Benchmarking Study

The XYPN Annual Benchmarking Survey captures key insights about XYPN member firms, providing a real-world look at what it takes to start, run, and grow a fee-only financial planning business. By aggregating member data, we can answer questions like:

• How does the fee-only model work in practice?
• What does firm growth typically look like over time?
• What industry trends are shaping XYPN firms today?

The survey covers key areas like revenue, expenses, client services, lead sources, and pricing. Tracking year-over-year trends gives you valuable benchmarks to compare your firm’s progress with others in the Network.

FAQs

I’m a newer member with few clients. Should I still participate?

• Absolutely! Whether you're in the Implementing (0-20 clients), Building (20-75 clients), or Scaling (75+ clients) phase, your input matters. If your firm wasn't registered in the prior year (the year the survey is reflective of), you'll complete for New Firm Benchmarking Survey, designed to reflect the early stages of firm ownership.

When are the results published, and how can I access them?

• Each year, Alan Moore and Michael Kitces unveil the latest survey results at XYPN LIVE. Afterward, the full study is available in XYPN Academy, along with a podcast analysis breaking down key findings.

How do I submit my data?

• Head to the Benchmarking section of your XYPN member Portal to enter your information. If you participated last year, your data saves automatically- making it faster and easier to complete this year's survey!

Who has access to my survey responses?

• Your data is part of your XYPN member record but is anonymized before being included in the annual Benchmarking Study, created by the Ensemble Practice. XYPN also uses the data to improve member benefits and resources.

When is the next Benchmarking Survey? 

• The survey runs every spring, with details shared via email and in the XYPN Member Portal.

Resources

Want to dive deeper into the impact of this survey? Check out these Benchmarking-specific resources:

• Historical Benchmarking Findings in XYPN Academy
• Benchmarking Study Podcasts
• Top blogs from XYPN's Annual Benchmarking Study

Participate in the next Benchmarking Survey and help shape the future of fee-only financial planning!