“Fee-only” sounds clean, but incentives can still bend advice. Assets-under-management fees reward gathering and keeping your money—even when paying down debt or buying a house might be smarter. Custodians, model portfolios, and referral platforms can create subtle pressures you never see. The antidote is clear questions that force plain-English answers in dollars, not jargon in percentages. Ask these 10 and you’ll spot misalignment before it costs you.
