A flat-fee fiduciary charging $8.7K yearly can cost less than combined life and disability premiums for retirees who are already truly self-insured.
Illustrative math: $9.6K in annual premiums replaced by an $8.7K advisor fee leaves $900 in first-yr household savings before added planning value.
The trade only works when portfolios, paid-off obligations, and income streams can replace wages and protect a spouse without an insurer's check.
Flat or hourly fiduciaries align with client interests; percentage-of-assets fees can scale as portfolios grow without matching extra work or added service.
Action step: total current premiums, test self-insurance, interview three flat-fee fiduciaries, and build the relationship before decisions become urgent for family continuity.
