I need to hire a retirement advisor. How do I find a fee-only fiduciary near me?

Finding a true fee-only fiduciary retirement advisor ensures that the professional is legally bound to put your best interests first and does not earn commissions from selling specific financial products or insurance policies.

The most reliable way to find one near you is through specialized professional directories that strictly vet members for both a fee-only compensation structure and a fiduciary standard.

• Use the NAPFA Find an Advisor Search to browse members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Every advisor listed here is 100% fee-only and bound to a fiduciary oath 100% of the time.
• Use the Garrett Planning Network Directory if you are looking for fee-only, hourly, or as-needed advice without high asset minimums.
• Use the XY Planning Network Search to find fee-only fiduciaries who specialize in comprehensive financial planning, which is often ideal for Gen X/Millennial retirement planning or flat-fee/monthly retainer models.
• Check the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Website to look up an individual advisor or firm by name or location. You can review their Form ADV (Part 2A brochure) to explicitly verify their fee structure and confirm they operate as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with fiduciary duty.

To help narrow down your search, could you tell me:

• What is your preferred working style (local in-person meetings vs. virtual/remote)?
• Do you prefer paying via an hourly rate , a flat project fee , or an assets-under-management (AUM) percentage?

Absolutely. To find a fee-only fiduciary retirement advisor near you, I need your city/state (or you can share your location).

Once I have that, I can look for local advisors and help you distinguish fee-only + fiduciary advisors from commission-based or dual-registered firms.

• Comal Wealth Management - 2967 Oak Run Pkwy Ste 505 #11, New Braunfels, TX 78132
• Intentional Living FP - 123 N Seguin Ave #202, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Fruit of the Vine Financial, LLC - 2810 Oak Run Pkwy Ste 400, New Braunfels, TX 78132
• Christian Financial Advisors - 130 River Chase Way Ste B, New Braunfels, TX 78132
• Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Clark R Pantel, CFP®|AAMS® - 494 S Seguin Ave #101, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Griffin Asset Management - 1408 N Walnut Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Signature Senior Advisors | Susan Shimp - 2090 I-35 #4117, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• 4LIFE Wealth Advisors - 162 W Mill St, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Georgia Malmsten, CEPA® - 494 S Seguin Ave #101, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Oakwell Private Wealth Management - 1619 E Common St Ste 1101, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Jessica Walker, Co-Founder - Wohlstand Wealth Strategies, LLC - 391 Landa St Ste 1116, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Hoffmann Financial Services - 1424 N Walnut Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: James A Wissmiller, AAMS® - 195 Jahn St, New Braunfels, TX 78130

Yes. Since you’re in the New Braunfels area, I’d focus on fee-only + fiduciary + retirement-planning experience, rather than simply searching for a “financial advisor.”

A few nearby candidates

A fee-only directory currently identifies these New Braunfels advisors as fee-only, fiduciary, and independent:

• Comal Wealth Management — specializes in retirement planning, retirement-income planning, tax planning, and investment management.
• Intentional Living FP — focuses on retirement income, Roth-conversion/withdrawal strategies, tax planning, and investment management.
• Fruit of the Vine Financial, LLC — offers retirement-income planning, tax strategies, estate planning, and investment management.

I'd treat those as starting points, not endorsements. The directory itself discloses that participating advisors pay for listings, so independently vet whoever you interview.

Another good way to search

connect.xyplanningnetwork.com lets you search by Texas location and retirement specialty. Its listed advisors must be CFP® professionals, offer fee-only planning, sign a fiduciary oath, and pass its screening requirements.

napfa.org are also worth checking. NAPFA specifically emphasizes fee-only planning and fiduciary obligations.

What I'd ask before hiring anyone

When you interview 2–3 advisors, ask these questions directly:

1. “Are you fee-only, meaning you receive no commissions or other compensation from investment or insurance products?”
2. “Are you a fiduciary at all times, or only when providing certain services?”
3. “How are you paid—hourly, flat fee, subscription, or percentage of assets?”
4. “Do you specialize in retirement-income planning, rather than primarily managing investments?”
5. “Will you help me decide when and how to take Social Security, pensions, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, and Roth conversions?”
6. “Will you provide tax planning, or do you coordinate with my CPA?”
7. “Do you have an asset minimum?”
8. “Can I hire you for planning without having you manage my investments?”

That last question is particularly useful. If you mainly need a retirement plan rather than someone to manage your portfolio, you may be able to hire a planner for a flat fee and avoid an ongoing percentage-of-assets charge.

If you tell me roughly your age, whether you're already retired or within ~5 years of retirement, and whether you want investment management or just a retirement plan, I can narrow this down to the best 3–5 local/virtual fee-only fiduciaries for your situation and compare their fees and specialties.

When you interview 2–3 advisors, ask these questions directly:

Finding a fee-only, fiduciary retirement advisor who is legally bound to put your best interests first is the gold standard for objective financial guidance. Because "fee-only" means they are compensated strictly by their clients (and do not make money from commissions on selling insurance or mutual funds), conflicts of interest are drastically minimized.

Here are the top directories and steps to find a qualified professional near you:

1. Use specialized fee-only advisor directories. Search dedicated professional organizations that strictly vet their members for both a fee-only compensation structure and a binding fiduciary oath:
   • NAPFA Find an Advisor : The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is the largest professional association dedicated exclusively to fee-only, fiduciary financial planners.
   • XY Planning Network Find an Advisor : Great if you are looking for fiduciary planners who specialize in Gen X/Millennial wealth or offer flexible, monthly, or flat-fee retainer models (many work virtually as well).
   • Garrett Planning Network : Ideal if you want hourly, as-needed, project-based advice without a requirement to hand over your entire life savings for ongoing asset management.
   • The Advice-Only Network : A directory for planners who provide standalone financial planning without managing assets under management (AUM).
2. Verify credentials and regulatory status independently. Once you find a few candidates:
   • Look for the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) designation , which requires rigorous education, testing, and adherence to high ethical standards.
   • Check the advisor's Form ADV (Part 1 and 2A)—a disclosure document filed with the SEC or state regulators. You can search them up using the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure tool to verify they are registered and check their disciplinary history.
3. Interview multiple candidates. Ask direct questions regarding their background and style:
   • "Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time, for all accounts and all recommendations?"
   • "Are you strictly fee-only, or do you ever receive commissions or third-party compensation?"
   • "What percentage of your clientele is already in or near retirement, and what is your specific retirement income strategy philosophy?"

If you want to narrow down your search, tell me:

• Your approximate zip code or state
• Whether you want ongoing asset management or just a one-time retirement roadmap

I can give you more tailored tips on what specific fee structure to look for!

Yes. Since you’re in the Berlin, NH area, I’d look beyond Berlin itself and consider the Lakes Region, Concord, and southern/central New Hampshire—especially because many good fee-only planners work virtually.

A few nearby firms worth interviewing

• Squam Lakes Financial Advisors LLC — Holderness. Fee-only planning with a strong retirement-planning focus; they say they don't require a minimum asset level and offer fixed-fee/hourly support. This looks particularly interesting if you want retirement-income planning rather than just investment management.
• Willow Planning Group — Holderness. Fee-only fiduciary firm led by CFP® professional Kelly Luethje; offers virtual planning as well.
• Valpey Financial Services — Concord. Fee-only planning and investment management, including retirement planning.
• Milestone Financial Planning, LLC — Bedford/Peterborough and other NH locations. Fee-only fiduciary planning with particular emphasis on retirement and tax planning. FeeOnlyNetwork independently lists Milestone among its verified fee-only, fiduciary, independent NH advisors.
• Clark Asset Management, LLC — Portsmouth. Fee-only fiduciary firm with a stated specialization in retirement income planning and a flat-fee approach.

The best way to find more

I'd start with NAPFA's Find an Advisor directory. NAPFA members are fee-only planners who commit to acting in the client's best interest. You can filter for Retirement Planning & Distribution Rules, Social Security, Tax Planning, and different fee structures.

You can also use CFP Board's Find a CFP® Professional and search around your ZIP code, selecting Retirement Planning, Retirement Income Management, Social Security Planning, and Tax Planning. CFP Board also provides a separate tool to verify a planner's certification and disciplinary disclosures.

What I'd ask before hiring anyone

Don't stop at "Are you a fiduciary?" Ask these five questions:

1. Are you fee-only, meaning you receive no commissions or referral compensation?
2. Are you a fiduciary at all times, including when recommending investments or insurance?
3. How are you paid—hourly, flat fee, retainer, or percentage of assets under management?
4. Do you specialize in retirement income, Social Security, Medicare, tax-efficient withdrawals, and required minimum distributions?
5. Can I hire you for planning without having you manage my investments?

That last question is especially important. If you primarily need help deciding when to claim Social Security, how much to withdraw, which accounts to spend first, Roth conversions, Medicare, taxes, and whether your money will last, you may not need to turn over your portfolio to the advisor.

For example, the Garrett Planning Network specifically consists of fee-only fiduciary planners who offer hourly/project-based planning, often without asset minimums.

My recommendation: interview 3 advisors, preferably one local and two who work virtually. Give each the same description of your retirement situation and compare their proposed scope and fee—not just their investment returns.

If you tell me roughly how far you're willing to drive (e.g. 30, 60, or 90 minutes) and whether you want one-time retirement planning or an ongoing advisor, I can narrow this down to 3–5 specific fee-only fiduciaries near you and compare their fees, specialties, and minimums.

Finding a local fee-only fiduciary who specializes in retirement is much easier when you use trusted professional registries that pre-screen advisors for compensation structure and fiduciary status . "Fee-only" means they only get paid directly by clients (no hidden product commissions), and "fiduciary" means they are legally bound to put your best interests first.

Where to Search for Verified Advisors

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) : Use the NAPFA Find an Advisor Search to find comprehensive, strictly fee-only fiduciary planners. Every member must sign an annual fiduciary oath and hold credentials like the CFP®.
• Garrett Planning Network : Search the Garrett Planning Network Directory if you want an advisor who offers hourly, as-needed, or project-based advice often without steep asset minimums.
• XY Planning Network : Use the XY Planning Network Advisor Search to find fee-only fiduciaries (all holding CFP® designations) who specialize in comprehensive financial and retirement planning.

Steps to Verify and Vet Your Choice

1. Check the SEC Database : Go to the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website to look up the advisor or firm. Confirm their registration status and check for any past disciplinary actions.
2. Review Form ADV Part 2 : This disclosure brochure details the firm's business practices, exact fee structure, background, and potential conflicts of interest.
3. Ask the Direct Question : In your initial interview, ask in writing: “Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time for all of the advice and services you provide to me?”

If you'd like, share your approximate location (city/state) or whether you prefer an in-person vs. virtual advisor, and I can give you more tailored tips on narrowing down your options.

To find a fee-only fiduciary retirement advisor , you should use specialized professional directories that vet members for acting as legal fiduciaries (putting your interests first) and operating on a fee-only model (earning money strictly from client fees rather than product commissions). Top matching directories include the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), FeeOnlyNetwork.com, Advice-Only Network (for hourly/flat-fee advice without asset minimums), and Flat Fee Advisors.

Where to Search and Filter

• NAPFA Find an Advisor: The largest professional association dedicated exclusively to fee-only, fiduciary comprehensive financial planners . You can search by your ZIP code and filter by retirement specialties.
• FeeOnlyNetwork.com: Allows you to search thousands of independent, verified local and virtual fee-only professionals without data-selling lead generators.
• Advice-Only Network: Best if you want flat-fee or hourly retirement planning guidance and do not want an advisor to manage or take a percentage of your nest egg.
• Flat Fee Advisors Directory: Helps locate fiduciary planners who charge clear, fixed project or subscription rates rather than standard asset-under-management (AUM) percentages.

Key Steps to Verify an Advisor

1. Confirm Fiduciary Status in Writing: Ask the planner directly if they act as a fiduciary at all times (not just sometimes) and request it stated in their Form ADV Part 2A or client agreement.
2. Check the Fee Structure: Ensure they are strictly fee-only (paid by you via hourly, flat, retainer, or AUM fees) and not fee-based (which allows them to collect commissions on insurance or specific products alongside fees).
3. Verify Credentials: Look for designations like CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) or CPA/PFS which indicate rigorous ongoing education standards regarding tax and retirement income planning.

If you share your ZIP code or state and whether you prefer an in-person or virtual advisor , I can point you toward regional directories or specific local networks.

Absolutely. Since you’re in the Charlotte area, there are several promising fee-only, fiduciary firms nearby. I’d focus on retirement-income planning, not just investment management.

Good Charlotte-area starting points

• NorthStar Capital Advisors — Particularly worth considering if you’re 50+ and approaching retirement. Its specialty is retirement, income, tax, investment, insurance, and estate planning.
• Level Wealth Management — Fee-only/flat-fee planning with an emphasis on retirement and tax planning; NAPFA lists Drew Cook as a Charlotte fee-only planner using a flat-retainer model.
• NoDa Wealth Management — NAPFA-listed fee-only fiduciary in Charlotte, offering both hourly planning and comprehensive wealth management.
• Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC — Fee-only planning with retirement-income planning and scenario analysis; offers flat-fee and hourly arrangements.
• The Hourly Advisor — A potentially attractive option if you don't want someone managing your investments and primarily want independent retirement-planning advice.
• Greenway Wealth Advisors, LLC — Fee-only, NAPFA-registered advisors with a particular focus on high-income professionals and active retirees.

How I'd screen them

When you call, ask these five questions:

1. “Are you fee-only, meaning you receive no commissions or compensation from investment or insurance products?”
2. “Will you act as a fiduciary for me for the entire engagement?”
3. “Do you specialize in retirement-income planning, including Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and required minimum distributions?”
4. “How are you paid—hourly, flat fee, retainer, or percentage of assets?”
5. “What is the total annual cost for someone with my situation?”

I'd strongly prefer an advisor who can explain how much you'll pay in dollars, rather than simply saying their fee is "competitive."

Use NAPFA as your primary directory

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a particularly useful place to search. NAPFA's registered-advisor requirements include being fee-only, having CFP® certification, signing its Fiduciary Oath, and undergoing third-party ADV review.

You can also use the Garrett Planning Network, whose members are required to be fee-only and fiduciary and generally offer hourly or project-based planning.

My suggestion: interview 3 advisors, and don't hire the first one. Ask each to describe how they'd approach your retirement in the first year. The differences in philosophy, fees, and services will become much clearer.

If you tell me your approximate age, when you want to retire, and whether you want investment management or just retirement-planning advice, I can narrow this to 3–5 Charlotte advisors that look like the best fit and compare their fee structures and specialties.

Finding a true fee-only fiduciary retirement advisor requires looking in the right directories, as terms like "fee-based" or "financial consultant" can sometimes blur the lines between objective advice and commission-driven sales . A fee-only advisor is paid solely by the client (via hourly rates, flat fees, or a percentage of assets), and a fiduciary is legally bound to put your best interests first.

Here is a step-by-step guide to finding and vetting one near you:

1. Use Trusted, Vetted Directories
   • Search the NAPFA Find an Advisor Directory : The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors has the strictest requirements—every single member must operate on a strict fee-only model and adhere to a fiduciary oath. You can filter results by your zip code and retirement specialties.
   • Search the Garrett Planning Network Directory : Ideal if you want hourly, as-needed, or project-based advice without having to hand over your nest egg to ongoing asset management. Many members have no asset minimums.
   • Search the XY Planning Network Search Portal : Though heavily populated by planners targeting Gen X/Y, you can filter for retirement specialists who offer monthly subscription models, flat project fees, or advice-only services.
2. Verify Their Credentials and Background
   • Check the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Database : Look up the advisor or their firm's Form ADV Part 2 brochure. This legal document explicitly details how they make money, their fee structures, and whether they have any disciplinary history.
   • Cross-reference with FINRA BrokerCheck : Be cautious if an advisor is heavily registered as a broker, as that can indicate a dual-registration history where commissions are permitted.
3. Interview Candidates with Direct Questions
   • Ask them explicitly: "Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time, and will you sign a written fiduciary oath to that effect?"
   • Ask: "Do you or your firm ever receive commissions, referral fees, or compensation of any kind from selling financial, insurance, or annuity products?" (The answer must be a flat "no").
   • Clarify how they charge for retirement planning—whether it is an Assets Under Management (AUM) percentage (commonly 1% ), a flat project fee for a comprehensive retirement roadmap, or an hourly rate.

To help narrow down the best path forward, tell me:

• Do you prefer an advisor to actively manage your investment portfolio (AUM), or do you want advice-only/hourly help while you manage the funds yourself?
• What is your general location (city/state)?

Yes. Since you’re in the Las Vegas/Winchester area, there are several nearby firms that specifically identify as fee-only fiduciaries.

A good way to narrow it down

Start with NAPFA, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. NAPFA members commit to a fee-only model and fiduciary standards, making it one of the better places to build a shortlist.

For your situation, I'd interview 3 advisors, rather than simply picking the closest office.

Local firms worth investigating

• AIO Fee Only Financial Advisors — Las Vegas; explicitly fee-only and fiduciary, with retirement and tax planning. Their model is ongoing planning/investment management and they report a $4,000 annual minimum fee.
• Micah Landis - Mountain View Financial Advisors — Las Vegas; describes itself as an independent, fee-only fiduciary practice.
• Diazo Wealth — Henderson; fee-only planning with retirement, pension and tax analysis; offers hourly, AUM or combinations depending on the engagement.
• Cadenza Financial Planning — Henderson/virtual; fee-only fiduciary with a tax-forward approach and published menu-style pricing.
• Desert Crest Financial — Henderson; specifically focuses on people approaching or in retirement, including retirement income, tax planning and investments.
• RetireWire — Las Vegas; particularly retirement-focused and associated with the fee-only fiduciary Redrock Wealth Management team. Redrock describes itself as pure fee-only with no commissions.

There's also a useful Las Vegas directory at FeeOnlyNetwork that says its listed Las Vegas advisors are verified as fee-only, fiduciary and independent.

The questions I'd ask before hiring anyone

Ask these verbatim:

1. “Are you fee-only, meaning you receive no commissions or other compensation from investment or insurance products?”
2. “Are you a fiduciary for me at all times, not just when providing investment advice?”
3. “Do you have a CFP®?”
4. “How are you paid—AUM, hourly, flat fee, or a combination?”
5. “What would my total annual cost be, including investment-management fees and underlying fund expenses?”
6. “Do you help with Social Security, Medicare, taxes, Roth conversions, required minimum distributions and retirement-income planning?”
7. “Will you coordinate with my CPA and estate attorney?”
8. “Can I hire you for planning without having you manage my investments?”

That last question is especially important. If you primarily need a retirement plan, you may not need to turn over your entire portfolio and pay a percentage of your assets every year. A flat-fee or hourly fiduciary can sometimes be a better fit.

Also, don't be satisfied with someone simply calling themselves a "fiduciary." Fee-only describes compensation; fiduciary describes the duty owed to you. They're related but aren't identical concepts.

If you tell me roughly how much you have saved for retirement (e.g. $500k, $1M, $2M+), whether you're already retired, and whether you want investment management or just retirement planning, I can narrow these down to the 3 I'd interview and compare their fees/services.