[toastermoster]

I agree. A financial guru I've listened to off and on for many years is Clark Howard and he suggests always using a financial advisor that you pay outright with fiduciary responsibility. His favorite recommendation is to talk to someone from the Garrett Planning Network. If you aren't paying upfront you are paying far more in bad investment advice that isn't designed to make you money. Think bad investments that offer kickbacks to your "advisor."

[lukehack]

For those who don't know, a fiduciary is legally obligated to work in your best financial interests, so it's pretty important that your financial advisor is one.

[wstuartcl]

Reinforcing this, someone with constrained by fiduciary duty must make (and be able to show) recommendations/actions based on your best interests when it comes to your money or be liable.

An adviser that is not operating under the duty, can place their best interests above yours legally (and this is expected).

[dboon]

Anecdotal, but a friend of mine works directly under Clark Howard. By all accounts he is a wonderful and generous man, rare for one giving financial advice. I would generally trust him.

[zip1234]

Yes, if they get a commission from what they sell you, they do not have fiduciary.