Guides for real money decisions

Updated July 1, 2026. Short answer (2026): You can learn most of what matters about an advisory firm’s fees and conflicts by skimming seven lines in its Form ADV Part 2A brochure. Start with fees, conflicts, disciplinary history, custody, and compensation, then confirm fiduciary vs suitability status in writing before an intro call. Where to […]

Updated July 1, 2026. Short answer (2026): A financial advisor’s service calendar is the promised cadence of meetings, check-ins, deliverables, and response times you receive across the year. Good firms publish it up front so you know what happens, when, and why. Compare the calendar against advisor capacity and SLA red flags before you sign. […]

Updated on July 3, 2026 Quick answer (2026): For AUM fee breakpoints 250k 500k 1m 3m comparisons, the breakpoints are the portfolio levels in a tiered AUM fee schedule or AUM fee schedule where an advisor’s percentage fee drops on the next slice of assets. For example, a schedule that charges 1.00% on the first […]

← Back to RSUs & Stock Options Advisor Guide Updated on May 21, 2026 Quick answer (2026): An hourly advisor for RSUs can make sense when you need a focused second opinion, withholding check, sell-at-vest plan, or concentrated-stock diversification plan without paying for a full ongoing AUM relationship. Common hourly planning ranges are 2–3 hours […]

Short answer: With common tiered AUM schedules (1.00% on the first $250k, 0.75% on the next $250k, 0.50% above) and low-cost ETFs (~0.06% ER), a $3,000 flat-fee is typically cheaper than AUM at $500k and $1M portfolios. Your break-even depends on your firm’s tiers—run your exact numbers in the AUM Fee Calculator. Assumptions used in […]

Updated July 1, 2026. Short answer (2026): CFP, CFA, and ChFC credentials are not interchangeable. CFP and ChFC usually fit household planning, retirement, tax coordination, and insurance questions; CFA usually signals deeper investment and portfolio training. Use credentials as a screen, then verify fiduciary duty, fees, service calendar, and Form ADV conflicts before choosing an […]

← Back to the Advisor Fees hub Fiduciary vs Suitability (60-Second Check) Updated on July 1, 2026 Unsure if your advisor must act in your best interest? Use this 60-second fiduciary vs suitability check, send a written fiduciary-oath request, then read the firm’s Form ADV fees and conflicts before comparing proposals. Quick questions They confirm […]

Updated July 1, 2026. Losing a spouse is overwhelming. Money tasks can feel urgent, but most decisions do not have to be made today. This guide gives you a simple first-90-days checklist, the advisor questions to ask, and the fee checks to run before you hire anyone. Short answer (2026): In the first 90 days, […]

← Back to RSU withholding guide Updated on July 3, 2026 Quick answer (2026): You can usually DIY a simple RSU situation if you sell as shares vest, keep taxes straightforward, and already have a written diversification plan. Consider hiring a fiduciary financial advisor, RSU financial advisor, or stock options financial advisor when large vests, […]