All professionals listed on 1800ADVISER.COM operate on a “Fee-Only” basis, and we consider them to be 100% Independent & Objective™. Simply put, this means the professionals in our directory do not earn commissions for their advice and are not incentivized to sell any investment products they recommend. Their focus is solely on providing honest recommendations that serve your best interests.

Fee-Only professionals do not receive any form of commission or compensation based on the products or services they recommend. Instead, they charge a fee for their services, which may be based on an hourly rate, a flat rate, or a percentage of assets under management. The primary goal of a Fee-Only professional listed in the 1800ADVISER.COM directory is to offer unbiased and objective advice that aligns with the best interest of the client, avoiding the potential conflicts of interest that arise when an adviser is compensated based on the products they sell.

Most Fee-Only professionals are members of respected organizations such as the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers (NAPFA), the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and the Garrett Planning Network. Our network includes Chartered Financial Planners, Registered Investment Advisers, CPAs, and attorneys—all attorneys in our network hold licenses from the bar associations in their respective states.

Fee-Only professionals clearly outline their fee structure based on the level of service you require and will disclose their fees before any engagement begins. In certain situations, a commission-based product may be the only option available, as is typically the case with Life Insurance, which can only be sold by a licensed, commissioned sales agent. Some organizations prohibit their Fee-Only professionals from engaging in such transactions. We require that professionals adhere to the membership rules of the organizations to which they belong.

It is also possible that some Fee-Only professionals receive “indirect” or “soft dollar compensation” from third parties like investment research firms or technology providers in exchange for using their products or services. Professionals should disclose any such soft dollar arrangements to you.

To learn more, schedule a Free Consultation. Alternatively, visit 1800ADVISER.COM and get connected to a Fee-Only professional.