Yes, fiduciary advisors can recommend annuities, insurance, and other products when they genuinely serve your retirement strategy. The difference is they're not incentivized by commissions to push these products when unnecessary. A fiduciary will honestly assess whether an annuity makes sense for your situation, consider multiple carriers and products, and recommend only if the benefits outweigh the costs and limitations. They'll also explain alternatives. In contrast, commission-based advisors may push high-commission annuities aggressively because they earn 5-8% upfront commissions, whether or not it's your best option.

The primary benefits include: unbiased recommendations free from sales pressure or product quotas, transparent fee structure with no hidden commissions, access to the full universe of investment options rather than proprietary products, legal obligation to prioritize your interests, comprehensive planning that addresses all aspects of retirement (not just investments), and ongoing objective guidance as your needs evolve. For Scottsdale retirees, this means strategies focused on your sustainable retirement income, tax efficiency, and legacy goals—not on meeting an advisor's monthly sales targets.

Fee-only advisors typically charge 0.75-2% of assets under management annually, with percentages sometimes decreasing at higher asset levels. For example, you might pay 1.25% on the first $500,000, 1% on the next $500,000, 0.75% on the next $1 million, and so on. Some advisors charge flat annual fees ($5,000-$20,000+) or hourly rates ($250-$500/hour) for planning services. While this seems more expensive than "free" commission-based advisors, you often save significantly on total costs. Commission-based advice typically costs 2-5% annually through hidden fees, revenue sharing, and high-cost products—you just don't see it itemized on statements.

Often, independent advisors have access to better investments. While they may not offer proprietary funds (which often underperform and charge higher fees), they can utilize institutional share classes of mutual funds with lower expense ratios, access dozens of low-cost ETF providers, work with multiple custodians (Fidelity, Schwab, TD Ameritrade) offering thousands of investment options, and recommend best-in-class managers across all asset classes. Large banks and brokerages often limit advisors to their own high-fee products. Independence means your advisor can build the optimal portfolio from the entire investment universe.

Transitioning is straightforward: meet with a prospective fiduciary advisor to discuss your situation and ensure good fit, review their ADV Part 2 to understand their services and fees, sign an advisory agreement if you decide to work together, and authorize transfer of your accounts (your new advisor typically handles the paperwork). Most transitions take 2-4 weeks. You don't need to sell investments or realize capital gains—assets typically transfer "in-kind" to your new advisor's custodian. For Scottsdale retirees with IRAs, 401(k)s, or taxable accounts, the process is seamless and often reveals hidden fees you were paying previously.