Skip to content
EarnestPlanning
full-bleed photo: Chicago skyline over the lakefront at sunset

Fee-only financial planning

Put what you’ve earned to work.

For the life you’re living and the future you’re building. We bring your investments, taxes, benefits, insurance, cash flow, and big life decisions into one clear plan, so confident decisions today never cost you tomorrow.

See if we’re a fitBook an intro call
Fee-only, fiduciaryCFP® professionalRegistered in IllinoisVirtual, on your schedule

The problem

You’re doing well. That’s exactly why it’s complicated.

A good income, equity that vests on its own schedule, a mortgage you’re weighing, childcare that costs like a second mortgage. The pieces are all moving, and no one is holding the whole picture but you.

See how we help

Financial Planning

Cash flow, taxes, and goals in one living plan that adapts as life does.

Investment Management

Low-cost portfolios at Altruist, managed and rebalanced for you.

Equity Comp Strategy

RSUs, ISOs, ESPP and vesting, decoded and built into the plan.

Tax & Estate Coordination

Tax planning with us, plus initial estate documents coordinated for you and included in the fee.

How we work

Protect. Optimize. Grow. Live.

Four steps, in that order, on repeat. Each one makes the next one possible.

01

Protect

Build a strong foundation

Insurance, estate coordination, and reserves, so nothing can derail the plan.

02

Optimize

Keep more of what you earn

Taxes, cash flow, benefits, equity comp, and debt, tuned to work together.

03

Grow

Put your money to work

A diversified, tax-aware portfolio pointed at your actual goals.

04

Live

More choices for what’s next

Big decisions modeled early, so you can spend, change, and give with confidence.

See what each step covers

Pricing

One fee. On the website.
On purpose.

A simple schedule that steps down as you grow, with no asset minimums hidden in a PDF. The number is right here.

See the full fee schedule
1.00%of assets managed
$5,000annual minimum
Billed monthlynever a surprise invoice
Rates step downas your assets grow
Joe Kuschman, founder

The person behind the plan

Hi, I’m Joe.

Joe Kuschman, CFP®, founder of Earnest Planning. My approach is simple: understand the whole picture, make the tradeoffs clear, and give you practical next steps.

My story

Let’s see if we’re a fit.

Six quick questions tell us, and you, whether we should talk.

Start the 60-second checkView pricing