S.E.E.D. Planning Group
S.E.E.D. Planning Group is a fee-only, fiduciary-only Registered Investment Advisor providing integrated financial planning, investment management, retirement plan administration, and nonprofit advisory services to individuals, families, business owners, and nonprofit organizations across multiple U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBinghamton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What S.E.E.D. Planning Group does
S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC is a fee-only, fiduciary-only Registered Investment Advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Binghamton, New York, with additional offices in Syracuse, New York, and Knoxville, Tennessee. The firm serves individuals and families across the wealth spectrum through three core planning tiers: Ignite (financial planning for ages 23-43), CORE (planning for clients in middle years), and Wealth Management (planning for clients with $1M+ in assets). It also operates two wholly-owned service divisions: Sift Investment Management, which delivers fee-only investment management under flat, hourly, or percentage-based fee structures; and SUITE(k), which provides flat-fee retirement plan administration, fiduciary oversight, and employee education for employer-sponsored 401(k), 403(b), Cash Balance, Defined Benefit, SIMPLE IRA, and SEP plans. The firm additionally offers Non-Profit Investment Advisory and a values-based investment program ("Your Values"), and includes a college tuition rewards program (SAGE Tuition Rewards) for account holders.
The company has no proprietary technology platform; it relies on third-party custodian integrations with Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Nationwide, Aspire, and E-Money for client account access and financial planning software, and uses Microsoft Teams for nationwide virtual service delivery. Its core technology differentiation lies in packaging and integration rather than proprietary IP: a unified advisory offering that couples customized financial planning with investment management, fiduciary retirement plan services, and values-aligned screening.
S.E.E.D.'s revenue model is built on recurring subscription and AUM-based fees. Financial planning starts at $3,200 per year with renewal rates from $2,340; investment management fees start at 1.00% on the first $1M in assets, stepping down to 0.35% on assets above $2M; bond program fees range from $375 to $750 quarterly; and the Your Values program charges $975-$2,000 quarterly. SUITE(k) generates flat-fee revenue from employer plan clients. Client acquisition is consultative: free, no-obligation discovery meetings, content marketing via a blog and the Ditch the Suits podcast, email newsletters (BeeHiiv), earned media coverage (USA Today 2024, Newsweek 2025), and community reputation. The firm serves clients primarily in New York and Tennessee with virtual national reach, and is independently owned by its management with no disclosed PE, VC, or parent-company backing.
S.E.E.D. Planning Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- S.E.E.D. Planning Group
- Legal name
- S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC
- Website
- https://seedpg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- S.E.E.D. Planning Group is a fee-only, fiduciary-only Registered Investment Advisor providing integrated financial planning, investment management, retirement plan administration, and nonprofit advisory services to individuals, families, business owners, and nonprofit organizations across multiple U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
S.E.E.D. Planning Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Financial Planning and Wealth Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Planning–Led RIAs (FSAAACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comprehensive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAA), Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF), Fiduciary Investment Management (Trust Portfolios) (FSAEAKAI)
Keywords
Where S.E.E.D. Planning Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Binghamton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
S.E.E.D. Planning Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Financial Planning Fees: Annual fee-based financial planning services. Financial Planning starts at $3,200 per year with year-to-year renewal rates as low as $2,340, subject to scope of work. The Ignite program targets ages 23-43, CORE targets individuals in middle years, and Wealth Management serves clients with $1M+ assets.
- Investment Management Fees: Percentage-based fees on assets under management. Fee schedule: 1% on first $1,000,000, 0.75% on next $500,000, 0.50% on next $500,000, and 0.35% on amounts over $2,000,000. Additional bond program fees range from $375 to $750 quarterly. For Wealth Management clients, investment management fees often cover financial planning costs.
- SUITE(k) Retirement Plan Services: Flat-fee retirement plan administration, fiduciary oversight, and employee education services for business owners, retirement plan committees, HR officers, and plan fiduciaries. Services include plan design, provider analysis, compliance assistance, and employee education.
- Your Values Program: Values-based investment program with screening fees ranging from $975 to $2,000 quarterly, including bond program at no additional charge. Designed for clients who wish to align portfolio holdings with personal values and beliefs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Financial Planning - Base Tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Investment Management - Assets Under Management |
| Unit Pricing | Quarterly | Bond Program (add-on) |
| Unit Pricing | Quarterly | Your Values Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
S.E.E.D. Planning Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
S.E.E.D. Planning Group is a fee-only, fiduciary-only financial planning and investment management firm that provides comprehensive financial planning through tiered programs (Ignite for ages 23-43, CORE for middle years, Wealth Management for $1M+ clients), alongside investment management via its Sift Investment Management division and flat-fee retirement plan services through its SUITE(k) division for employer-sponsored plans. Services are delivered by fiduciary advisors on an annual subscription or assets-under-management basis, with no commissions on financial product sales.
Product overview
S.E.E.D. Planning Group is a fee-only financial planning firm operating as a unified platform with multiple service tiers and specialized divisions. The core offerings include three financial planning programs: Ignite (for ages 23-43), CORE (for middle years), and Wealth Management (for high-net-worth clients with $1M+), all built on fiduciary principles. These planning services integrate with the firm's Sift Investment Management division, which provides fee-only investment management and advice through programs like Core-Ideal Equity Management, Individual Fixed-Income (Bond) Program, and Your Values (values-based investing). The firm also operates SUITE(k), a retirement plan services division for business clients, and offers Non-Profit Investment Advisory services. Additional offerings include SAGE Tuition Rewards for college savings. All services are delivered as a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities Exchange Commission.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sift Investment Management: Specialized investment division providing flat fee, hourly fee, or percentage-based fee-only investment management services as a fiduciary, fully integrated into S.E.E.D. Planning Group's financial planning and wealth management services. Provides investment management and investment advice to families, individuals, employee retirement accounts, and endowments and foundations.
- SUITE(k)
Products and services
- Ignite Financial Planning
Quantifiable outcome
- Financial Planning starting at $3,200/year with renewal rates as low as $2,340
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use S.E.E.D. Planning Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
S.E.E.D. Planning Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
S.E.E.D. Planning Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- SEEDs of HopeminorSEEDs of Hope is a nonprofit organization where Travis Maus serves as Board Member and Jamie Shelton serves as Board President. This appears to be a community involvement/board position rather than a commercial partnership.
- Financial Planning Association (FPA)minorS.E.E.D. Planning Group is a proud member of the Financial Planning Association, the professional organization for financial planners. The FON (Financial Planning Association) member logo is displayed on their website.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
S.E.E.D. Planning Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Personal Capital: Personal Capital is a fee-based financial planning and investment management firm combining digital tools with human advisors — directly comparable to S.E.E.D.'s integrated planning + investment management model, though operating at significantly larger scale and with proprietary tech.
- XY Planning Network: XY Planning Network is a network of fee-only financial planners serving Gen X and Millennials — closely matching S.E.E.D.'s Ignite-tier focus on younger clients and fee-only fiduciary delivery, with similar subscription-style planning fees.
- Facet Wealth: Facet Wealth is a flat-fee, virtual financial planning firm offering ongoing advice for a transparent monthly fee — comparable to S.E.E.D.'s subscription-based planning approach, with national virtual delivery similar to S.E.E.D.'s Microsoft Teams-based model.
- Carson Group: Carson Group partners with and acquires RIAs to provide back-office, technology, and investment support — comparable to S.E.E.D. as a fee-only RIA, and a relevant potential acquirer/partner given S.E.E.D.'s independent ownership structure.
- Focus Financial Partners: Focus Financial Partners is a partnership and acquirer of independent RIAs and wealth management firms — comparable to S.E.E.D. as a fee-only RIA, and a likely consolidator of choice for similar-sized fiduciary firms.
Broad incumbents
- Edelman Financial Engines: Edelman Financial Engines is one of the largest independent RIAs with strong retirement plan services and individual financial planning — overlaps with S.E.E.D.'s dual individual + SUITE(k) retirement plan focus, though at vastly larger scale.
- Fisher Investments: Fisher Investments is a large institutional and high-net-worth investment management firm — comparable to S.E.E.D.'s Wealth Management tier and Sift Investment Management division, though serving much larger clients.
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios is a low-cost robo-advisor from Charles Schwab (one of S.E.E.D.'s custodian partners) — represents the fee-compression competitive threat against S.E.E.D.'s tiered AUM pricing.
- Vanguard Personal Advisor: Vanguard Personal Advisor combines automated portfolio management with human financial advisors at low fees — directly competes with S.E.E.D. for cost-conscious investors seeking integrated planning and investment management.
- Northwestern Mutual: Northwestern Mutual is a large diversified financial services firm offering financial planning, investment management, and insurance — represents the legacy commission-influenced model S.E.E.D. explicitly differentiates against.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
S.E.E.D. Planning Group social profiles
Digital presenceS.E.E.D. Planning Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
S.E.E.D. Planning Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
S.E.E.D. Planning Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
S.E.E.D. Planning Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
S.E.E.D. Planning Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
S.E.E.D. Planning Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about S.E.E.D. Planning Group
What does S.E.E.D. Planning Group do?
S.E.E.D. Planning Group is a fee-only, fiduciary-only financial planning and investment management firm that provides comprehensive financial planning through tiered programs (Ignite for ages 23-43, CORE for middle years, Wealth Management for $1M+ clients), alongside investment management via its Sift Investment Management division and flat-fee retirement plan services through its SUITE(k) division for employer-sponsored plans. Services are delivered by fiduciary advisors on an annual subscription or assets-under-management basis, with no commissions on financial product sales.
Is S.E.E.D. Planning Group a public or private company?
S.E.E.D. Planning Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was S.E.E.D. Planning Group founded?
S.E.E.D. Planning Group was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is S.E.E.D. Planning Group based?
S.E.E.D. Planning Group is headquartered in Binghamton, United States, in the North America region.
How does S.E.E.D. Planning Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Financial Planning Fees are the primary driver. The others are investment Management Fees, SUITE(k) Retirement Plan Services and your Values Program.
Who are S.E.E.D. Planning Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Personal Capital, XY Planning Network, Facet Wealth, Carson Group and Focus Financial Partners. Broad incumbents are Edelman Financial Engines, Fisher Investments, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, Vanguard Personal Advisor and Northwestern Mutual.
Does S.E.E.D. Planning Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for S.E.E.D. Planning Group.
What industry is S.E.E.D. Planning Group in?
S.E.E.D. Planning Group's product category is Financial Planning and Wealth Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAACAB, Financial Planning–Led RIAs, with a secondary code of FSAEAAAA, Comprehensive Financial Planning. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.