fiduciary

By Maura C. Schauss, CFP®

There are 135 different certifications for financial advisors, and most of them begin with the letter “C”: CFPs, ChFCs, CPAs, CLUs, CFSs, and the list goes on. With an alphabet soup of certifications, how do you find a financial professional who’s right for you?

According to a recent survey, most high-income households want their advisors to have these qualifications:[1]

By Todd I. Youngdahl, CFP®

If you’ve spent any time researching financial advisors, you’ve probably come across the term Fee-Only. It’s used to describe registered investment advisors, and it’s one of the best words you can hear when searching for a financial expert.

But what does it mean? And why is it important when you are evaluating financial advisors?

Today we’ll address what it means to be a fee-only financial advisor—and why we at Washington Wealth Advisors pride ourselves on this one little phrase.

By Maura C. Schauss, CFP®

In the news, the word “fiduciary” has been thrown around a lot in regards to financial advisors and their duties. The concept can seem confusing to people, as many assume that all advisors, whether they’re stockbrokers or financial planners, are required to act in their client’s best interest. But that’s not the reality. It’s important to understand the distinction between different types of advisors’ roles and what it means for you and your money.

by Maura C. Schauss, CFP®

You may have heard in the media that on April 6, the long-anticipated fiduciary rules from the Department of Labor were issued. These new regulations are expected to significantly impact how people save for retirement and protect families from conflicted retirement advice.