Your Fee is Based on Your Complexity Score
A proprietary, AI-powered forensic filter that objectively measures your case risk across 8 dimensions and produces a normalized 0–100 Complexity Score
How We Calculate Your Complexity Score
We evaluate your case across 8 risk dimensions. Each answer is weighted and normalized to produce a final score of 0–100
Estate Size & Asset Diversity
Number and type of assets, business interests, investment portfolios
Beneficiaries & Relationships
Number of beneficiaries, family dynamics, cooperation level
Legal & Tax Complexity
Disputes, litigation, tax issues, regulatory compliance
Geographic Dispersion
Multiple states, international assets, jurisdictional complexity
Litigation Risk
Active disputes, hostile parties, potential lawsuits
Timeline Constraints
Court deadlines, urgent requirements, time pressure
The Formula
Complexity Score = Normalized 0–100
8 risk dimensions, weighted by severity
Score delivered instantly via Sovereign Case Diagnostic™
This data-driven approach ensures your fee is fair, defensible, and aligned with California Rules of Court factors for reasonable compensation.
Three Tiers Based on Complexity
Your Complexity Score determines your tier and fee range
Complexity Score
0 – 39
Fee Range
$6,500 – $26,000
Cooperative beneficiaries, clear documentation, no suspected misconduct
Examples:
Probate
$500K estate → $13,000 statutory (PC §10800)
Trust (Ongoing)
$500K × 1.25% = $6,250/yr
Trust (Liquidating)
$750K × 1.75% = $13,125
Conservatorship
~50–75 hrs × $395/hr = $19,750–$29,625
Complexity Score
40 – 69
Fee Range
$26,000 – $75,000
Multi-beneficiary tension, disputed assets, or prior fiduciary concerns
Examples:
Probate
$2M estate → $33,000 statutory (PC §10800)
Trust (Ongoing)
$3M: ($2.5M × 1.25%) + ($500K × 1.00%) = $36,250/yr
Trust (Liquidating)
$2M: ($2.5M cap) × 1.75% = $43,750
Conservatorship
~75–200 hrs × $395/hr = $29,625–$79,000
Complexity Score
70 – 100
Fee Range
$18,500 flat – $150,000+
Active heir misconduct, asset diversion, or multi-party conflict requiring forensic intervention
Examples:
Forensic Restoration Apex™
$18,500 flat fee — full forensic scope, no hourly surprises
Probate
$5M estate → $73,000 statutory + extraordinary fees (PC §10801)
Trust (Ongoing)
$5M: ($2.5M × 1.25%) + ($2.5M × 1.00%) = $56,250/yr
Conservatorship
200+ hrs × $395–$525/hr (extraordinary) = $79,000–$105,000+
Your Score Determines Your Path
Take the 8-minute Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ and receive your Complexity Score instantly. Your score routes you to the right engagement — no guesswork, no sales call required.
Standard Engagement
Score 0 – 39
Cooperative beneficiaries, clear documentation, no suspected misconduct. Standard hourly or AUM-based billing applies. Predictable timeline of 12–18 months.
Elevated Engagement
Score 40 – 69
Multi-beneficiary tension, disputed assets, or prior fiduciary concerns. Enhanced oversight, Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU) billing, and court-ready documentation. Each SVU entry documents measurable estate benefit and serves as evidentiary support for extraordinary compensation petitions under PC §10801.
Critical — Forensic Restoration
Score 70 – 100
Active heir misconduct, asset diversion, or multi-party conflict requiring forensic reconstruction and court enforcement. The Forensic Restoration Apex™ engagement applies.
Service-Specific Fee Structures
Detailed breakdown of how fees are calculated for each service type
Trust Administration: AUM Rates
For trusts, we charge either AUM-based fees or hourly rates, whichever is higher. Minimum monthly advance: $800, reconciled annually.
| Total Assets | Liquidating Trusts | Ongoing Trusts |
|---|---|---|
| First $2,500,000 | 1.75% | 1.25% |
| $2,500,001 to $5,000,000 | 1.25% | 1.00% |
| $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 | 1.00% | 0.75% |
| $10,000,001 to $20,000,000 | 0.75% | 0.70% |
| Over $20,000,000 | 0.70% | 0.65% |
Additional Fees: Set-up/Initial Intake: $5,000 • Account Closure/Off-boarding: $4,000 plus hourly rate
Probate: California Statutory Rates
Probate fees follow California statutory rates, paid at conclusion of probate. No minimum annual fee.
| Estate Value Range | Statutory Rate |
|---|---|
| First $100,000 | 4% |
| Next $100,000 | 3% |
| Next $800,000 | 2% |
| Next $9,000,000 | 1% |
| Next $15,000,000 | 0.5% |
Note: These rates apply to the personal representative (executor) fee only. Your probate attorney charges separate statutory fees.
Conservatorship: Hourly Rates
Conservatorships use hourly billing only. No minimum monthly advance. All fees subject to court approval.
| Team Member | Standard Rate | Extraordinary Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Keenan Brown, CLPF #790 — Principal Fiduciary | $395/hr | $525/hr |
| Sherwin Estonilo — Lead Financial Specialist | $200/hr | $250/hr |
| Jan Alan Rosimo — IT & Technology Manager | $200/hr | $250/hr |
| Josie Noriega — Executive Assistant, Client Success | $125/hr | $150/hr |
| Latriesha Shelton — Executive Assistant, Client Success | $95/hr | $125/hr |
| Marwin Humilde — Financial Operations Specialist | $125/hr | $150/hr |
| Alma Vidal — Senior Case Manager | $175/hr | $225/hr |
Standard rates apply to routine fiduciary services under California Probate Code §10800. Extraordinary rates apply to services beyond routine administration as authorized under California Probate Code §10801, including complex asset management, real estate transactions, investment account oversight, adverse beneficiary dispute resolution, and litigation support. Time is recorded in 10ths of each hour for fiduciary staff and 1/4 of each hour for administrative staff. All conservatorship fees are subject to court approval.
SVU™ Compensation: The Five Triggering Categories
SVU™ (Sovereign Value Units) is Brown Management's proprietary framework for documenting and justifying extraordinary compensation under California Probate Code §10801. Extraordinary fees are not a volume play — they are triggered by complexity. Each of the five categories below has a specific triggering condition, a documented dollar range, and a statutory anchor.
Category 1 — Asset Marshalling
Triggering condition: Estate contains real property, business interests, or out-of-state assets requiring active management beyond standard inventory
- → Multi-property portfolio coordination
- → Business interest preservation during administration
- → Out-of-state asset transfer and liquidation
Category 2 — Business Continuity
Triggering condition: Estate includes an operating business, LLC, or professional practice requiring ongoing management decisions during administration
- → Operating business oversight
- → LLC membership interest management
- → Professional practice wind-down or sale coordination
Category 3 — Hostile Heir / Surcharge Recovery
Triggering condition: An heir, beneficiary, or prior fiduciary has diverted assets, contested the estate, or obstructed administration — requiring forensic documentation and surcharge motion
- → Surcharge motion preparation and filing
- → Forensic asset tracing
- → Court-admissible documentation of diversion
- → Estate of Alice Maine: 5.3× ROI
Category 4 — Jurisdictional Complexity
Triggering condition: Estate involves assets, beneficiaries, or legal proceedings in multiple states or countries, requiring coordination across jurisdictions
- → Multi-state real property coordination
- → Foreign asset repatriation
- → Ancillary probate proceedings
Category 5 — Litigation Support
Triggering condition: Estate is subject to pending or threatened litigation — will contests, creditor disputes, conservatorship challenges, or beneficiary claims
- → Will contest defense documentation
- → Creditor claim analysis and response
- → Expert witness preparation
- → Deposition support
Attorney note: SVU™ compensation is documented using the Four-Pillar Recovery Framework and submitted to the court as a Supplemental Declaration of Extraordinary Services. All fee requests are anchored to specific Probate Code sections and supported by immutable time records. Brown Management has a 100% court acceptance rate on extraordinary fee petitions.
Southern California Hourly Rate Comparison
Published 2026 data across 8 SoCal counties. The industry charges $145–$350/hr with no published task menu and no fee cap. Brown Management publishes every rate and offers flat-fee alternatives for the 100 most common tasks.
| County | Conservatorship | Extraordinary Fee | Trust Admin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $200–$300/hr | $200–$300/hr | 0.5%–2.0% or $200–$300/hr |
| Orange | $190–$260/hr | $190–$260/hr | 0.5%–4.0% or $190–$260/hr |
| San Diego | $190–$350/hr | $190–$350/hr | 0.5%–1.5% or $100–$250/hr |
| Ventura | $240–$295/hr | $240–$280/hr | 1.0% or $240–$280/hr |
| Santa Barbara | $240–$280/hr | $240–$280/hr | 1.0% (tiered) or $6,000/yr min |
| Riverside | $175–$250/hr | $190–$275/hr | 1.0%–2.0% or $175–$250/hr |
| San Bernardino | $190–$250/hr | $190–$250/hr | 1.0%–2.0% |
| San Luis Obispo | $145–$300/hr | $175–$300/hr | 0.5%–2.0% or $175–$250/hr |
| Brown Management | $395/hr standard · $525/hr extraordinary | Court-petitioned per PC §10801 | AUM tiers or flat-rate menu |
The $300 Ceiling
Top-tier SoCal rates cluster at $280–$300/hr. Brown Management's $395/hr principal rate is above this ceiling — defensible because the flat-rate menu eliminates open-ended billing risk. The premium signals expertise; the menu removes the fear.
The Support Staff Arbitrage
Competing firms charge up to $230/hr for support staff. Brown Management publishes $95/hr (admin) and $175/hr (senior case manager) — visible, competitive, and impossible to inflate invisibly.
The Black Box Problem
Across all 8 counties, the hourly model creates a black box. Clients don't know the final cost until the invoice is submitted to the court months later. The flat-rate task menu is the solution.
Our Technology Advantage
Delivering faster results with uncompromising quality
Cyber Fiduciary OS™
Brown Management uses proprietary technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in estate administration. All work is performed under the direct supervision of licensed professionals, with human review and approval of all decisions. This technology allows us to deliver results 60% faster than traditional firms while maintaining the highest standards of care.
The Brown Management Difference
Exceptional value through innovation and expertise
Speed & Efficiency
- 12-18 month timelines for most estates
- Proprietary technology accelerates results
- Streamlined processes reduce delays
Transparency & Trust
- Clear pricing based on Complexity Score
- Quarterly value reports show measurable outcomes
- 9:1 value commitment documented and tracked
Expertise & Credentials
- Licensed professional oversight (EA, CLPF #790)
- Specialized team with advanced credentials
- Court-approved methods and documentation
Innovation & Care
- Data-driven decisions optimize outcomes
- Personalized service for every client
- Proactive communication keeps you informed
Our Commitment: Speed + Transparency + Expertise + Care
How We Compare to Every Alternative
There are four types of fiduciaries in California. Most families choose one by default. Here is what each option actually costs — and what they don’t tell you upfront.
Family Member
Highest Hidden RiskCourts can order family members to repay the estate out of pocket for errors. Attorney fees when disputes arise: $300–$500/hr.
Public Guardian
Last Resort — LA CountyAvailable only when no willing family member or private fiduciary exists. Government agency hours. Minimal individualized attention.
Bank / Trust Company
Corporate FiduciaryAUM fees compound over time. Add investment management, custody, and tax prep fees. High relationship manager turnover.
CLPF Peers
Private Professional FiduciaryMost do not publish rates. You receive the bill after the work is done. Minimum retainers: $1,500–$5,000.
Brown Management — The Transparent Standard
Licensed California Professional Fiduciary | CLPF #790Rate Structure
Published. Fixed. Court-disclosed.
Principal: $395/hr | Admin: $95/hr
Billed in 6-minute increments
Minimum Threshold
None.
No AUM percentage. No asset minimum. Every family qualifies.
High-Conflict Estates
$18,500 flat fee
Forensic Restoration Apex™ — no hourly surprises
E&O Insurance
✅ Yes
Published Rates
✅ Always
Court-Disclosed
✅ PC §§10800–10801
Asset Minimum
✅ None
Fee Cap Option
✅ Flat-fee available
| Category | Annual Cost ($500K Estate) | Published Rates | Asset Minimum | Key Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Member | $0 + unlimited liability | No | None | Personal liability; no insurance |
| Public Guardian | Up to $14,500/yr | No | None (assigned) | 50–200 cases/deputy; no choice |
| Bank / Trust Co. | $5,000–$10,000/yr | Partial | $500K–$2M | AUM compounds; impersonal |
| CLPF Peers | $30,000–$80,000/yr | Rarely | $1.5K–$5K retainer | No cap; unpredictable |
| Brown Management | Published. Predictable. | ✅ Always | None | Court-tested. Court-disclosed. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate my Complexity Score?
Your Complexity Score is calculated by the Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ — 8 risk-weighted questions covering heir conflict, missing assets, jurisdictional complexity, prior fiduciary misconduct, asset liquidity, litigation exposure, estate value, and urgency. Each answer is weighted by severity and normalized to a 0–100 scale. Your score determines your engagement tier: Standard (0–39), Elevated (40–69), or Critical/Apex (70–100).
What determines whether I pay hourly, AUM-based, or statutory fees?
The fee structure depends on your service type: Conservatorships use hourly billing only. Trusts use either AUM-based fees or hourly rates, whichever is higher. Probate uses California statutory rates. Your Complexity Score determines which tier you fall into, and the tier determines your fee range within that structure.
What is the minimum monthly advance for trusts?
For trusts and estates, we require an $800 minimum monthly advance, reconciled annually against the actual fee (either hourly or AUM-based, whichever is higher). Conservatorships are billed hourly only with no minimum advance.
What's the difference between liquidating and ongoing trusts?
Liquidating trusts are settled within 12-18 months (selling assets, paying debts, distributing to beneficiaries). Ongoing trusts continue indefinitely (managing assets for minor children, special needs, or multi-generational wealth). Ongoing trusts have lower AUM rates because the relationship is long-term.
What if my case becomes more complex during the engagement?
We re-run the Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ at each major case milestone — typically quarterly or when a material event occurs (lawsuit filed, asset discovered, fiduciary removed). If your score crosses a tier threshold, we discuss any fee adjustment in advance. Our goal is always transparency and predictability.
How do you prove your 9:1 value-to-fee ratio — documented across five SVU categories?
We track the value we create across 5 Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU) categories: Cost Reduction, Revenue Generation, Risk Mitigation, Time Savings, and Relationship Enhancement. We provide quarterly IMPACT Reports that detail the SVU delivered in each category — the quantified basis for our 9:1 value-to-fee ratio. Each SVU entry also serves as court-admissible evidence of measurable benefit to the estate, the evidentiary foundation for extraordinary compensation petitions under California Probate Code §10801.
Do you charge for consultations?
No. The Fiduciary Risk & Complexity Assessment and initial consultation are completely free. You only pay when you decide to engage us.
What is an XO fee — and how is it different from my standard fee?
Your standard fee covers routine administration: managing accounts, filing court accountings, distributing assets, paying bills. It is predictable, disclosed upfront, and based on your service type — hourly for conservatorships, AUM-based for trusts, or statutory under California Probate Code §10800 for probate. An XO fee — short for extraordinary compensation, also called a Documented Completion Bonus — is a court-approved performance bonus for work that goes significantly beyond routine administration. The distinction is simple: Standard fees are ongoing and billed periodically for expected work. XO fees are earned at case milestones and paid only after court approval for extraordinary results. Standard fees are based on time or asset value. XO fees are based on documented estate benefit. Every XO petition we file is supported by a Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU) IMPACT Report — a five-category evidence package quantifying the measurable benefit delivered to the estate. In Estate of Alice Maine (PROVA2300073), our $15,000 engagement recovered $80,000 in diverted assets, supporting a court-approved extraordinary compensation award. The XO fee is not a surprise. It is disclosed in your engagement agreement, triggered only by documented extraordinary results, and approved by the court before it is paid.
Transparent Billing for Every Audience
Whether you're a family navigating estate administration or a professional making a referral, our billing model is designed for complete transparency and peace of mind.
From Financial Anxiety to Financial Clarity
No surprises. Ever. Just predictable fees and measurable value.
Watch: How We Deliver Predictable Fees & Measurable Value (4 min)
Complexity Score
Your financial fingerprint determines a predictable budget range
85/15 Rule
85% AI handles routine work, 15% human experts focus on strategy
9:1 Value Ratio
For every $1 in fees, we create $9 in tangible value for you
De-Risk Every Referral
That pit in your stomach after handing off a client? Gone.
Watch: How We Protect Your Reputation Through Transparent Billing (6 min)
Complexity Score (CLS)
Objective scoring slots cases into clear fee tiers—price certainty from day one
Task Value System
Fixed prices for all standard tasks—no billing for inefficiency
Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU)
High-impact work quantified and pre-approved before execution. Each SVU entry documents measurable estate benefit — the evidentiary basis for extraordinary compensation (PC §10801) and the foundation of the 9:1 value-to-fee ratio — documented across five SVU categories.
RIDE Framework
Legal backbone justifying every dollar (Responsibility, Intensity, Danger, Effect)
Beyond Judicial Rebuke (BJR)
Our immutable audit trail records every decision and its rationale, creating pre-built legal armor that protects the fiduciary, the client, and most importantly—you.