A second opinion, one question at a time
These pages answer the questions people ask when they start second-guessing their advisor or their fees. Each one takes a single question and answers it plainly, with the public records and the steps behind it. Every page ends with the same offer: a complimentary review of what you own, what it costs all in, and what I would change.
Fees and costs
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What does a financial advisor cost in Utah?
The four ways advisors charge, the costs layered underneath the fee, and how to find your own all-in number from statements and Form ADV Part 2A.
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Am I paying too much for my financial advisor?
How to put what you pay in dollars, weigh it against the work you get, spot the warning signs, and what to do if the answer is yes.
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Fee-only vs. fee-based: what’s the difference?
One word apart: who pays the advisor under each label, who defines the terms, and how to check which one yours is.
Fiduciary and registration
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Fee-only fiduciary financial advisor in Sandy, Utah
What fee-only and fiduciary mean, why Harvest Lane is registered with Utah rather than the SEC, and how to verify both on public records.
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How do I check whether my financial advisor is a fiduciary?
Where to look an advisor up (IAPD, BrokerCheck, the Utah Division of Securities), what Form ADV tells you, and what to ask if they are registered both ways.
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What should I ask before hiring a financial advisor?
Five questions to ask before you hire anyone, and where to check each answer on the public record.
Switching advisors
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How do I switch financial advisors, and what happens to my accounts?
How an ACATS transfer works, what moves in kind, what can get stuck, and how to keep an IRA move from turning taxable.
What you own
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How do I get a second opinion on my portfolio?
What to gather, who should do the review, what it should cover, and how to tell a second opinion from a sales pitch.