This Is What a Great Financial Advisor Looks Like in 2025

When we started in the industry almost twenty years ago, being a “financial advisor” meant something very different than it does today. We should know, we’ve been on both sides of the table. We’ve worked inside major asset management firms, and now we sit alongside families as their trusted partner.

Back then, financial advice often meant stock tips over steak dinners. Or someone selling you a bond you didn’t fully understand. The advisor’s job was mostly about picking investments.

But the world evolved…let me break it down:

1. The Stock Picker Era: Advisors were essentially salespeople. Their job? Help you buy individual stocks and bonds. Advice was transactional. Compensation was commission-based. And the question they answered was: “What should I buy?”
   

2. The Asset Allocator Era: Then came modern portfolio theory. Diversification! Risk tolerance! Advisors became more focused on building investment portfolios across asset classes. Still, the job was mostly about investments.
   

3. The Life-Centered Planning Era (Where We Are Now): Today’s best advisors look more like a CFO for your family. They help you align your money with your values, plan for the life you want, and adapt to change. Investments? Yes. But also taxes, equity comp, real estate, career decisions, aging parents, and what legacy means to you.

Even today, the term “financial advisor” isn’t regulated. Anyone can use it, regardless of training, credentials, or whether they’re legally required to act in your best interest.

In fact, over 300,000 people in the U.S. currently call themselves financial advisors. But only about one third, or 105,000 of those, are Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®). The CFP® credential reflects deep, rigorous training in comprehensive planning. And when it comes to working exclusively in your best interest, the number shrinks even further. Only about 5% of advisors are fee-only fiduciaries, meaning they don’t accept commissions and are legally bound to put you first at all times. This matters because incentives shape behavior, and you deserve advice that’s clean, not conflicted.

These statistics are eye-opening, and a powerful set of reasons to dig deeper before you hire someone. 

At Mana, we know we can’t work with everyone we’d love to serve, but we still want to share what we’ve learned over the years so all of our readers can choose wisely when it comes to financial advice.

What follows in this blog post is a guide we’d feel good about giving our own friends and family– highlighting the five essential areas to focus on as you evaluate or interview a financial advisor.

1. Start With the Fiduciary Question

Ask: Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?

This one is non-negotiable in our view. A fiduciary is legally and ethically required to act in your best interest, not just when it’s convenient for them, not just when you ask. They are required to do this all the time.

Many advisors operate under what's called a "suitability standard,” which means they can recommend something that’s technically okay for you…even if it pays them more. This structure is too murky for our liking.

At Mana, we are fiduciaries in all circumstances. That means no commissions, no hidden incentives - just advice that’s transparent, aligned, and centered on what’s best for you. This is the foundation of trust, and you deserve nothing less.

2. Choose a CFP®: The Gold Standard in Planning

Not all advisors are created equal. The CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™) designation is the highest standard in the industry for comprehensive financial planning. 

Above the rigorous demands of initial training and certification, CFP®s are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their certification, ensuring they stay current with changing laws, regulations, and best practices. This requirement doesn't exist for uncertified planners. The designation also requires at least 6,000 hours of relevant financial planning experience (or 4,000 hours through an apprenticeship). This ensures they have practical, hands-on experience beyond just theoretical knowledge. Beyond this, the CFP Board provides regulatory oversight and maintains public records of any disciplinary actions.

At Mana, we’ve trained extensively in investment strategy, tax planning, estate planning, insurance, retirement forecasting, and ethical conduct. But more than technical skill, we bring strategy, empathy, and real-world wisdom to the table. We don’t just optimize your portfolio. We help you make confident decisions across your whole financial life.

3. Go Beyond the Numbers: Find a Financial Life Planner

This is the soul of our work.

At Mana, we don’t begin with your money, we begin with your life. We were trained by George Kinder, the pioneer of the life planning movement, and we’re proud to be a team with Registered Life Planners®.

Financial life planning is about uncovering what truly matters before making a single financial recommendation. It’s a process of reconnecting with your purpose, your values, and your most meaningful aspirations. Only then can a financial plan do what it’s meant to do: support a life that feels whole, fulfilling, and uniquely yours.

We believe financial planning isn’t about accumulating the most; it’s about aligning your money with your purpose, your values, your vision. That’s where transformation happens.

4. Ask the Right Questions

Choosing a financial advisor isn’t just a technical decision, it’s an emotional one. You’re choosing a partner to walk with you through career changes, family milestones, hard pivots, and big dreams.

Here are a few must-ask questions (inspired by Jason Zweig and AJ Ayers), along with how we would answer at Mana:

How do you get paid?

We’re fee-only. That means we’re paid directly by you - not by product providers or fund companies. No commissions. No selling. Just advice that’s clean and clear.

Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?

Yes. Always. It’s not a line, it’s a legal and ethical commitment.

Do you work with people like me?

Our clients are purpose-driven professionals, creatives, founders, and families who want to be intentional with their time, money, and energy. If you want your financial plan to reflect your life, not just your investments, you’re in the right place.

How will you help me align my money with my values?

We begin with what matters most to you. Your values, not just your goals, shape every recommendation we make.

What happens between meetings?

We’re highly responsive, human, and here when life shifts. We offer proactive updates and ongoing support, not just “see you next quarter” emails. You get a team that’s thinking ahead with you.

5. Trust the Vibe Check

You’re not looking for a wizard with a crystal ball. You’re looking for someone who listens. Someone who makes you feel safe, seen, and supported. The right advisor will ask thoughtful questions and listen more than they speak. They’ll help you slow down, take a breath, and reconnect with what truly matters. They’ll bring clarity, not complexity.

At Mana, we often hear from clients: “I feel lighter after talking with you.” That feeling is our north star. We’re here to help you feel less burdened, more clear, and deeply aligned. 

Final Thought

Remember that money is emotional. It touches every part of your life: your security, your relationships, your sense of possibility. A great advisor doesn’t just “handle your finances.” They help you live a better life. We’d urge you to choose someone who sees you (the whole you!), and not just your net worth. Choose an advisor who knows that spreadsheets are just the beginning, and that real wealth is living aligned with what you love.

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Stephanie Bucko and Cristina Livadary are fee-only financial planners based in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie is the Chief Investment Officer and Cristina is the Chief Executive Officer at Mana Financial Life Design (FLD). Mana FLD provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to help clients grow and protect their wealth throughout life’s journey. Mana FLD specializes in advising ambitious professionals who seek financial knowledge and want to implement creative budgeting, savings, proactive planning and powerful investment strategies. As fee-only fiduciaries and independent financial advisors, Stephanie and Cristina never receive commission of any kind. Stephanie and Cristina are legally bound by their certifications to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.