The Story Behind Our Transparent Fixed Fee Financial Planning Calculator

How technology is turning fairness and transparency into everyday practice.

Fixed fee financial planning is built on one principle: fairness through transparency. At Xentum, we wanted to go further than simply charging fixed fees. We wanted to prove how those fees are created and make the process completely visible.

That challenge led to the creation of our Fixed Fee Calculator, one of the UK’s first truly transparent tools designed to bring clarity to advice costs and strengthen client confidence.

Why pricing transparency matters

For decades, clients accepted that advice fees depended on assets, complexity and service level. It sounded reasonable, but it rarely explained what they were paying for. Most people never saw the maths behind the money.

Traditional percentage charging hides the real cost of advice. Two clients can receive identical service, yet one pays double simply because their portfolio is larger. That is not transparency; it is inconsistency disguised as simplicity. We decided to change that by making the numbers visible.

Turning transparency into technology

Our goal was to make advice costs measurable, consistent and fair. To do that, we gathered real data from hundreds of client cases. We tracked time spent, technical input and regulatory processes behind every stage of financial planning.

The result became a digital tool that converts evidence into pricing clarity. The calculator shows how fees scale with service, not wealth. It reflects the real work involved, from planning hours to reviews and compliance checks. Every quote is anchored in truth, not estimation.

You can see how it works on our Fixed Fee Calculator page.

How the calculator works

The process is simple and designed around fairness. Clients answer a few questions about their needs, life stage and financial complexity. The calculator then applies our internal cost-to-serve data to show how much time and expertise their plan requires.

This approach produces a transparent, evidence-based fixed fee with no hidden adjustments or percentages. It gives clients a clear breakdown of price versus process before they commit, removing uncertainty and guesswork from the experience.

Fairness you can see

Clarity builds trust because it removes doubt. When clients can see how a fee is built, they know they are paying for advice, not investment margins. They can compare services honestly and make confident choices based on value, not assumptions.

For advisers, the calculator creates accountability. Every team member can explain exactly where a number comes from. It sets a measurable standard for fairness and consistency across the entire firm.

Supporting the FCA Consumer Duty

The FCA’s Consumer Duty requires firms to prove fair value and clear understanding. Our calculator does exactly that. Each quote becomes documented evidence that fees reflect real work, not portfolio size.

Importantly, we built this before the regulation demanded it. Clarity has always been part of our DNA — the regulation simply caught up.

The impact on clients

Clients tell us the calculator changes how they feel about financial advice. Instead of worrying about overpaying, they understand the reasoning and feel in control. This clarity leads to better conversations, quicker decisions and stronger trust.

That confidence allows clients to focus on planning their lives, not questioning their fees.

A call for industry change

When we launched the calculator, other firms asked why we would make our model public. The answer is simple: transparency is not a risk; it is respect.

We believe every financial planning firm should show how its fees are formed. Clients deserve to see the logic, not just the invoice. By sharing our approach, we aim to help raise standards and expectations across the profession.

Why fixed fees and technology belong together

Technology allows fairness to scale. Fixed fees define the philosophy; the calculator makes it practical. Together, they form the foundation of fixed fee financial planning — advice that is measurable, transparent and built for trust.

This combination also supports sustainable, client-focused growth across the advice industry, ensuring consistent value for everyone.

See fairness in action

Use our Fixed Fee Calculator to see exactly how your advice fee is created. Every number reflects the real time, expertise and regulation behind your plan.

To understand how our work aligns with the wider industry standards of fairness and transparency, explore the Consumer Duty.

Because clarity is not a trend. It is the truth our profession should have lived by all along.