Key Takeaways
- Industry research estimates that working with a financial advisor can add up to 4.92% in value per year, depending on the time period and how returns are calculated, with the largest share, about 2.3 percentage points, coming from behavioral coaching rather than investment selection.¹
- An advisor’s value has two parts: behavioral (staying invested through volatility) and long-term planning (keeping goals, tax strategy, and investment decisions on track over time).
- The single most important thing to confirm when choosing an advisor is the fiduciary standard. A fiduciary is required to act in your best interest.
- Credentials signal depth across what an advisor actually does: planning (CFP®), investments (CFA®, CAIA®), high-net-worth and specialized needs (CPWA®, CDFA®), tax (CPA), and retirement-plan fiduciary oversight (CPFA®).
Is a financial advisor worth it? For most investors, the research says yes, and the reasons fall into two categories. One is behavioral: an advisor helps you stay invested and level-headed when markets are uncomfortable. The other is long-term planning: keeping goals, tax strategy, and investment decisions on track over time, something that’s hard to sustain without someone dedicated to it. The fiduciary standard and an advisor’s credentials are how you evaluate that second category before committing to work with someone.
Weighing the Value of a Financial Advisor
Markets move in cycles. It’s easy to feel like professional advice matters less when conditions are calm and returns are steady. That calculus tends to look different when conditions turn uncertain, whether economically, politically, or within the markets themselves, since that’s often when discipline is hardest to maintain, and the cost of an emotional decision is highest.
Industry research has attempted to quantify this. Studies estimate that professional financial advice can add up to 4.92%¹ per year, depending on the time period and how returns are calculated. A meaningful share of that estimate isn’t attributed to investment selection. Research points instead to behavioral coaching, the support an advisor provides in helping a client stay disciplined through a full range of market conditions, as one of the larger contributing factors.
How an Advisor Adds Value Beyond Returns
A good advisor takes on several roles at once: counselor, sounding board, guide. In volatile markets, that role expands, and discipline and long-term focus move to the front of the conversation. Specifically, a good advisor helps you:
- Stay anchored to your plan. Advisors work with clients to reassess their financial plan as conditions change, rebalancing when it’s warranted while staying true to goals a family already set.
- Stay level-headed. Tuning out noise, slowing down decisions made in the heat of the moment, and managing emotional reactions before they turn into expensive mistakes is a large part of what advisors are for.
- Stay invested. Staying the course through a downturn is one of the hardest things an investor does, and it’s usually where an advisor’s presence matters most.
Markets only move three ways: up, down, or flat. Nobody knows in advance which one a given day, month, or year will bring, and an advisor who claims otherwise should raise questions, not confidence. The role an advisor plays is less about prediction and more about keeping a client focused on the plan already in place.
What to Look for When Choosing an Advisor
Once you’ve decided an advisor makes sense, the next question is what to look for. One consideration matters more than the rest, even if it isn’t always obvious from the outside: is this person a fiduciary?
A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest, not merely to recommend something “suitable.” That distinction is worth taking seriously, because not every financial professional operates under it. Before working with an advisor, ask directly whether they act as a fiduciary at all times, or only in certain conversations.
Curi Capital operates as a fiduciary registered investment advisor (RIA), so that standard applies to the advice we give across the board, not to a carved-out piece of it. Beyond the fiduciary question, it’s reasonable to ask how an advisor is compensated, what experience they have with situations like yours, and what credentials stand behind their advice. That last point is worth understanding on its own.
Understanding Advisor Credentials: CFP ®, CFA, CPWA®, and More
Credentials are one of the more reliable signals of what an advisor is actually qualified to do. Each one requires specific coursework, an exam, and in most cases a defined ethical or fiduciary standard behind it. Curi Capital’s advisors hold credentials across these areas:
No single credential covers everything a client might need, which is why Curi Capital’s advisors hold several rather than one. It’s worth asking not just whether an advisor holds a credential, but which one, and whether it lines up with your specific planning, tax, or investment needs.
The table below breaks down what each credential Curi Capital’s advisors hold actually signals, and where it applies.
| Credential | What it Signals | Curi Capital Service it Supports |
| CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) | Comprehensive financial planning: coursework, a rigorous exam, relevant experience, and a fiduciary duty when giving planning advice | Wealth Management, Wealth Builder |
| CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst) | Investment analysis and portfolio management, via a three-level exam widely regarded as one of the most demanding in finance | Investment Management |
| CAIA® (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) | Expertise in alternative investments: private equity, hedge funds, and real assets | Family Office Services |
| CPWA® (Certified Private Wealth Advisor) | An advanced designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute for complex tax, estate, and legacy planning | Family Office Services, Wealth Management |
| CPA (Certified Public Accountant) | Tax and accounting knowledge underpinning tax-efficient planning | Wealth Management |
| CDFA® (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) | Focused expertise in the financial dimensions of divorce and separation | Women & Wealth |
| CPFA® (Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor) | Fiduciary oversight of employer retirement plans | Retirement Plan Solutions |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a financial advisor worth the cost?
For most investors, yes. Industry research estimates advisors can add up to 4.92%¹ in value per year, with the largest portion coming from behavioral coaching rather than investment selection alone.
What should I look for in a financial advisor?
Start by confirming whether the advisor is a fiduciary, meaning they’re legally required to act in your best interest. From there, ask about compensation, relevant experience, and credentials.
What is a fiduciary financial advisor?
A fiduciary financial advisor is legally obligated to act in a client’s best interest at all times, rather than simply recommending options that are “suitable.”
What’s the difference between a CFP and a CFA?
A CFP® focuses on comprehensive financial planning, including budgeting, retirement, tax, and estate strategy. A CFA® focuses specifically on investment analysis and portfolio management.
What credentials should a financial advisor have?
There’s no single required credential. Designations like CFP®, CFA®, CPWA®, and CPA each signal depth in a specific area, planning, investments, high-net-worth strategy, and tax, respectively, so the right one depends on what you actually need help with.
Citations
- Russell Investments, 2026 Value of an Advisor Study. Estimated advisor value of 4.92% is based on Russell Investments’ “ABCT” framework, which quantifies four measurable components of advisor value: appropriate asset allocation (A), behavioral coaching (B), customized family wealth planning (C), and tax-smart planning and investing (T). Estimates reflect long-term average impacts using historical data from January 2006–December 2025 across representative market indices and Morningstar datasets. These figures are hypothetical, are not guarantees of future results, and are not intended to represent any specific client outcome.
Disclaimers
This article was originally written in July 2025 and most recently revised for accuracy as of August 2026. The opinions and analyses expressed in this newsletter are based on Curi Capital, LLC’s (“Curi Capital”) research and professional experience are expressed as of the date of our mailing of this newsletter. Certain information expressed represents an assessment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast or guarantee of future results, nor is it intended to speak to any future time periods. Curi makes no warranty or representation, express or implied, nor does Curi accept any liability, with respect to the information and data set forth herein, and Curi specifically disclaims any duty to update any of the information and data contained in this newsletter. The information and data in this newsletter does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment or other professional advice. Returns are presented net of fees. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. The index data assumes reinvestment of all income and does not bear fees, taxes, or transaction costs. The investment strategy and types of securities held by the comparison index may be substantially different from the investment strategy and types of securities held by your account.
Curi Capital. LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). Curi Capital is headquartered at One North Wacker Drive, 35th floor, Chicago, IL 60603. Visit curicapital.com to learn more.
The content contained herein was generated by Curi Capital with the assistance of an AI-based system to augment the effort.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
