It will cost more now than investing in a no-load mutual fund, but the end amount of money in the Roth will be the same regardless of the amount it costs to get it there.

Um, I'm not sure this is true. You can only put $4K into the fund. The load is taken out by the mutual fund so by that point your contribution has already hit your yearly limit. So you're down $230 off the bat and will remain down 5.75% for the rest of your investing lifetime (although each dividend reinvestment probably also takes 5.75%, so all your dividend earnings will also lose 5.75%.

Even if the above *was* true, which I still doubt (depending on exactly who it taking the fee, I guess), then you're still paying $4244 in order to get that $4K into the account, again losing out on $244 right off the bat.

I, and the vast majority of Fools, are completely in the camp that there is no way you should pay this. Thank him for his time and take your investing to one of the mentioned mutual fund companies/brokerages who will not charge you a load. You are completely correct to be uncomfortable with this.

If you know him personally and/or like his advice, perhaps you could ask if he would be willing to do an annual for-fee, not for-commission, review with you and your wife. That way his advice is certainly intended in your best interest and not to line his own pockets (and that of the fund company).