{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/the-planning-project-297658","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/297658","regulatoryAum":551358564,"crd":"297658","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"2926578","suffix":null,"lastName":"BARD","firstName":"ROBERT","middleName":"MICHAEL"},{"crd":"8236198","suffix":null,"lastName":"Chandler","firstName":"Jill","middleName":"Denise"},{"crd":"7833853","suffix":null,"lastName":"Cox","firstName":"Brady","middleName":"Allen"},{"crd":"7647056","suffix":null,"lastName":"DEHN","firstName":"MCKENNA","middleName":"ALEXANDRA"},{"crd":"5732056","suffix":"III","lastName":"DUNAWAY","firstName":"THOMAS","middleName":"WILLIAM"},{"crd":"5345198","suffix":null,"lastName":"MACK","firstName":"CASEY","middleName":"ALAN"},{"crd":"5566333","suffix":null,"lastName":"MELCHOR","firstName":"DAVID","middleName":"E."},{"crd":"5578276","suffix":"JR","lastName":"RAHN","firstName":"PAUL","middleName":"MICHAEL"},{"crd":"8259156","suffix":null,"lastName":"Resnick","firstName":"Steven","middleName":"Ross"}],"total":9,"loadedAt":"2026-10-10T00:20:19.761928+00:00","sourceUrl":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/CompilationReports/IA_INDVL_Feed_10_09_2026.xml.zip"},"history":[{"filedOn":"2022-01-31","regulatoryAum":128004388,"clients":54,"employees":4,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2023-03-03","regulatoryAum":140306671,"clients":83,"employees":4,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2024-03-19","regulatoryAum":305556227,"clients":123,"employees":8,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2025-03-04","regulatoryAum":409460174,"clients":234,"employees":8,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2026-07-31","regulatoryAum":551358564,"clients":209,"employees":12,"offices":2}],"secFileNumber":"801-122376","legalName":"The Planning Project LLC","displayName":"The Planning Project","slug":"the-planning-project-297658","website":"https://thesumplanning.com/","classification":{"segment":"individuals","segmentLabel":"Wealth management","type":"independent_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"RIA","feeDisclosure":"full"},"founded":"2018","organization":"Texas limited liability company","fiscalYearEnd":"December","headquarters":{"street":"4526 Research Forest DR., Suite 240","city":"The Woodlands","state":"TX","stateName":"Texas","country":"United States","postalCode":"77381"},"tradeNames":[],"registration":{"secApproved":"23 September 2021","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":2638079.2535885167,"staff":{"employees":12,"advisory":10,"brokerDealerReps":0,"insuranceAgents":0,"promoters":0},"aum":{"regulatory":551358564,"discretionary":551358564,"discretionaryAccounts":949,"nonDiscretionary":0,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":0,"wrapProgram":null,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":34},"clientTypes":[{"label":"Individuals (other than HNW)","clients":50,"regulatoryAum":31703323},{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":159,"regulatoryAum":519655241}],"feePrograms":[{"role":"other","program":"Comprehensive Financial Planning","summary":"Ongoing fee by net worth: $6,000 up to $1,000,000, rising to $21,000 plus $3,000 per additional million over $5,000,000; paid monthly or quarterly in arrears.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1053567","versionId":1053567,"submittedOn":"2026-07-31","documentName":"ADV PART 2A"},{"role":"other","program":"Financial Planning Hourly Fee","summary":"Hourly financial planning at $500 per hour, which may be negotiable.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1053567","versionId":1053567,"submittedOn":"2026-07-31","documentName":"ADV PART 2A"},{"role":"other","program":"Investment Management","summary":"Flat fee of $2,000 per household annually, paid monthly in arrears; not offered without Comprehensive Financial Planning.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1053567","versionId":1053567,"submittedOn":"2026-07-31","documentName":"ADV PART 2A"}],"brochureCoverage":{"scope":"sec_inventory","status":"reviewed_no_numerical_schedule","checkedAt":"2026-10-22T10:29:13.482783+00:00","documents":[{"name":"ADV PART 2A","status":"read","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1053567","versionId":1053567,"submittedOn":"2026-07-31"}]},"custodians":[{"name":"Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.","shortName":"Charles Schwab","location":"Westlake, TX","smaAssets":551358564}],"custodyNote":"The Planning Project has custody of $179M in client assets for 123 clients.","otherCustodians":[],"leadership":[{"name":"Brady Cox","title":"Member","crd":"7833853"},{"name":"Thomas Dunaway","title":"Member","crd":"5732056"},{"name":"Joel Hergenreter","title":"CCO","crd":"7390971"},{"name":"Casey Mack","title":"Member","crd":"5345198"},{"name":"Paul Rahn","title":"Manager","crd":"5578276"},{"name":"Christopher Melber","title":"Lead Trader / Systems Operations Manager","crd":"5990888"},{"name":"Robert Bard","title":"Member","crd":"2926578"}],"ownership":[{"label":"Paul Rahn","detail":"Manager in the 75% or more ownership band and a control person, since June 2018."},{"label":"Christopher Melber","detail":"Lead trader / systems operations manager in the 5% to 10% ownership band, since December 2022."},{"label":"Robert Bard","detail":"Member in the 10% to 25% ownership band, since December 2022."}],"branchOffices":null,"filedOffices":{"otherThanPrincipal":1,"privateResidences":0},"listedOfficeAddresses":2,"foreignOffices":[],"officesByState":[{"state":"Texas","offices":2,"addresses":[{"street":"4526 Research Forest DR., Suite 240","city":"The Woodlands","headquarters":true},{"street":"2600 South Shore BLVD,","city":"League City"}]}],"brochureServices":["business succession planning","education planning","estate planning","insurance","tax planning"],"advFacts":{"source":{"file":"ia100226.zip","asOf":"2 October 2026"},"telephone":"281-940-4859","stateRegisteredReps":10,"otherAdviserReps":1,"compensation":["Hourly charges","Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)"],"activities":["Financial planning services","Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses"],"financialPlanningClients":"101-250","assetMix":[{"label":"Exchange-traded equity securities","percent":9},{"label":"Securities issued by registered investment companies or business development companies","percent":80},{"label":"Cash and cash equivalents","percent":11}],"privateFunds":0},"sources":{"adv1FilingDate":"31 July 2026","adv1Url":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/297658/PDF/297658.pdf","brochureDate":"31 July 2026","brochureUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1053567","iapdCompiledDate":null,"retrievedDate":"15 October 2026","retrievedOn":"2026-10-15","updatedOn":"2026-10-22","holdingsUpdatedOn":"2026-10-21","adv1Pages":{},"brochurePages":{}},"otherBusiness":[],"faq":[{"question":"How many clients does The Planning Project have?","answer":"The Planning Project has 209 clients and manages $551 million for them, as of July 2026. They include 159 high-net-worth individuals and 50 individual clients.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 31 July 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does The Planning Project offer?","answer":"The Planning Project provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, business succession planning, education planning, estate planning, insurance, and tax planning.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does The Planning Project use?","answer":"The Planning Project’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $551M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 31 July 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does The Planning Project have?","answer":"The Planning Project has 10 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 12 employees, and 10 perform investment advisory functions. None are registered representatives of a broker-dealer or licensed insurance agents.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does The Planning Project invest in?","answer":"At the end of its last fiscal year, The Planning Project’s separately managed accounts held 80% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 11% cash and equivalents and 9% exchange-traded equities.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Who owns The Planning Project?","answer":"The Planning Project’s direct owners are Paul Rahn (75% or more), Christopher Melber (5% to 10%) and Robert Bard (10% to 25%).","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 31 July 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does The Planning Project get paid?","answer":"The Planning Project is paid through hourly charges and fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"How do I contact The Planning Project?","answer":"The Planning Project’s main office is at 4526 Research Forest DR., Suite 240, The Woodlands, TX 77381. Its phone number is 281-940-4859. Its website is thesumplanning.com.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 31 July 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"offices"}}],"holdings":null,"notice":"Compiled from public SEC Form ADV filings on the dates in `sources`. Facts as filed; not a rating, ranking, or recommendation. Niva is not affiliated with this firm. Disciplinary history is deliberately not included here or on the page; the SEC publishes the complete record at the `iapdUrl` above."}