Independent advisor directory · 51 states
Find a fiduciary advisor. Compare the fees, not the marketing.
Every firm listed discloses credentials, fee structure, and minimums. No placement payments. No referral kickbacks. No algorithmic ranking we won't explain.
Credentials we list
CFP
CFA
CPA
ChFC
RICP
CLU
EA
Featured
Firms worth a closer look
| Firm | Location | Credentials | Fee | Minimum | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster Wealth Management | Tucson, Arizona |
|
— | — | ★5.0(1) |
| Madison Partners | Wausau, Wisconsin |
|
— | — | ★0.0(0) |
| Kristopher Curtis Financial | Nashville, Tennessee |
|
— | — | ★5.0(13) |
| Merit Financial Advisors | Jupiter, Florida |
CPA
|
— | — | ★0.0(0) |
| Peak Retirement Planning, Inc. | Columbus, Ohio |
|
— | — | ★5.0(311) |
| Beacon Hill Private Wealth, LLC | Summit, New Jersey |
|
— | — | ★0.0(0) |
By specialty
What do you need help with?
1222
Retirement Planning
Comprehensive retirement income planning, Social Security claim-age optimization, withdrawal strategy, and Medicare and long-term-care preparation.
1824
Investment Management
Portfolio construction, asset allocation, rebalancing, and ongoing investment oversight matched to your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
64
Tax Strategy
Tax-efficient investing, Roth conversion planning, asset-location optimization, and strategies for minimizing your lifetime tax burden.
408
Estate Planning
Wealth-transfer planning, trust strategies, beneficiary optimization, and legacy planning to pass assets to heirs and charities tax-efficiently.
19
College Savings
529 plans, Coverdell ESAs, custodial accounts, and education-funding strategies coordinated with financial aid and your other long-term goals.
507
Insurance Planning
Life, disability, long-term care, and umbrella liability strategy from fee-only advisors with no commission incentive to over-sell coverage.
210
Small Business
SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), and defined-benefit plan selection, plus succession, exit planning, and owner-specific financial strategy.
1177
Wealth Management
Coordinated investment, tax, estate, and risk-management oversight for high-net-worth individuals and families with $1M+ in investable assets.
22
Debt Management
Student-loan repayment optimization, mortgage strategy, and debt-payoff planning balanced against long-term investment and retirement goals.
20
Social Security Planning
Claim-age analysis, spousal and survivor benefit strategy, and lifetime-benefit optimization — often a six-figure decision for married couples.
By geography
Browse advisors in every state
Alabama
83
Alaska
10
Arizona
110
Arkansas
38
California
347
Colorado
112
Connecticut
61
Delaware
18
District of Columbia
7
Florida
418
Georgia
131
Hawaii
12
Idaho
52
Illinois
158
Indiana
116
Iowa
83
Kansas
84
Kentucky
60
Louisiana
85
Maine
21
Maryland
80
Massachusetts
60
Michigan
156
Minnesota
104
Mississippi
30
Missouri
97
Montana
38
Nebraska
57
Nevada
31
New Hampshire
27
New Jersey
81
New Mexico
27
New York
221
North Carolina
156
North Dakota
22
Ohio
173
Oklahoma
44
Oregon
43
Pennsylvania
245
Rhode Island
14
South Carolina
96
South Dakota
35
Tennessee
117
Texas
340
Utah
66
Vermont
18
Virginia
159
Washington
97
West Virginia
25
Wisconsin
140
Wyoming
5
Investor tools
35 tools, rated and reviewed
Research & guides
From the desk
Guides
Financial Advisor vs. Robo-Advisor: Which Is Right for You?
Robo-advisors charge a quarter of what humans charge and do most of the basic work just as well. The decision isn't really cost — it's complexity. Here's how to tell which side of that line you're on.
May 6, 2026
Financial Planning
Emergency Fund Guide: How Much Is Enough?
Three to six months of expenses" is the standard answer. It's also wrong for most people. Here's how to size an emergency fund based on your actual situation, not a generic rule.
May 2, 2026
Retirement
The Bucket Strategy for Retirement Income
The bucket strategy splits your retirement portfolio into short-, medium-, and long-term pools so you never have to sell stocks during a downturn. It's not magic — but the psychological benefit is real.
April 20, 2026
Our posture
Most directories take paid placements. We don't.
Every firm in this directory is listed on the strength of what it discloses: credentials, fee structure, minimums, and fiduciary status. We do not rank by who pays the most; we do not rank by who pays at all.
You can search by state, filter by specialty, and cross-reference every entry against FINRA BrokerCheck and the SEC IAPD. If a firm's disclosures don't check out, tell us and we'll remove the listing.
Frequently asked
Before you hire anyone
A fiduciary financial advisor is legally obligated to act in your best interest at all times. Unlike brokers who only need to recommend “suitable” investments, fiduciaries must put your interests ahead of their own, including disclosing any conflicts of interest. Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) when providing financial planning are held to the fiduciary standard. When searching for an advisor, asking “Are you a fiduciary?” is one of the most important questions you can ask.
Financial advisor fees vary by structure. Fee-only advisors typically charge 0.5%–1.5% of assets under management annually, flat fees of $1,000–$5,000 per financial plan, or hourly rates of $150–$400. Fee-based advisors may also earn commissions on certain products. Commission-only advisors earn money from product sales. Always ask about total costs including fund expense ratios and any transaction fees. Many advisors offer a free initial consultation.
The most respected credentials include CFP (Certified Financial Planner) for comprehensive financial planning, CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) for investment management expertise, and CPA (Certified Public Accountant) for tax-focused planning. Other valuable designations include ChFC, RICP for retirement income, and CLU for insurance planning. Always verify that an advisor is registered with the SEC or their state securities regulator and check their disciplinary history on FINRA BrokerCheck.
Consider hiring a financial advisor during major life transitions: getting married, having children, receiving an inheritance, changing jobs (especially with equity compensation), approaching retirement, or managing a windfall. You may also benefit from an advisor if you have complex tax situations, multiple accounts to coordinate, or simply want professional guidance to stay on track with your financial goals. Even a one-time financial plan review can provide valuable direction.