Fiduciary Financial Advisors

High-quality financial advice and expertise you want — and deserve

No two consumers are alike when it comes to financial situations and needs. That’s why we’ve carefully curated the Wealthramp advisor network to address different financial needs. While every advisor is deeply experienced and highly qualified, many specialize in specific areas.

Interested in socially responsible investing (SRI) or ESG? Want a retirement planning expert? Or tax-focused financial planning? No matter where your priorities and passions lie, we’re ready to match you with an advisor who can move you toward your financial goals.

Every financial advisor in the Wealthramp network is deeply experienced and highly qualified

Many financial advisors specialize in specific areas to address any niche situations or needs you may have, including:

What are fee-only fiduciary advisors?

The Wealthramp network consists exclusively of fee-only fiduciary advisors. So, what does that mean, exactly?

Fee-only advisors

The financial advisor makes money by charging a set amount for the service they provide. They don’t earn commissions recommending or selling you investment products. That means no high-pressure sales pitches. When your financial advisor recommends an investment, it’s because they believe it’s truly right for you.

Fiduciary advisors

Simply put, fiduciary advisors are professionally and legally obligated to put your interests first. Surprisingly, non-fiduciary advisors – who are typically called brokers — are actually salespeople. And they are not legally held to the fiduciary standard at all times.

When an advisor on Wealthramp recommends an investment strategy, it’s because they believe it’s truly right for you. Wealthramp network advisors’ fees are typically based on the assets under management (AUM), a retainer or subscription fee, or an hourly or project-based fee. Actual fee structures depend on the complexity of your portfolio. 

Fiduciary advisors vs. investment brokers

We weed out the thousands of investment brokers and insurance sales reps who call themselves financial advisors but don’t meet fiduciary qualifications.

Fee-only fiduciary advisors

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Are legally obligated to put clients’ best interests first

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Do not earn sales commissions selling you insurance or investment products

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Are required by law to be transparent about their fees, and usually are paid based on assets under management or financial planning fees

Brokers/Sales reps

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Not legally required to put clients’ interests ahead of their own

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Have sales quotas and make money by selling you financial products

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May charge you fees and also collect sales commissions when you purchase a product they recommend, or even when you sell that investment

Is it worth having a financial advisor?

Watch this short video by Investor Advocate and Founder of Wealthramp, Pam Krueger.

Have questions about your financial situation?

We won't sell your data. You decide which advisors to talk to. And you won't receive any pushy sales calls from Wealthramp

Find a vetted fiduciary to help with your finances

Fiduciary FAQs

What is the fiduciary rule?

The Fiduciary Rule is the legal requirement for financial advisors to work in their customers’ best interest. A fiduciary financial advisor is an investment professional who is licensed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state regulators. Fiduciary advisors are important for clients because they are legally required to put clients’ interests ahead of their own.

Why is having a fiduciary advisor important?

There are two big differences in using a fiduciary advisor — compensation structure and the standard they’re held to when advising clients. Most financial advisors have to sell investments that are suitable for clients, but fiduciaries must act with a higher standard of care. As a result, fiduciary advisors are often less expensive because client accounts aren’t charged commissions.

Financial advisors who aren’t fiduciaries often receive commissions on the investments they sell. While non-fiduciaries must sell investments that are appropriate — or suitable — based on individual client circumstances, they are not required to put their clients’ interest first. A fiduciary advisor is important if you plan to give an advisor discretionary control of your account, if you aren’t sure what you need, and if you want sound, objective advice.

How do I know that a financial advisor is a fiduciary?

The easiest way to verify that an advisor is a fiduciary financial advisor is to simply ask them if they are willing to take a fiduciary oath, in writing. And then verify their status. Fiduciary advisors must be registered with the SEC or with their state securities’ regulatory agency.

You can check for an advisor’s Form ADV on the SEC’s IAPD page, which catalogs their registration with the SEC or state, along with disclosures about the firm, the firm’s business operations, conflicts of interest, and any misconduct the firm or advisor may have been involved in.

Some red flags that an advisor doesn’t always act as a fiduciary include:

  • Series 7 license: If a financial advisor has a Series 7 license they are allowed to collect commissions from the sale of investments, which means they don’t always act in a fiduciary capacity
  • Series 63 or 66 license: A Series 63 or 66 is another license that a financial advisor needs to collect commissions, but if they collect commissions on product sales that means they don’t always act as fiduciaries
  • Website Disclosures: Many financial advisory firms include disclosures including “securities offered through …” or “representatives licensed with …” that are red flags that these firms collect commissions from the sale of securities — meaning they don’t always act as fiduciaries

When you work with Wealthramp to find your financial advisor, we’ve done that work for you - only vetted fiduciary advisors can join our platform. And we’ll give you easy access to Form ADV so you can verify any advisor we recommend.

How much does a fee-only financial advisor cost?

Fee-only financial advisors’ fees may be paid based on the assets under management (AUM), a retainer or subscription fee, or an hourly or project-based fee. Actual fee structures depend on the complexity of your portfolio.

Click here to read more about how fee-only advisors get paid.

Are robo-advisors fiduciaries?

A robo-advisor - also known as a robo - is a type of brokerage account that automates the process of investing. Most robos charge lower fees than conventional financial advisors because they invest your money in prebaked portfolios made primarily of specially chosen, low-fee exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Like conventional human financial advisors, robo-advisors are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), meaning they have a fiduciary responsibility to look out for your best interests when it comes to investment choices.

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