7,500 Roth limit).
529 vs. UTMA Custodial Account
UTMA accounts give your child full control at 18 — and a 20% FAFSA assessment rate vs. 5.64% for a parent-owned 529. Calculator shows the after-tax growth gap and how much potential financial aid is at stake. 2026 kiddie tax rules included.
529 Withdrawal Strategy: Spend Your College Savings Tax-Free
The most expensive 529 mistake: using the account to pay the $4,000 that would have generated a $2,500 AOTC tax credit. Withdrawal optimizer shows exactly how to coordinate 529 distributions with education tax credits — plus qualified expense guide, non-qualified penalty math, and leftover-529 options including the SECURE 2.0 Roth rollover.
Best 529 Plans by State: 2026 Guide
You can use any state's 529 — the question is which maximizes your after-tax, after-fee outcome. Decision tree: tax parity states (deduct contributions to any plan), in-state-only deduction math, and states where the deduction doesn't apply. Morningstar Gold-rated plans compared: Utah my529, Illinois Bright Start, Pennsylvania, and New York Direct.
New Parent Financial Checklist 2026
A baby triggers eight simultaneous financial decisions — insurance update, estate docs, 529 setup, DCAP FSA enrollment, and the $2,200 Child Tax Credit. Here's the complete checklist in priority order, with the 30-day deadlines flagged.
Roth Conversion Strategy for Dual-Income Families
No income limit on Roth conversions. The strategy: find years when household income drops (parental leave, job gap, early retirement before Social Security) and convert at 12%–22% instead of your normal 24%–32% rate. 2026 bracket math and family-specific windows.
Spousal IRA: Fund Retirement for a Non-Working Spouse
A stay-at-home or lower-earning spouse can contribute $7,500 to their own Roth IRA in 2026 — using household income. Calculator shows what that account is worth at retirement, plus the deductibility rules and why waiting 5 years can cost $200K+.
Family Tax Planning Guide 2026
SALT cap expanded to $40,400 (up from $10K), Child Tax Credit raised to $2,200/child, and the AOTC phases out at $180K — meaning most families earning $200K+ get zero education credit. Every deduction and credit for two-income households with children, with a worked example.
Pay Off Mortgage Early vs. Invest: Calculator for Families
Should extra cash go to mortgage principal or investments? Calculator compares your guaranteed after-tax mortgage rate against expected investment returns — with 2026 itemization rules (standard deduction $32,200 MFJ, SALT cap $40,400) and a priority framework for families who still have 401(k) and 529 space to fill.
Family Emergency Fund Calculator
The "3–6 months" rule ignores your household structure. Enter your earner count, income stability, and number of dependents to get a personalized emergency fund target — plus how long it takes to close the gap at your current savings rate.
Social Security Survivor Benefits for Families
If a parent dies, Social Security pays monthly benefits to minor children (75% of PIA each) and the surviving spouse caring for them. Most families don't know how much they'd receive — or about the "blackout period" between when children age out and when the spouse turns 60. Calculator + blackout period timeline included.
Blended Family Financial Planning Guide
Second marriage with kids from prior relationships? QTIP trusts protect biological children's inheritance while providing for a surviving spouse. Plus: the FAFSA step-parent income trap, life insurance across two households, the alimony tax rule change (TCJA 2018), and the 9-month rule for step-child Social Security survivor benefits.
Pre-College Financial Checklist: The 4-Year Window Before Move-In Day
FAFSA uses your income from 2 years before enrollment — the income optimization window closes in sophomore year. Year-by-year checklist: FAFSA base year planning, merit aid research, 529 final sprint, asset placement, college financing decision tree, and what to do when your 18-year-old is suddenly a legal adult.
Sandwich Generation Financial Planning
Raising kids while supporting an aging parent? Every $800/month in caregiving costs you redirect away from investments can reduce retirement wealth by $185K+ over 15 years. Priority framework, retirement impact calculator, tax offsets (DCAP FSA, dependent deduction, medical expenses), sibling cost-sharing structure, and insurance audit for both generations.
How Much Does a Fee-Only Financial Advisor Cost?
AUM fees run 0.75%–1.5%/year; annual retainers $2K–$9K; hourly $200–$400. Enter your household assets to see what families at your wealth level typically pay — plus the fee structures explained, the hidden cost of commission-based advisors, and questions to ask before hiring.
Custodial Roth IRA for Kids: 2026 Rules and Growth Calculator
If your child has earned income — from a summer job, babysitting, or lawn care — they qualify for a Roth IRA you open and control as custodian. $7,500 at age 15 grows to roughly $206,000 by age 65 at 7%, completely tax-free. Earned income rules, contribution limits, account setup steps, and a comparison with 529 and UTMA accounts.
Family Financial Planning by Decade: 30s, 40s, and 50s
The right financial priorities shift dramatically across each decade. In your 30s: get the foundation in place (term life, 529s, estate docs). In your 40s: max all tax-advantaged accounts and calibrate 529 vs. retirement. In your 50s: catch-up contributions, Roth conversions, and Social Security strategy. Benchmarks, priority sequences, and the tradeoffs that change as kids approach college.
Job Change Financial Checklist for Dual-Income Families
Changing jobs triggers five time-sensitive financial decisions — three with a hard 60-day deadline. COBRA vs. ACA vs. spouse's plan comparison, 401(k) rollover options (and when to keep the old plan), HSA portability, W-4 recalibration for two incomes, and the equity comp traps (vesting cliff, ISO exercise window) that cost families thousands when missed. Includes a deadline calculator.
Taxable Brokerage Account Strategy for Families
After maxing your 401(k), Roth, HSA, and 529 accounts, extra savings go into a taxable brokerage. How to invest there without unnecessary tax drag: asset location (which funds belong in which account type), tax-loss harvesting basics, the 2026 LTCG 0% bracket ($98,900 MFJ), and NIIT planning for the $250K threshold that hasn't moved since 2013. Calculator shows the Roth vs. taxable after-tax gap at your investment return and tax rate.
How to Choose a Financial Advisor for Your Family
Credentials that matter (CFP vs. CFA vs. CPA/PFS), 10 interview questions to ask before signing, red flags to watch for, how to read an ADV Part 2 disclosure, and a first-meeting document checklist. A practical vetting framework for families at the $250K–$5M asset level — so you hire the right advisor, not the best marketer.
Student Loan Repayment Strategy for Families
Where student loans fit in the household priority stack, the 2026 repayment plan landscape (SAVE is gone, IBR stays, RAP launches July 1), PSLF family planning implications, refinancing decision framework, and a payoff acceleration calculator that compares accelerated payoff against investing the difference.
How Much House Can I Afford? Calculator for Dual-Income Families
Lenders qualify you on combined income — but childcare costs, one-income stress tests, and the opportunity cost of a larger down payment don't show up in their math. Enter HHI, existing debts, and down payment savings to see your max purchase price, full PITI breakdown (including PMI if under 20% down), and how long until you reach 20% down at your current savings rate.
Social Security Claiming Strategy for Married Couples (2026)
When should each spouse claim Social Security? The higher earner delaying to 70 raises the survivor benefit to 124% of their PIA — permanently. Calculator compares 4 claiming strategies side-by-side: monthly household income while both are alive and the surviving spouse's monthly income after the higher earner dies. Includes earnings test limits, IRMAA interaction, and WEP/GPO repeal update.
2026-27 FAFSA Financial Aid Estimator — What's Your SAI?
Enter your household AGI, family size, and parent assets to estimate your Student Aid Index (SAI) and see how much need-based financial aid your family could receive at in-state public, out-of-state public, and private colleges. Uses the official 2026-27 federal formula — including the key change that pre-tax 401(k) contributions are no longer added back to income, and the elimination of the sibling discount.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator: True Cost Comparison for Families
"Renting is throwing money away" ignores the opportunity cost of a $150K down payment invested at 7% for 7 years — $81K in foregone gains. This calculator runs both scenarios side-by-side over your time horizon: net cash paid minus wealth recovered (sale proceeds vs. investment gains), year-1 monthly payment comparison, and the exact year buying breaks even with renting.
Open Enrollment Guide: Health Insurance for Dual-Income Families
When both spouses have employer plans, "just pick your own" leaves thousands on the table. Compare total annual costs across four coverage combinations, navigate the FSA/HSA compatibility trap that disqualifies HSA contributions when a spouse has a general FSA, understand the birthday rule for kids, and stack dependent care FSA correctly within the $7,500 household cap. Includes a plan cost comparison calculator.
Family Net Worth Calculator — Assets, Liabilities & Retirement Benchmark
Your net worth is the single number that tells you where you stand financially. Enter home value, retirement accounts (both spouses), 529s, brokerage, cash, and all liabilities — see your total net worth, investable asset base, home equity, and how your retirement savings compare to Fidelity's age-based benchmarks at your household income.
Social Security for Stay-at-Home Parents: Protecting Benefits Through Caregiving Gaps
Every caregiving year with zero earnings goes into your SS calculation as $0. Social Security averages your 35 highest-earning years — so a 10-year caregiving gap can reduce your monthly benefit by $400–$800 permanently. Caregiving gap impact calculator, spousal benefit comparison (50% of spouse PIA vs. your own reduced record), part-time earnings strategy, divorced spouse 10-year rule, and how the survivor benefit ties the whole household strategy together.
Parental Leave Financial Planning: Income Gap Calculator
Federal FMLA is unpaid. Most employer STD plans pay 60% of salary for only 6–10 weeks. For a $130K earner taking 12 weeks of leave, that's an $18,000 income gap that catches most families off guard. Calculator shows your exact gap by leave phase (full pay, STD, unpaid), your recommended cash buffer, and whether your lower-income year opens a Roth conversion window. Covers both parents, state SDI programs, 401(k) front-loading strategy, and HSA coordination for delivery costs.
Nanny Tax 2026: Household Employer Cost Calculator + Schedule H Guide
Hiring a nanny or full-time babysitter? Once you pay $3,000+ in wages, you owe FICA — adding 7.65% to your employer cost. A $60,000 nanny salary costs $64,590 before state taxes. Calculator shows your true outlay and how much the $7,500 DCAP FSA (raised by OBBBA) cuts your net cost. Plus: exactly what to file on Schedule H, W-2 obligations, and what paying off the books actually costs both parties.
Grandparent 529 Plan Guide 2026: Superfunding, FAFSA Rules, and Direct Tuition Payment
The 2024-25 FAFSA eliminated the old grandparent 529 penalty — distributions from grandparent-owned accounts no longer count as student income. Now grandparents can superfund $95,000 per grandchild ($190,000 per couple) in one shot, claim a state deduction, and remove assets from their estate — all without harming federal financial aid eligibility. Plus: the unlimited direct tuition payment exception, CSS Profile caveat, and the 529-to-Roth rollover safety valve.
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Family Advisor Match is a matching service. We connect you with vetted fee-only financial advisors in our network — we don't manage money or provide advice ourselves. Advisors in our network are fiduciaries who charge transparent fees (not product commissions), and we match you based on your specific situation.