How we work

Fiduciary, always.

Fiduciary is not a marketing term for us - it is a legal standard we are held to on every recommendation we make. We are fee-only, independent, and structurally incapable of earning money from the products we recommend.

What it actually means

A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest - not just recommend something adequate, not just avoid outright fraud, but actively put your interests ahead of their own. Most financial advisors are not held to this standard.

The majority of brokers, insurance agents, and bank-affiliated advisors operate under a "suitability" standard. This means they can recommend a product that earns them a commission, as long as it is technically appropriate for your situation - even if a better, cheaper alternative exists.

As a registered investment adviser (RIA), Avance is a fiduciary at all times. This is not a designation we can turn on and off depending on the type of advice we are giving.

Fee-only

We are compensated exclusively by our clients - through advisory fees on assets managed or flat fees for planning engagements. We receive zero commissions, zero referral fees, and zero revenue sharing from any product or platform.

Independent

We have no parent company, no proprietary products, and no institutional quotas. Our investment recommendations are made from the full universe of available options - not limited to products our employer manufactures.

Fiduciary vs. suitability
Standard
Fiduciary (Avance)
Suitability (most brokers)
Legal standard
Must act in your best interest at all times
Must recommend "suitable" products - not necessarily the best
Compensation
Fee-only: paid by you, not by products
May earn commissions, 12b-1 fees, or revenue sharing
Conflicts of interest
Required to disclose and eliminate conflicts
Conflicts may exist and need not be eliminated
Investment selection
Must recommend the best available option for your situation
Can recommend higher-cost options if they are "suitable"
Ongoing duty
Fiduciary duty applies continuously
Duty typically applies only at point of sale
Transparency
Full fee and conflict disclosure required
Limited disclosure requirements
The question to ask every advisor

"Are you a fiduciary for all of the advice you give me, all of the time?"

A simple yes or no. If the answer is anything other than yes - if there are exceptions, caveats, or a need to "check on that" - you are not working with a fiduciary. Ask for it in writing.

Our answer

Yes. Always.

Every recommendation we make - whether on investments, insurance, tax strategy, or estate planning - is made under our fiduciary duty to you. There are no carve-outs, no product lines, no exceptions.

Work with an advisor who is on your side.

Schedule a discovery call to see how independent, fiduciary advice changes the planning conversation.

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