Retirement Planning Specialists, Inc.
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Refreshed weekly • Updated today.
About
Retirement Planning Specialists is an SEC-registered advisory firm that provides comprehensive investment management and stand‑alone financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, estates, trusts, and small business clients. The firm manages roughly $370.6 million for about 556 clients and delivers ongoing portfolio management and written financial plans under signed advisory agreements.
Portfolios are developed from client questionnaires and periodic consultations, with diversified allocations across mutual funds, ETFs, individual bonds, stocks, and variable products; accounts are generally managed on a discretionary basis and reviewed at least quarterly. The firm emphasizes a primarily long‑term, buy‑and‑hold approach while retaining the ability to use shorter‑term trades and third‑party sub‑advisors when appropriate.
Noteworthy features include an unusually high client‑to‑advisor ratio (approximately 278 clients per advisor), which aligns with more standardized operating practices such as a custodial requirement at Charles Schwab and limited aggregation of trades. Several firm personnel are also licensed insurance agents and may receive commissions for insurance sales, a potential conflict the brochure discloses alongside other conflicts such as rollover recommendations.
Client services
Expertise
Fee options
Typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,500 for stand-alone financial planning
1.00% annually
Commissions received by certain personnel for insurance product sales, separate from advisory fees
$200 to $250 per hour
Account minimum: $250,000
Main office
241 Maple Street, Suite 101
Ashland OR 97520
Advisors at this office
2
Most active in
Arizona · California · Colorado · Florida · Nevada · New Mexico · Oregon · Texas · Washington
Also doing business as
Million Dollar Producer, Inc. · Retirement Planning Specialists, Inc. · S & P Financial, Inc. · Thomas B. Gau Enterprises, Inc. Dba Retirement Planning Speciali
Disclosures
Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.
Business activities & affiliations
Is active or affiliated with:
Insurance agent
They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.
Is not active or affiliated with:
-
Broker-dealer / trader
They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.
-
Bank
They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.
-
Trust company
They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.
-
Fund sponsor
They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.
-
Accountant / CPA / tax prep
They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.
-
Lawyer
They provide legal services, typically billed separately.
-
Real estate agent
They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.
-
Other specialized services
They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.
Advisors at this firm
Chad S
CFP®, Series 63, Series 66
Ashland, OR
Retirement Planning Specialists, Inc.
Chad Smith is a CFP® professional with 29 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Retirement Planning Specialists, Inc. and previously worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. Smith assists with training support staff within the Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, a coaching program for financial planners and their teams. Retirement Planning Specialists provides investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, estates, trusts, and business entities, managing approximately $323.6 million in discretionary assets for about 525 clients. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach with diversified portfolios and conducts regular account reviews, serving a notably high client-to-advisor ratio.
Christopher P
Series 66
Ashland, OR
Retirement Planning Specialists, Inc.
Christopher Patterson is a financial advisor at Retirement Planning Specialists, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at S & P Financial, Inc. dba Financial Planning Specialists since 2019, following ten years at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. and Retirement Planning Specialist. Outside of advising, he serves as president of Patterson Consulting LLC and is a 50% owner of Patterscott LLC, a company developing a multi-use building. Retirement Planning Specialists provides investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, estates, trusts, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $323.6 million in discretionary assets for about 525 clients, using a primarily long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach with diversified portfolios held at Charles Schwab.
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and referrals are provided by FinanceHQ LLC ("FHQ"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment adviser. We may be compensated by participating advisors. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to the Warmer Terms of Service and FHQ Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge Warmer's Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ's ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")