A low-profile coupled inductor is disclosed to provide compact and high performance magnetic coupling. The low-profile coupled inductor has an asymmetrical geometry, having a pair of complementary ferrite cores supporting a pair of conducting strips in an alternating serpentine pattern. One or more core gaps exist between the cores to create a strong flux coupling between adjacent magnetic fields of either conducting strip. The alternating serpentine conductors and core gaps serve to increase energy transfer between the magnetic fields and improve the overall power density of the low-profile coupled inductor.