Independent · Fee-Only · Fiduciary

Financial planning on your terms.

Sherman Financial gives you direct access to a CFP® who works exclusively for you — paid by the hour, not by commission or portfolio size. Serving clients throughout North Carolina.

$265 Per Hour
0% AUM Fees
CFP Certified
$265 Flat Hourly Rate
No Account Minimums
CFP® Certified Advisor
You Own Your Accounts
North Carolina Based

Comprehensive Financial Planning Services

We provide the full range of planning services you'd expect from any major firm — at a fraction of the cost, without the conflicts of interest.

Investment Advising

Portfolio construction, fund selection, and ongoing review based on your goals and risk tolerance — not our commission schedule.

Retirement Planning

401(k) optimization, IRA strategy, Social Security timing, and income projections to help you retire on your schedule.

Insurance & Risk Management

We evaluate your coverage needs and recommend appropriate structures — including term life, disability, and long-term care.

Tax Guidance

Personal and business tax guidance from a planning perspective, integrated with your broader financial picture.

Estate Planning

Coordination of wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and wealth transfer strategies for a secure legacy.

Budgeting & Cash Flow

Practical systems for tracking income and spending, eliminating debt, and building sustainable savings habits.

Why hourly fees change everything.

99% of financial advisors earn money through AUM fees, commissions, or product sales. Their income grows the more you keep invested with them — which means their incentives are never perfectly aligned with yours.

We charge the same way your doctor or attorney does: for time and expertise. You get a clear hourly rate, a time estimate upfront, and advice that's shaped entirely by your situation — not our revenue.

Talk to an Advisor
Fee Type
Typical Cost
Conflicts?
AUM (1% of assets)
$5,000/yr on $500k
Yes — significant
Commission-based
Variable, opaque
Yes — product-driven
Flat subscription
$2,000–$8,000/yr
Partial
Hourly (Sherman)
$265/hr · you control
None

Your path to independent advice

Simple, transparent, and entirely on your terms.

1

Intro Call

A free 15-minute call to understand your situation and see if we're a good fit. No commitment, no pitch.

2

Goal Assessment

We dig into your financial picture — income, assets, goals, and risk tolerance — to understand your full situation.

3

Plan Delivery

You receive a clear, actionable financial plan tailored to your goals — with specific recommendations you can act on.

4

Ongoing Review

Annual check-ins keep your plan current as life changes. Engage as little or as much as you need — hourly, always.

Asset Allocation Questionnaire

Answer 5 questions to find the asset allocation strategy that may be appropriate for your financial needs and objectives.

Diversification does not guarantee against a loss. This is designed as a basic guide and does not substitute discussing your situation with a financial advisor.

Question 1 of 5

When do you expect to begin withdrawing money from your investment account?

A.  Less than 1 year
B.  1 to 2 years
C.  3 to 4 years
D.  5 to 7 years
E.  8 to 10 years
F.  11 or more years

AUM Fee Cost Calculator

See how much AUM fees cost you over time — vs. hourly planning.

How much are you paying in AUM fees?

Enter your portfolio details to see what traditional AUM pricing costs you over time.

Total AUM Fees Paid
Est. Hourly Fees (Sherman)
Potential Savings

Flat and Fair

No minimums, no ongoing commitments, no surprises. You pay for what you need, when you need it.

Hourly Planning

$265
per hour
  • Investment review & advising
  • Retirement projections
  • Insurance analysis
  • Tax guidance (planning)
  • Estate coordination
  • No minimum hours

Project-Based

Custom
quoted per scope
  • One-time financial plan
  • Pre-retirement analysis
  • Inheritance planning
  • Business transition
  • Divorce financial planning
  • Fixed price, no surprises

✦ Tax preparation, bookkeeping, accounting, S-Corp election, and business consulting services are available through Sherman Business Services, LLC — a separate entity offering full-service support for individuals and small businesses. Visit Sherman Business Services →

Holistic Approach

Your life should dictate your finances — not the other way around. We build plans around your goals, values, and circumstances.

Index Core, Managed Satellite

We favor low-cost index funds with a select managed component (typically ≤20%) that has demonstrated long-range, risk-adjusted outperformance.

Conservative Assumptions

We model conservatively on interest rate assumptions — so you're more likely to have more than expected, not less.

Finance should serve your life, not consume it.

We take a comprehensive, holistic view. Low debt, disciplined saving, and automatic investing are the foundation. From there, we build a strategy that reflects how much risk you're willing to take — and how much you need to take — to reach your goals.

We hold no custodial accounts and take no product commissions. Your investments stay in your name at your chosen custodian — we simply advise. Our only measure of success is yours.

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What clients say

Real feedback from real clients. No scripts, no stock photos.

★★★★★

"There is no other person I would trust or respect more to handle my business and personal finances. Not only does Chris provide full service financial management, he offers wisdom and insight that allows you to make the best decisions for your situation to achieve your financial goals. Chris has a wealth of knowledge that made a huge impact in starting my business successfully, combined with his strong personal financial understanding, I recommend him to everyone!"

— W.N.
Financial planning client
★★★★★

"Full disclosure, all businesses start off with 4 stars and are adjusted accordingly. If a business is worth driving 2 hours out of their way they earn 5 stars. Chris knows his business and was very clear about rates and services he and his team offers. His communication was very professional and he seemed busy with clients, busy is good. Very good. His fee based system is very transparent and straightforward. His basics are solid and he brought extra value to business discussions."

— B.G.
Financial planning client
★★★★★

"I've been working with Sherman Financial for about a decade across both personal and business services. They are great at answering my questions in a way that doesn't make me feel like an idiot. They are also great at getting my tax work done in a timely manner at a fair rate. Highly recommend."

— G.K.
Financial planning & tax guidance client

* Testimonials represent individual client experiences and are published with client permission. Results vary. Past experience does not guarantee future outcomes. Sherman Financial, LLC does not pay for or incentivize reviews.

Who You Work With

When you work with Sherman Financial, you work directly with Christopher Sherman — a credentialed, independent advisor with no conflicts of interest and no junior associates between you.

CS
Christopher Sherman
CFP® · Owner & Advisor

Christopher is a Certified Financial Planner with a Master of Public Administration from UNC Chapel Hill and a bachelor's from UC Riverside. He holds a Certificate of Financial Planning from NC State University.

Resources & Research

A curated set of tools, guides, and reading material that Chris recommends to clients. No affiliation — just genuinely useful resources.

Investing Fundamentals

Vanguard Investor Education

Plain-language guides on asset allocation, index investing, and retirement planning from one of the industry's most trusted institutions.

Read More →
Community & Research

Bogleheads Wiki

A volunteer-maintained library of evidence-based personal finance and investing guidance. Particularly strong on retirement withdrawal strategies and tax-efficient investing.

Read More →
Investor Protection

FINRA Investor Education

Tools for verifying advisors, understanding investment products, and protecting yourself from fraud. Includes the BrokerCheck database and free investor alerts.

Read More →
Retirement Planning

Social Security Administration

Official tools for estimating your Social Security benefit, understanding claiming strategies, and modeling the impact of early vs. delayed retirement.

Read More →
Tax Planning

IRS Tax Withholding Estimator

The IRS's official tool for estimating your federal tax liability and adjusting withholding. Useful for anyone with self-employment income, investment income, or a recent life change.

Read More →
Estate Planning

NC Bar Association — Estate Planning Guide

A plain-language overview of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for North Carolina residents — a good starting point before meeting with an estate attorney.

Read More →

Sherman Financial has no affiliation with any of the above organizations and receives no compensation for these referrals. Links are provided as a convenience and educational resource only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fiduciary financial advisor? +
A fiduciary is legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest. Most commission-based advisors are held to a lesser "suitability" standard, meaning they only need to recommend products that are suitable — not necessarily best — for you. As an independent, hourly advisor, we have no financial incentive tied to product recommendations.
Do I need a minimum amount of assets to work with you? +
No. Unlike most advisory firms, we have no account minimums. Whether you have $50,000 or $5,000,000, you're welcome to engage on an hourly or project basis. You pay for time and advice, not portfolio size.
How much does a typical engagement cost? +
Our hourly rate is $265/hr. Ongoing planning starts at $1,590 per person or $3,180 per couple. Many one-time consultations are completed in 1–2 hours. We'll give you a time estimate before any work begins so there are no surprises.
Do you manage my investments directly? +
We are an advisory firm, not a custodian. We provide guidance on where and how to invest, but you maintain direct control of your accounts at your chosen custodian (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, etc.). This independence is central to our fiduciary model.
Can you work with clients outside North Carolina? +
We serve clients throughout North Carolina. Consultations are available in person or virtually — please reach out to confirm your location.
What's the difference between financial planning and tax services? +
Sherman Financial handles investment advising, retirement planning, insurance, estate planning, and holistic financial guidance. Tax preparation and business accounting services are provided through our affiliated but separate entity, Sherman Business Services, LLC, in compliance with regulatory requirements.
New Clients — Start Here

Schedule a Free Intro Call

30 minutes. No commitment. No pitch. Just a real conversation about your financial goals.
Already a client? Use the contact form below to reach Chris directly.

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Ready to take control of your financial future?

Schedule a consultation or send us a message. There's no commitment, no pressure, and no pitch — just straightforward conversation about your goals.

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Information on this website does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. No content should be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.

Sherman Financial, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Check our background on the SEC Adviser Info page.

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