Fiduciary

A fiduciary is held to the highest standard of care in financial advice: they must act in your best interest, disclose conflicts of interest, and put your needs ahead of their own compensation. Not every financial professional is a fiduciary at all times, which is why the label matters.

Fee-only fiduciary advisors — who are paid directly by you rather than through commissions on products they sell — avoid many of the conflicts baked into commission-based sales. When you're seeking personalized advice that a planning tool can't provide, looking specifically for a fee-only fiduciary is one of the most protective steps you can take. Networks like NAPFA and the Garrett Planning Network list advisors who commit to this standard.