Choosing an Advisor When Single

A single woman nearing retirement sits down with her account statements. One question is now in front of her: Who should have a seat beside me in the next stage of my financial life? She has managed her finances thoughtfully for years. She has decided that professional advice belongs in what comes next. Now she wants help without losing her voice in the process.

If you and a partner are making this decision together, read Choosing an Advisor as a Couple.

If you recognize yourself in that moment, the choice is wider than just those who have the right credentials. You are also deciding who can help you understand the choices ahead while respecting that they remain yours.

Retirement advice often touches decisions that affect one another. A choice about income can affect taxes. Medicare or estate questions may require another professional. An advisor should help you see those connections and know when another voice belongs in the conversation.

A useful way to compare advisors is to look beyond the label at three things: the professional baseline, the work, and the relationship.

Start with a clear professional baseline

Dovetail recommends beginning with a fee-only fiduciary who is also a CFP® professional. Treat those features as a screening standard, not proof of complete fit.

Investment advisers must act in a client’s best interest and cannot put their interests ahead of the client’s.[1] CFP Board requires a CFP® professional to act as a fiduciary whenever providing Financial Advice.[2] NAPFA defines Fee-Only advisors as being compensated only by clients. Its definition excludes compensation tied to buying or selling financial products.[3]

These standards can narrow the field. They do not prove retirement experience or eliminate conflicts. They also do not tell you whether the working relationship will fit the way you make decisions.

Look at the retirement work behind the credentials

Instead of asking only whether the firm offers retirement planning, ask the advisor to explain how the work unfolds. How would the advisor help you evaluate a retirement income decision? Which assumptions would be made visible? When might another professional need to be involved?

Clarify which work the firm performs directly. Then ask how the advisor coordinates with other professionals when their knowledge is needed.

Some advice is delivered for a project or by the hour. Other relationships are designed to continue for years.[4] Ask what each arrangement includes and how future questions are handled. An ongoing relationship should revisit decisions when your life or the assumptions behind the plan change.

Dovetail Principle: Financial Decisions Need to Fit Together

Retirement decisions rarely fit into a single category. Ask the advisor to show what a recommendation changes. Then ask which assumptions matter and what should be reviewed later. The explanation should help you assess the advice without requiring you to take on every professional role yourself.

Look for a relationship that protects your voice

A useful advisory relationship adds support while keeping your authority visible. Ask who will work with you and how questions are handled between meetings. Find out what happens if your primary advisor is unavailable.

You may keep the relationship between you and the advisory team. You may invite a trusted family member into selected conversations. You may also ask the advisor to coordinate with your CPA or estate attorney. In each arrangement, you should understand who is included and what authority they have.

Pay attention to what happens when you ask a careful question. A useful advisor explains the reasoning behind a recommendation. The advisor should identify important assumptions and say what may need to be reviewed later.

A January 2025 study examined 626 financial-planning clients in Canada. The study found associations between communication between meetings and both trust and commitment.[8] It does not show that communication alone caused either outcome. It does reinforce the value of understanding how an advisor stays in touch when questions arise.

Verify what the records can—and cannot—show

Ask how often the advisor works with people nearing retirement who make their own financial decisions. Ask for examples of the issues the firm handles regularly. Then ask what falls outside the service.

CFP certification includes education, examination, and experience requirements.[5] It also includes an ethics requirement.[5] The credential is an important baseline. It does not prove retirement specialization or relationship fit.

Fee-only firms may still differ in price and scope. Ask how the fee is calculated and what it includes. Then ask what could create an additional cost.

Form CRS summarizes services and costs.[6] It also describes conflicts and the required standard of conduct. The document also addresses legal or disciplinary history. Form ADV Part 2 provides more detail about business practices and fees. The brochure supplement describes the background of people providing advice.[6]

These records can verify specific facts. They cannot prove complete quality or competence. They also cannot prove trustworthiness or fit. A title or a friend’s referral should not replace independent verification.[7]

FINRA recommends checking registration and disciplinary history. It also recommends asking about services and compensation.[7] Ask about credentials and relevant experience too.[7] Compare the written record with what the advisor tells you.

Make the decision based on what you can see

No credential or disclosure can predict a perfect relationship. You are looking for a professional baseline you can verify, work that fits the retirement decisions ahead, and a relationship you can actually use.

When those pieces line up, the choice may feel steadier because you can see what you are relying on. Before choosing, ask one final question: Can I see how this advisor will help me understand the decisions ahead while keeping my voice in the process?

Related Reading: Why Some Financial Planning Conversations Need More Than One Meeting

About the author

Ross Marino, CFP®, CeFT®, is the Founder & CEO of Dovetail Financial and creator of Human-First Financial Guidance®. He helps people nearing or living in retirement connect their lives and wealth so that financial decisions become clearer, more personal, and easier to navigate.

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Notes

1. “Investment Advisers”, Investor.gov (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission).
2. “Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct”, CFP Board.
3. “Our Standards for Membership”, National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.
4. “How to Get Financial Advice Without Breaking the Bank”, Jean Chatzky, AARP, February 27, 2024.
5. “The Certification Process”, CFP Board.
6. “Investor Bulletin: Form ADV – Investment Adviser Brochure and Brochure Supplement”, Investor.gov (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), updated August 27, 2020.
7. “Working With an Investment Professional”, FINRA.
8. “Building Trust, Commitment, and Satisfaction Through Effective Intersession Communication: The Moderating Effect of Financial Anxiety”, Megan McCoy and Ashlyn Rollins-Koons, Journal of Financial Planning, January 2025.

Disclosure

This content is provided by Dovetail Financial Group LLC (“Dovetail Financial”) for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be construed as, individualized investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice; a recommendation to buy or sell any security; or a recommendation to adopt any investment strategy. Because each person’s situation is unique, readers should consult their own financial, tax, and legal professionals before taking action based on this content.

Information contained herein is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed. Any opinions expressed are current as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee profits or protect against losses in declining markets. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Dovetail Financial Group LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about Dovetail Financial Group LLC, including Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS, is available at adviserinfo.sec.gov. © 2026 Dovetail Financial Group LLC. All rights reserved.