Implementing the Advice Only™ Methodology in Financial Planning

Description

This course explores how financial planners can deliver objective, client-centered advice by applying the core principles of the Advice Only™ methodology. While fiduciary duty defines an advisor’s legal and ethical obligations, structural separation operationalizes fiduciary duty by removing the incentive conflicts that compromise client loyalty. The session covers the “Two Masters Problem” found in traditional compensation models, introduces a four-step planning process for conflict-free advice, and reviews regulatory enforcement cases where fiduciary plus disclosure alone failed. It also examines privacy-by-design and technology ethics as extensions of fiduciary responsibility, ensuring that both advice delivery and client data handling remain conflict-free. By the end of the session, participants will have a repeatable process for delivering advice that is structurally objective, transparent, and aligned with CFP Board standards of professional conduct.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this program, participants will be able to: Analyze and articulate how structural conflicts (AUM, commission, referral incentives) can undermine the effectiveness of fiduciary duty. Describe the core principles of the Advice Only™ methodology, including structural separation, truth-in-advertising, and process repeatability. Implement a four-step planning process to deliver objective and transparent advice. Apply compliance lessons from SEC enforcement cases to strengthen fiduciary practice. Discuss privacy-by-design principles and how technology ethics extend fiduciary duty in the digital age.