01
Who will actually work on my plan?
Ask whether the relationship is handled by one advisor, a team, a planning department, an investment committee, outside specialists, or a service desk.
Advisor Selection
Questions to ask before hiring an advisor for complex wealth.
Complex wealth usually involves more than an investment account. Use these questions to understand how an advisor organizes planning, liquidity, private assets, family coordination, technology, fees, conflicts, and fit.
02
Can I see an illustrative planning deliverable?
A sample can show whether the advisor's work is organized, documented, and specific enough for a complex balance sheet.
03
How do you coordinate with CPAs and estate attorneys?
Complex wealth often requires tax and legal coordination. The advisor should be clear about what they do, what outside professionals do, and how decisions are documented.
04
How do you model liquidity and retirement timing?
Ask how the advisor evaluates cash reserves, spending needs, major purchases, tax events, illiquid assets, and the point at which work can become optional.
05
How do you evaluate private debt, private equity, angel investments, real estate, and future capital calls?
Private assets can create opportunity, risk, and liquidity constraints. Ask how the advisor models delayed exits, missed distributions, write-downs, and capital-call funding.
06
How do you handle education funding for multiple children?
The answer should address timing, fairness, account structure, family priorities, and coordination with the rest of the balance sheet.
07
How do you think about concentrated stock, business value, or token exposure?
A useful answer should separate conviction from dependence and explain how diversification, liquidity, tax coordination, and risk review are documented.
08
How do you use AI and analytics without allowing them to make client decisions?
Ask what humans review, what the technology is allowed to do, what it is not allowed to do, and how client-facing recommendations are approved.
09
What are your fees and conflicts?
Ask for the Form ADV, Form CRS, advisory agreement, fee schedule, referral arrangements, custody relationships, brokerage relationships, and any compensation conflicts.
10
What would make me not a good fit?
A fiduciary advisor should be willing to explain when their service model, investment approach, complexity level, or fee structure is not the right match.
A good answer should be specific
Listen for a clear process, named responsibilities, documented decisions, coordination boundaries, and plain disclosure of fees and conflicts. Be cautious when an answer depends on vague promises, opaque automation, unsupported certainty, or a single asset class as the whole plan.
This page is educational and general. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, estate, insurance, or custody advice. Advisory services are provided only under a signed advisory agreement.