UNDERSTANDING YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
CHOSING AN ADVISOR
What Type of Financial Advisor Do You Need?
Understand the differences among financial planners, investment advisors, wealth managers, brokers, and specialists.What Credentials Should You Look For?
Learn what designations such as CFP®, CFA®, and CPA mean—and what they do not guarantee.How to Research an Advisor’s Background
Check an advisor’s experience, registrations, disciplinary history, services, and firm before meeting with them.Questions to Ask a Potential Advisor - One Pager, Article
Cover services, investment approach, communication, fees, conflicts of interest, and who will actually manage the relationship.How to Compare and Select an Advisor
Evaluate several candidates using consistent criteria, including qualifications, services, costs, communication style, and personal fit.
UNDERSTANDING ADVISOR TYPES
Registered Investment Advisors, Brokers, and Financial Planners
Understand the differences between common financial professionals so you can identify which type of advisor may best fit your needs.
What Does a CFP® Professional Do?
Learn what the CFP® designation means, the training behind it, and the kinds of financial planning a CFP professional can provide.
Investment Manager vs. Financial Planner
See how investment management differs from comprehensive financial planning and why you may need one, the other, or both.
Human Advisors vs. Robo-Advisors
Compare the benefits, limitations, and costs of human advisors and automated investment platforms to determine which approach fits you.
Specialists: Tax, Estate, Insurance, and More
Learn when specialized professionals such as tax, estate, and insurance experts can complement the guidance of your primary advisor.
FIDUCIARY DUTY AND CONFLICT
What Fiduciary Duty Really Means
Understand what fiduciary duty requires and why it matters when someone is giving you financial advice.
When Is an Advisor Required to Act as a Fiduciary? - Article
Learn when an advisor is required to act in your best interest and why that obligation can vary depending on the service being provided.
Common Conflicts of Interest in Financial Advice
Recognize common incentives that can influence financial recommendations, including commissions, proprietary products, and referral arrangements.
How to Ask About Conflicts of Interest
Use straightforward questions to uncover how an advisor is compensated, what incentives they face, and where conflicts may arise.
Red Flags in Advisor Recommendations
Learn to spot warning signs that a recommendation may be driven more by an advisor’s incentives than by your financial goals.
EVALUATING YOUR ADVISOR
How to Tell if Your Advisor Is Doing a Good Job
Look beyond investment returns to evaluate whether your advisor is providing thoughtful planning, clear communication, and advice aligned with your goals.
How to Review Investment Performance
Learn how to evaluate investment performance in the context of your goals, time horizon, risk level, and appropriate benchmarks.
What Good Financial Planning Should Look Like
Understand the hallmarks of quality financial planning, from proactive recommendations and goal tracking to coordination across your financial life.
Is Your Advisor Proactive Enough?
Assess whether your advisor is anticipating important decisions, identifying opportunities, and reaching out before issues become urgent.
Advisor Service Red Flags
Recognize signs such as poor responsiveness, unclear recommendations, frequent turnover, or a lack of attention to your changing needs.