Working with us
A clear, predictable way to work together.
How it starts, what it costs, how compliance fits in, and who you will be working with, before you ever get on a call.
Two ways to get started.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. What comes next depends on the kind of work your firm needs.
Focused projects
Strategic Projects
- An intro call or short questionnaireTell us what you need on a quick call or through a short questionnaire, whichever is easier for you.
- A scoped proposalYou receive a clear proposal with the scope, timeline and price.
- KickoffOnce you approve the proposal, we schedule a kickoff and get to work.
Ongoing partnerships
Growth Partnership and Fractional CMO
- An intro callA straightforward conversation about where your firm is headed.
- The CLEAR workshopA two-hour virtual session that aligns your leadership team, with Takeaways within 24 hours.
- The CLEAR ScopeOnce leadership signs off, we recommend a plan with clear priorities and measures.
- Ongoing workWe carry out the plan with regular check-ins and reporting tied to your goals.
Three ways to work together.
Every engagement is scoped to your firm. Here is where each one starts.
Strategic Projects
Focused initiatives with a clear finish line, such as positioning, messaging, websites, HubSpot implementation and brand launches.
From $2,000
- Brand positioning and messaging development
- Website design, build and launch
- Email marketing implementation
- Rebrand and post-merger marketing support
- Marketing audit and diagnostic review
- Executive workshop or team training session
Growth Partnership
An ongoing monthly engagement covering strategy, execution and continuous optimization.
From $3,500 /mo
- Continuous SEO, content and AI search optimization
- Paid media management and ongoing campaign optimization
- Marketing systems and CRM upkeep
- Bi-weekly working sessions and check-ins
- Ongoing content production, including articles, newsletters and LinkedIn
- Continuous website and conversion optimization
Fractional CMO
Strategic marketing leadership for firms that want executive guidance without adding a full-time hire.
From $6,000 /mo
- Strategic planning and annual marketing roadmaps
- Marketing budget development and oversight
- KPI development and performance benchmarks
- Executive guidance through major initiatives, such as mergers, launches and succession
- Leadership coaching for internal marketing hires
- Monthly strategy sessions with firm leadership
$1,500, credited in full toward any engagement signed within 45 days.
From $250 per month for hosting, updates, security and small edits.
Compliance, AI and ownership
Compliance review
We agree on review timelines with your compliance team or consultant up front, submit work in batches, and keep a library of approved language. Your compliance team always makes the final call.
Our approach to AI
AI speeds up research, drafting and production. Every strategy decision and every piece of client-facing work is made and reviewed by people who know your firm.
What you own
Your brand assets, website and content belong to your firm. Every website we build comes with documentation, so you are never locked in.
Questions firms ask.
Getting started
What types of firms do you work with?
Only financial advisors, RIAs and wealth management firms, from independent practices building their first real plan to multi-office firms working through a merger or rebrand. The right fit depends more on a firm’s goals than its size.
Do we have to start with a CLEAR workshop?
Not always. Strategic Projects start with an intro call or short questionnaire, followed by a scoped proposal. Ongoing partnerships usually begin with CLEAR, because it ties every recommendation to what your leadership team agreed on. If your firm already has a clear, current strategy, we can talk through starting another way.
Who will we work with day to day?
David leads every engagement personally and is your main contact from the first call through every launch. A small bench of trusted specialists in web development, design and content production supports the work, and David reviews everything before it reaches you or your compliance team.
Do you work with firms outside Ohio?
Yes. We are based in Cleveland and work with advisory firms across the country, mostly virtually.
Pricing and contracts
How much does it cost?
Strategic Projects start at $2,000, Growth Partnerships at $3,500 per month, and Fractional CMO engagements at $6,000 per month, with final pricing set by scope. The CLEAR workshop is $1,500 and is credited in full toward any engagement signed within 45 days.
Is there a minimum commitment?
Growth Partnership and Fractional CMO engagements start with a three-month commitment, then continue month to month with 30 days’ notice. Strategic Projects are scoped and priced per project, with no ongoing commitment.
Can we start with a project and move to an ongoing partnership later?
Yes. Many firms start with a focused project, such as a website or messaging, and move into a Growth Partnership once that foundation is in place.
Compliance
Are you a compliance consultant?
No. We are a marketing firm, and your compliance team or outside consultant always makes the final call. What we bring is a process that makes their review faster and the final work better.
How do you handle the SEC Marketing Rule?
We write with the Marketing Rule in mind from the first draft, flag anything that may need extra review, such as testimonials, performance figures or specific claims, and keep a record of approved language. Your compliance team confirms what is approved.
Websites
What platform do you build on?
WordPress, for most firms, because it gives you full ownership and flexibility. Every site meets WCAG accessibility standards and comes with documentation.
What does a website care plan include?
Every plan includes managed hosting, daily backups, weekly plugin and core updates, uptime and security monitoring, an SSL certificate, a short monthly report, and up to one hour of small content edits. Larger plans add more edit hours and a quarterly check of speed, search basics and accessibility. Plans start at $250 per month.
AI
Do you use AI to write our content?
AI helps with research, outlines and early drafts. Every piece is shaped, edited and reviewed by people who know your firm, and nothing reaches your compliance team without a human standing behind it.
Can you help our firm show up in AI search?
Yes. AI search visibility is part of our Digital Presence work, covering specific pages, structured data, consistent firm information and mentions on trusted outside sources.
Results
How long does it take to see results?
It depends on the work. Paid search and a new website can show early results within a few months, while SEO, content and AI visibility usually take six to twelve months to show their full effect. Strategy work like CLEAR pays off right away in clearer decisions.
How will we know it is working?
We agree on the measures in the CLEAR Scope or the project proposal, then report on them in plain language, with a focus on inquiries, meetings and new clients.
Ready for a first conversation?
Tell us a little about your firm and we will set up an intro call.