Questions to ask a financial advisor before hiring them
The specific questions that reveal how an advisor is paid, what standard they're held to, and whether their record is clean — before you sign anything.
A good first meeting with a financial advisor should answer a handful of concrete questions. If any of these get a vague or evasive answer, that's useful information on its own.
"Are you a fiduciary at all times, in writing?"
This is the single most important question. A genuine fiduciary will confirm this clearly. You can verify the answer independently — see our guide on checking fiduciary status.
"How exactly are you compensated?"
Ask for the complete picture: advisory fees, any commissions, and any other compensation from third parties. Ask them to point you to the specific section of their Form ADV Part 2A.
"Do you or your firm have any disclosures?"
Ask directly, then verify independently rather than relying solely on their answer — every firm profile here includes a plain-English disclosure summary sourced from the actual SEC filing.
"What's your investment philosophy and typical client?"
This tells you whether their approach and specialization actually fits your situation, versus a generic pitch.
"Can I see your Form ADV Part 2A?"
They're required to offer you this document. If they hesitate, that's worth noting — it's public information you're entitled to see before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a financial advisor at the first meeting?+
At minimum: whether they're a fiduciary at all times in writing, exactly how they're compensated (including any commissions), whether they or their firm have any disclosures, and to see their Form ADV Part 2A. Verify the answers independently using a public source rather than relying solely on what you're told in the meeting.
Put this into practice
Every firm profile on AdvisorGrade shows real, sourced fiduciary status, fees, and disclosure history from SEC filings — so you can check everything above in a couple of clicks.