James Blue
Blue Advisors
Upper Arlington, OH
Min $250K
CFP®
Baby BoomersBusiness Owners+26
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Fiduciary advisors in Ohio.
Browse 2 verified fee-only fiduciary advisors in Ohio. Every one has earned the Orange Check badge.
Showing 1 to 2 of 2 advisors in Ohio
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About fiduciary advisors in Ohio
Ohio's fiduciary advisor market is anchored by Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, with a growing number of independent fee-only RIAs serving clients across the state's mid-sized cities. Every advisor verified by Fiduciary Check in Ohio has been confirmed against SEC IAPD and FINRA BrokerCheck records with no material disclosure events.
Ohio's Division of Securities regulates state-registered investment advisers, generally those managing fewer than $100 million in client assets. Larger firms register with the SEC. Both levels carry the same fiduciary duty to clients under their respective regulations. Ohio has a mix of large bank-affiliated brokerage offices, insurance-based planning firms, and independent fee-only RIAs. The Fiduciary Check verification process focuses on the latter: advisors who operate under the full fiduciary standard and are compensated only by their clients.
Common questions
Fiduciary advisors in Ohio: frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a fiduciary and a broker in Ohio?
- In Ohio, a Registered Investment Adviser or Investment Adviser Representative is a fiduciary: legally required to recommend what is best for you and to disclose conflicts of interest. A FINRA-registered broker follows Regulation Best Interest, a weaker standard that allows selling higher-commission products as long as they are 'in your best interest' at the time of recommendation. Ohio's Division of Securities within the Department of Commerce regulates state-registered investment advisers.
- How do I verify a financial advisor in Ohio?
- Search the advisor's name or CRD number at adviserinfo.sec.gov (SEC IAPD) and brokercheck.finra.org (FINRA BrokerCheck). For state-registered advisers, also check the Ohio Division of Securities at com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/securities.
- Are there fee-only fiduciary advisors in Columbus or Cleveland?
- Yes. Columbus and Cleveland both have established practices from independent, fee-only RIAs specializing in retirement planning, tax planning, and comprehensive wealth management. Use the Fiduciary Check advisor directory filtered to Ohio to find verified advisors by city.
- What does it mean that an advisor in Ohio is 'fee-only'?
- Fee-only means the advisor is paid only by you, through a flat fee, hourly rate, or percentage of assets under management. They do not earn commissions, 12b-1 trails, or revenue-sharing from fund companies or insurance products. This removes the primary financial incentive to recommend a product that pays them more than what is best for you.