Financial planning
Look for cash-flow, retirement-income, and scenario work when the main need is a written plan.
Financial advisor selection guide
Turn the work you need into a shortlist of professional roles, a fee instruction, and an interview checklist. This guide does not rank advisors, collect your contact details, or sell a manufactured match.
What kind of help do you need?
Your advisor search brief
Select your needs to produce a practical brief and interview checklist.
How to verify a professional
For U.S. investment professionals, review registration and disciplinary information through SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (opens in a new tab) and FINRA BrokerCheck (opens in a new tab). Credentials should be verified with the issuing body.
Questions worth asking
- Are you required to act as a fiduciary at all times?
- What is the total first-year and ongoing cost in dollars?
- Who receives compensation from products or referrals?
- What work is included, and what requires another professional?
Match the professional to the job
One title does not guarantee that a person handles every part of a retirement decision.
Investment management
Ask who selects, trades, and monitors investments, and convert the full annual fee into dollars.
Tax or legal work
Use a qualified tax professional or licensed attorney when the task requires tax preparation, legal advice, or documents.