Fiduciary
A financial professional legally required to act in your best interest.
Why it matters
Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) are fiduciaries under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Broker-dealers are held to the Reg BI "best-interest" standard — related but weaker. Fee-only fiduciaries have the fewest built-in conflicts of interest.
See also
Educational only — not financial, tax, or legal advice.