Fee-only advisors work solely for their clients and are compensated only by a previously agreed upon fee. Therefore, they can be completely objective in their evaluation and can recommend a course of action based only on strategic financial considerations. Fee-only advisors do not accept commissions or receive any other compensation. The result is an unbiased overview by professionals who are working solely for their clients.

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is the largest organization of fee-only planners. Fee-only planners believe that a significant conflict of interest exists if a n advisor stnds to personally gain financially from the purchase of any product he or she recommends to the client.

NAPFA has been endorsed by the AARP, the Consumer Federation of America and many state regulators.