According to NAPFA, fee-only planners are compensated directly by their clients for advice, plan implementation and for the ongoing management of assets. They do not accept commissions. Advice-only goes beyond fee-only in that advice-only financial planners do not manage your assets for a recurring fee, either as a percentage of your asset value or on a monthly or annual retainer. A more detailed distinction between the two can be found on Advice-Only Financial.

As our clients’ fiduciary Empower Financial is obligated to put our clients’ interests ahead of our own interests at all times. Being an advice-only financial planner we have no conflicts of interest that could impair our ability to put your interests first. Our only source of compensation is the fees paid by our clients. We do not accept commissions or referral fees, nor do we sell investment products or charge other hidden fees.

We are located in Sunnyvale, CA (San Francisco Bay Area) and are a registered investment advisor in the State of California. We can serve clients from other states as well - please contact us to learn more.

We primarily work virtually, which allows us to serve clients anywhere efficiently. That said, if you’re in the SF Bay Area, we’d be happy to meet over coffee to get to know you better and discuss your goals in person.

We start with a complimentary 30-minute video consultation. In this conversation, we’ll explore your goals, understand what prompted you to seek a financial planner, and see if we’re a good fit to work together. You’ll also have the chance to ask any questions about Empower Financial and our approach.

If you choose to move forward, we’ll outline the scope of work and help you decide between an hourly engagement or a flat-fee, project-based plan—whichever best fits your needs. We’ll confirm the fee, estimated timeline, and deliverables before signing a financial planning agreement. Once that’s in place, we’ll begin gathering the information needed to create your personalized financial plan.

A flat-fee project provides a comprehensive financial plan with clear deliverables. It includes a full review of your finances, tailored recommendations on topics relevant to your situation -- such as retirement, equity compensation, taxes, insurance, and estate planning -- a prioritized action plan, and a follow-up meeting. The fee is agreed upfront and won’t change, giving you cost certainty.

Hourly planning is ideal for targeted questions or ongoing advice. It can cover topics like stock option exercises, ESPP/RSU strategies, Roth conversion projections, home purchase, or reviewing your investments. You pay only for the time used, giving you flexibility and cost control.

A typical comprehensive, flat-fee plan takes around 6–12 weeks from start to finish. The timeline depends on the complexity of your finances and how quickly information is shared. We’ll provide an estimated schedule upfront so you know what to expect.

Our ideal clients are tech professionals with equity compensation who want clarity and confidence in their financial decisions. We also work with those focused on financial independence and long-term planning, helping them create actionable strategies tailored to their goals.

While our expertise is tailored to tech professionals, we are happy to work with non-tech clients if their financial needs align with our planning approach. Our advice-only model ensures recommendations are personalized and unbiased for everyone we work with.