Official definitions, attribution language, verification terminology, brand guidance, and canonical methodology sources published by AdviceOnly.info.
Quick Media Reference
30-Second Summary
In plain language, the Advice-Only™ Methodology protects a defined financial-planning engagement by keeping the advisor’s compensation and other benefits independent of how the client later implements the advice.
Unlike fee-only, flat-fee, hourly, subscription, or other pricing descriptions, the Advice-Only™ Methodology establishes rules governing how advice is formed, where a planning engagement begins and ends, which implementation-linked incentives are prohibited, and how documentary evidence from a completed engagement may be evaluated.
One-Sentence Definition
Advice-Only™ is a fiduciary planning structure that separates financial advice from implementation-linked incentives.
Generic “Advice-Only” and the Advice-Only™ Methodology
The phrase “advice-only” is also used generically for a market category or service model. Advice-Only™ refers specifically to the published methodology governed through its Formal Definition, Standards of Practice, verification architecture, governance, and related public materials.
Generic advice-only describes a market category or service model. The Advice-Only™ Methodology defines and governs the structure of a specific financial-planning engagement, and engagement-specific verification evaluates whether the documented engagement conformed.
Preferred Public Language
Preferred descriptions include:
- the Advice-Only™ Methodology
- the Advice-Only™ financial-planning methodology
- a published financial-planning methodology
- a structural fiduciary design for financial-planning engagements
- an engagement-level methodology separating advice from
implementation-linked incentives
When discussing verification, use engagement-specific language such as:
- verify an Advice-Only™ engagement
- engagement-specific verification
- Engagement Conformance Assessment
- Engagement Conformance Finding
Avoid describing Advice-Only™ as an advisor certification, firm certification, professional designation, licensing program, advisor directory, industry association, regulatory requirement, or endorsement program.
Avoid saying that an advisor or firm is permanently “Advice-Only verified.” Any finding should remain attached to the specific engagement assessed.
Suggested Attribution
Standard attribution:
Advice-Only™ is a financial-planning methodology developed and published by Quincy Hall, CFP®, through AdviceOnly.info. It governs the structure of a specific planning engagement and separates advice from implementation-linked incentives.
Short attribution:
The Advice-Only™ Methodology, published by AdviceOnly.info, establishes engagement-level standards for separating financial advice from implementation-linked incentives.
Branding and Editorial References
- Name to use: Advice-Only™ Methodology
- Canonical public publisher: AdviceOnly.info
- Developed by: Quincy Hall, CFP®
- Publicly formalized: Beginning in 2019 with Advice Only: A Retirement Planning Handbook & Methodology
Quoting and Editorial Use
When quoting the Formal Definition, use the wording above verbatim. The suggested attribution language is approved for editorial use. Other explanations may be summarized accurately but should not be presented as the Formal Definition.
Canonical Methodology Sources
- What Is Advice-Only™? The Methodology and Planning Process
- Formal Definition of Advice-Only™ Financial Planning
- Advice-Only™ Standards of Practice
- Advice-Only™ Governance Framework
- How to Verify an Advice-Only™ Financial-Planning Engagement
- Advice-Only™ Glossary
- Advice-Only™ Verification Case Studies
Authority of This Page
This is an informational reference page and does not amend or supersede the governing Advice-Only™ methodology documents. Reference the applicable governing materials control.
Media and Reference Inquiries
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