How To Get The Financial Advice That's Right For You!

We took a deep dive into the financial advice marketplace to find the best adviser for you.

- Sandra Block And Lisa Gerstner

THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY AND REGULATORY REFORMS, the financial advice industry is undergoing a tectonic shift. You now have more options if you’re seeking advice from a planner who is committed to looking out for your best interests. And if you shop hard enough, you can find that advice for a lower cost. If you don’t require a lot of hand-holding, you can get guidance on how to invest your retirement savings for less than the cost of a Broadway show. Need a real live planner to help you manage your student loans or talk you off the ledge every time the market hiccups? You may be able to find one for less than you pay for your monthly cable bill.

You’ll still need to put some time into the search because finding the right fit isn’t easy, says Michael Kitces, a partner at the Pinnacle Advisory Group. Kitces is also co-founder of XY Planning Network, an organization of financial planners who target millennial and Generation X clients and accept no compensation from selling financial products (see page 28 for more on XY). The financial advice business can make it “painfully difficult to find and select an adviser,” he says.