Finding the Right Financial Advisor for You

In our noisy world, it can be difficult to determine which financial advisor is best for you and your family. However, there are core questions you can ask that will greatly increase your ability to find the right match.

1. Are they a fiduciary?

A firm with a fiduciary responsibility is legally required to make recommendations with your best interest in mind. Rather than selling an investment product for compensation, a fiduciary is required by law to ensure their recommendations are truly what is best for you. Financial strategy provided by the Team at Buttonwood Financial Group is focused around our fiduciary duty.

2. What is their investment strategy?

Investment management comes in all shapes and sizes. Some firms require each advisor to develop investment strategy for their specific clients. Other firms focus on a single strategy for all their clients. It’s important to make sure the firm you are interviewing has an investment strategy that matches your specific needs. At Buttonwood, our Investment Policy Committee (IPC) manages assets for our own investments as well as our clients’. The objective of our IPC is to produce a more consistent rate of return over full economic cycles. With a more consistent rate of return, our lifetime cash flow, tax, insurance and other financial strategies have a much higher probability of success. Read how Buttonwood’s IPC manages assets.

3. Investment Manager vs Wealth Manager / Family CFO

Often, firms will claim to have your full financial picture in mind when really, they are only looking at one piece of the puzzle; Investment management. While investments are a very important part of your financial strategy, they are just one piece. Wealth managers typically have a more comprehensive approach. Buttonwood is a Wealth Management firm and our approach is unique. For the same reason a business would hire a CFO, we serve as Family CFO for our clients. We coordinate comprehensive tax, insurance, estate, investment, cash flow, retirement, education and business strategies. We not only make specific recommendations, we also implement, monitor and adjust strategy as you and your family move through life. We do the work to provide you with more time to appreciate your wealth.

If these ideas resonate, simply click here to schedule an informal conversation to learn how our Family CFO services can benefit your and your family.

Recent Buttonwood Articles


December 12, 2025
As year-end approaches, many clients focus on charitable giving—supporting causes they care about while optimizing their tax strategy. This year carries added urgency: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will significantly change charitable giving rules in 2026.
Buttonwood Investment Policy Committee Update
By Jon McGraw November 24, 2025
Maintain diversification as one of our risk management tools, focusing on our high-conviction ideas that tie with where we feel we are in the economic cycle.
Buttonwood Investment Policy Committee Update
By Kyle Hogan September 26, 2025
Our Investment Policy Committee (IPC) remains focused on balancing opportunity with discipline as markets continue to react to shifting economic and geopolitical dynamics. Following a volatile start to the year, recent developments have created a more constructive environment for risk assets, though caution remains war
Inside the Capitol Building, where the
By Jon McGraw July 21, 2025
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. Learn what that means for business owners.
Blind Spots in Business Panel
By Macy Vulgamore June 11, 2025
Insights from Experts in Wealth Management, Insurance, HR, and Legal Strategy
Buttonwood Financial Group Investment Policy Committee Update
By Kyle Hogan May 28, 2025
Our Investment Policy Committee (IPC) once again emphasized the importance of patience and discipline amid market volatility, particularly following the sharp but short-lived selloff earlier this year.

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