Free Dashboard
The dashboard helps you see the plan by organizing the numbers and showing what may need attention.
Explore the dashboard
About Flames Financial Planning
Flat-Fee Financial Advice Built Around Real Life
Flames Financial Planning is a Minnesota-based financial planning firm serving clients nationwide, virtually, helping households coordinate investments, taxes, retirement planning, and estate planning guidance without AUM fees.
Who we are
A Financial Planning Firm for People Who Want Clarity
Flames FP was built for households that want a clear planning relationship, upfront membership pricing, and an advisor who can connect the pieces of their financial life.
Instead of charging a percentage of assets under management, Flames Financial Planning uses flat quarterly memberships based on the level of planning work needed.
Where we work. Flames FP is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota and serves clients nationwide, virtually, where permitted. Meetings happen by video, documents move through secure sharing and the Flames Financial Dashboard, and the planning relationship is the same wherever you live.
Minnesota roots
Flames FP is based in Minnetonka. Minnesota households get the same virtual relationship, plus Minnesota-specific tax and estate context.
Virtual by design
Discovery and planning meetings happen by video. There is no branch office to visit, and city pages describe service areas, not offices. See how virtual planning works.
Nationwide, where permitted
Advisory services are offered only where permitted. You can verify any advisor on the SEC's public disclosure site. Browse states and cities.
Why the dashboard is free
Better Planning Starts With Better Organization
Flames Financial Planning created the free Flames Financial Dashboard because people should be able to organize their net worth, cash flow, goals, debt, insurance, estate documents, and planning questions before they decide whether to hire an advisor.
Advisor Relationship
The advisor relationship helps you make the decisions, prioritize tradeoffs, and implement the plan.
View membershipsSame Philosophy
Whether someone starts free or becomes a client, the goal is clearer financial decisions and a more connected planning picture.
Schedule a Discovery MeetingWhat makes Flames different
Advice That Is Not Priced as a Percentage of Your Portfolio
Many traditional advisors charge AUM fees, which means the advisory fee rises as the portfolio grows. Flames FP is built around a flat quarterly membership instead.
Transparent pricing
Membership options are flat quarterly fees based on planning complexity, billed in advance with no annual commitment and not based on a percentage of your investments.
View PricingCoordinated planning
Investments, taxes, retirement, and estate planning guidance are handled as connected decisions.
Explore servicesMinnesota roots, virtual flexibility
Flames FP is based in Minnesota and works well for households that prefer a local advisor with virtual access.
Financial advisor serving MinneapolisPlanning philosophy
The Point Is Better Decisions
Financial planning should help you make decisions with more confidence. That means understanding tradeoffs, taxes, timing, risk, and how one choice affects the rest of the plan.
Start with the household
The plan should fit the people, not the other way around. Goals, values, family needs, and cash flow come first.
Connect taxes and investments
Investment decisions often create tax consequences. Tax-aware planning helps avoid treating them separately.
Plan for the next decision
The best plan is useful when life changes, markets move, taxes shift, or a new decision shows up.
How we help
A Planning Relationship, Not Just a Portfolio
Flames FP can help coordinate the financial decisions that often overlap.
Investments
Portfolio management and investment guidance connected to your broader financial plan.
Taxes
Tax planning and tax-return review in Planning and eligible preparation and filing in Premier through an independent tax partner, coordinated with investment and retirement decisions.
Retirement
Retirement income planning, Roth conversions, Social Security, Medicare, RMDs, and withdrawal strategy.
Client perspective
What Clients Say About Working With Flames
Selected Google reviews from Flames Financial Planning clients. Each reflects one client's experience.
We have had the pleasure of working with Joel for a number of years now. In fact, we were the second couple to sign with him and transfer accounts when he decided to start Flames.
Joel is a voice of reason but also someone who genuinely cares about his client's success. We would highly recommend his services to friends and family and encourage anyone reading this to contact him and for a one on one. You will quickly hear the energy in his voice, and I think you'll see what captivated us in his services and what encouraged us to follow him during his big move.
Financial planning is accessible, personal and enjoyable through Joel's expertise! He's responsive, articulate and truly cares about his clients and the strategy behind their goals. I recently started a small, freelance design and marketing consultancy. Joel has been integral to maintaining my confidence in the long-term success of my business. His warm personality and thoughtful insights make working together easy. I'm excited to grow my future with Joel and his team by my side.
Joel has been a great asset to our financial planning. He is knowledgeable, available, and just a great, down to earth guy. We left our previous CFA group to return to Joel because he provides individual service that does not make you feel like "just a number".
Disclosures. These reviews were written by current or former clients of Flames Financial Planning on Google. Each reviewer received no compensation and has no conflict of interest to report. Flames FP selected these reviews, so they may not represent the experience of all clients. Individual experiences vary and are not a guarantee of future results. See all 18 selected client reviews.
FAQ
About Flames FP Questions
What do clients say about Flames Financial Planning?
Themes that appear in several selected Google reviews from Flames FP clients include responsiveness, personal attention, and taking time to explain options. Reviewers received no compensation and reported no conflicts of interest. Flames FP selected which reviews appear on this site, so they may not represent every client's experience. Read the selected client reviews or all reviews on Google Maps.
Who is Joel Miller, CFP?
Joel Miller is the founder of Flames Financial Planning, a Minnesota-based flat-fee financial planning firm focused on coordinated advice across investments, taxes, retirement planning, and estate planning guidance.
What is Flames Financial Planning?
Flames Financial Planning is a flat-fee financial planning firm that offers flat quarterly memberships instead of charging a percentage of assets under management.
Is Flames FP based in Minnesota?
Yes. Flames FP is Minnesota-based and can be a fit for households that want local roots with virtual planning flexibility.
Does Flames FP charge AUM fees?
No. Flames FP uses fixed quarterly membership pricing instead of charging a percentage of assets under management.
Why did Flames create a free financial dashboard?
Flames created the free dashboard so people can organize their financial life before deciding whether they need personalized advice. The dashboard helps users see the plan; the advisor relationship helps them make and implement decisions.
Watch and learn
Financial Planning, Explained Clearly
Start with three videos selected for this page, then use the controls to explore every published Flames FP video guide.
Videos 1–3 of 14
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Flat Fee vs 1% Financial Advisor
See how a percentage fee changes in dollars as a portfolio grows and what to compare beyond the headline rate. -
What Nobody Tells You About Earning $400K a Year
See why a $400K income can still leave too little investable margin and how taxes, lifestyle growth, and deliberate investing change the result. -
The 3-Account System for a $250K Income
Use cash reserves, tax-advantaged accounts, and a taxable brokerage account to turn a strong income into a repeatable wealth-building system. -
The 6 Levels of Wealth for $200K+ Households
Use six stages to separate a high income from the wealth it actually creates. -
The RSU Strategy Most $300K Tech Earners Miss
Understand taxation at vesting, check the withholding gap, and turn each RSU vest into a deliberate diversification and household-planning decision. -
The Most Underrated Retirement Account
How a taxable brokerage account can support retirement flexibility alongside tax-advantaged accounts. -
How to Decrease Your Tax Bill
Review practical tax-planning decisions that can connect income, investments, retirement, and withholding. -
Should You Invest or Spend Your HSA?
A practical framework for deciding how an HSA fits healthcare costs, taxes, and retirement planning. -
Four Common Backdoor Roth IRA Mistakes
Understand contribution, conversion, pro-rata, and reporting mistakes before they create tax problems. -
Direct Indexing vs ETFs in a Taxable Account
Compare diversification, tax management, cost, and complexity before changing an investment strategy. -
My New Favorite Account to Gift Money to Kids and Grandkids
Compare the new child investment account with 529 plans, custodial accounts, Roth IRAs for earned income, and the family's actual goals. -
Estate Planning Documents You May Need
A plain-English review of wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiaries, and trusts. -
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
Think through income replacement, debt, children, childcare, education, and family risk. -
Five Money Mistakes High Earners Make
Common coordination gaps involving taxes, cash flow, investments, insurance, and estate planning.
Next step
Want to See Whether Flames FP Is the Right Fit?
Schedule a discovery call to talk through your questions, your planning needs, and which membership may fit best.