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Start Here: Compare Advisor Rates, Fees & Local Guides

Clear Money Guide

Choose your path

Start with the decision that matches what you need now.

Start Here

Updated on

In 30 seconds: choose the advisor-fee question in front of you, compare the advisor rate in annual dollars, and move to the rates chart, calculator, near-me guide, local fee guide, or fiduciary checklist that fits.

Quick routes

Start with the shortest path for the decision in front of you.

Popular advisor-fee routes

Jump to the page that matches the quote or advisor search in front of you.

Your 3-step path

  1. Turn the quote into dollars. Convert AUM percentages, flat annual fees, retainers, hourly/project quotes, and fund/platform costs into annual dollars.
  2. Compare scope before price. Check what is included, who does the work, how often you meet, and what becomes out-of-scope.
  3. Take one next step. Use the relevant tool, open a local guide, or ask a fiduciary advisor for a written fee-and-scope answer.

What brings you here?

What to expect on a first call

  • Clear fee in dollars (not just a %).
  • Scope & cadence: what’s included, how often you’ll meet, turnaround time.
  • Three priorities (e.g., guardrails paycheck, Roth windows, equity comp).

Keep it simple: one call, three questions, one decision.

Questions or spotted an issue?

Tell us what you need and we’ll improve it. We read every note.

What to do next

How We Make Money

We’re reader-supported. When you click a “Talk to a fiduciary advisor” button, we may earn a referral—at no cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

Already decided on fee-only? Go straight to fee-only financial advisor near me for how to vet fee-only pricing and scope before an intro call.

Moving state in retirement?

Four taxes change when a retiree moves, not one: state income tax on withdrawals, state estate tax, state inheritance tax, and what probate costs the heirs. Most comparisons price only the first, which is why the usual advice is wrong for whole states — Illinois and Pennsylvania already exempt retirement withdrawals, so moving to Florida saves those retirees nothing on income tax and the real money is at death. See retirement tax relocation for statute-cited corridor comparisons, compare any two states with the comparison tool, or rank all 51 for your own numbers with the personalised ranker.

The full decision index

Every decision guide on this site, grouped by the moment it applies to:

Roth conversions

New this week: five decision calculators

Compute it before anyone pitches you: home-sale capital gains and the §121 exclusion · executor fees in the 8 statutory states · surrendering a life insurance policy · self-insuring long-term care · 529-to-Roth rollovers. Plus the statute-verified transfer-on-death deed state table.

Looking for how your own state compares? See the full state-by-state guide index, all 35 comparison tables grouped by topic.

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