10 Essential Questions to Ask a Fiduciary Financial Advisor During Your Free Intro Call

When you book a free introductory call with a financial advisor, you only get about 15 to 20 minutes. That short window decides whether you move forward, whether the advisor understands your needs, and whether their approach aligns with the way you make financial decisions.

This call is not a counselling session, it is not a planning session, and it is not a sales pitch. It is a fit assessment—can this advisor help you build a stable and confident financial life? Can they guide you through complexity without overwhelming you or oversimplifying? Can they show you how they think, not just what they sell?

This guide gives you a complete, practical framework to make that intro call count. Your goal is simple: you want to walk away knowing whether the advisor has a disciplined process, an evidence-based philosophy, clear transparency on fees, and genuine ability to help someone like you—someone with real life constraints, real goals, and real uncertainties.

By the time you finish reading this article, you will have:

• A strong understanding of how to evaluate an advisor in minutes.
• A set of ten core questions that reveal competence without requiring financial expertise on your part.
• Tailored versions of each question for retirement, investment, insurance, and tax needs.
• A structured call script so you can get the right answers without wasting time.
• A printable summary card you can use during the call or share with others.

This is the same framework used by financially literate clients, founders, NRIs, mid-career professionals, and retirees—because the fundamentals of evaluating a good advisor are universal.

Why This Intro Call Matters So Much

Most people think the biggest risk in financial planning is a “bad investment.” In reality, the biggest risk is bad alignment—working with someone who misunderstands your priorities, oversimplifies your complexity, or pushes products instead of building a plan.

Your first call reveals that alignment in a matter of minutes.

Here’s what you can learn during those 15–20 minutes:

1. How the advisor thinks.
   
   Do they ask meaningful questions? Do they jump to conclusions? Do they show curiosity about your goals and constraints?

2. How structured their process is.
   
   A good advisor follows a repeatable framework. A weak advisor improvises.

3. How transparent they are about fees and conflicts.
   
   You should never need to guess how an advisor gets paid.

4. How they communicate under time constraints.
   
   If they cannot explain things clearly in 2 minutes, they will not explain well over years.

5. Whether they work well with clients like you.
   
   Fit is everything—your advisor should understand your life stage and financial reality immediately.

You are not trying to judge the advisor’s personality.

You are trying to understand their professional discipline.

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The 10 Questions You Should Ask

(Core questions + tailored versions)

Below are the ten highest-leverage questions you can ask. These questions are crafted to extract actual insight—not sales talk, not vague commentary, not jargon. Each is followed by tailored phrasing depending on whether your primary need is retirement planning, investment management, insurance, or tax optimisation.

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1. “How do you decide what advice is right for someone in my situation?”

This question reveals the advisor’s decision-making framework. Any good fiduciary financial advisor should be able to explain, clearly and calmly, how they structure advice: what inputs they consider, how they prioritise actions, and how they evaluate risk.

You want to hear about:

• Life stage evaluation
  
• Income stability
  
• Cash-flow analysis
  
• Liabilities review
  
• Insurance gaps
  
• Goal mapping
  
• Risk capacity
  
• Risk tolerance
  
• Behavioural tendencies
  
• Tax considerations
  

If the advisor jumps directly to products (“You should invest in XYZ”), that is a red flag. They are diagnosing without understanding.

Retirement wording:

“How do you determine the retirement corpus I need and the strategy to reach it?”

Investment wording:

“What inputs do you use before recommending an equity–debt split?”

Tax wording:

“How do you identify the biggest tax optimisation opportunities in a profile like mine?”

Insurance wording:

“How do you calculate the right cover amounts for someone in my family situation?”

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2. “What does acting in my best interest look like in your daily work?”

Every advisor will claim to act in your best interest. You want to understand what that means operationally.

Good answers include:

• Zero-commission or fully disclosed commissions
  
• Documentation of recommendations
  
• Written rationale for asset allocation
  
• Conflict-of-interest disclosures
  
• Comparison of product alternatives
  
• A pricing structure that avoids incentives to oversell
  

You should hear specifics, not vague commitments.

Insurance cue:

“Since insurance products often have commissions, how do you prevent bias in your recommendations?”

Investment cue:

“How do you avoid platform incentives influencing your fund selection?”

If they hesitate, move on.

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3. “What will the first 90 days of working together look like?”

This question uncovers the depth and discipline of their planning process.

Strong advisors will explain:

• A structured onboarding method
  
• Data collection requirements
  
• Cash-flow review
  
• Risk assessment
  
• Goal prioritisation
  
• Portfolio design
  
• Insurance adequacy checks
  
• Retirement modelling
  
• Tax-efficiency review
  
• Delivery timeline
  
• Review call schedule
  

Weak advisors say: “We’ll discuss your goals and recommend suitable products.”

That is not planning. That is distribution or brokerage.

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4. “How do you customise advice for dual-income households, variable income patterns, or major life transitions?”

Your life is not a static spreadsheet.

You may have:

• Bonuses
  
• Stock compensation
  
• Variable business income
  
• Multiple dependents
  
• Aging parents
  
• Loan obligations
  
• Upcoming relocation
  
• Two spouses with different career trajectories
  

A good fiduciary financial advisor will show they recognise complexity and adapt accordingly.

Retirement:

“How do you handle couples with different retirement ages or savings rates?”

Investments:

“How do you model ESOPs, RSUs, or variable income while designing a portfolio?”

Insurance:

“How do you map coverage across spouse, children, and dependent parents?”

Tax:

“How do you optimise taxes across two earning individuals in one household?”

If the advisor says, “We follow the same process for everyone,” walk away.

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5. “Can you explain your investment philosophy in under two minutes?”

A good investment philosophy is simple, evidence-based, and consistent.

You want to hear:

• Long-term orientation
  
• Diversified approach
  
• Cost minimisation
  
• Minimal speculation
  
• Clear rebalancing rules
  
• No stock-picking unless part of a disciplined framework
  
• No timing the market
  

A weak advisor will:

• Predict markets
  
• Focus on recent performance
  
• Promise outperformance
  
• Talk about “special market insights”
  

You want clarity, not forecasting.

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6. “How will you measure the success of my financial plan?”

Success is not “high returns.” Success is whether your plan is:

• Achievable
  
• Sustainable
  
• Reviewable
  
• Flexible
  
• Stress-tested
  

Good advisors measure:

• Probability of reaching retirement corpus
  
• Savings rate consistency
  
• Goal progress
  
• Risk alignment
  
• Behaviour during volatility
  
• Tax efficiency
  
• Adequacy of emergency buffers
  
• Insurance coverage completeness
  

Ask for examples of dashboards, reports, or scorecards.

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7. “How often will we review and update the plan?”

A financial plan decays over time. Inflation changes. Expenses change. Your goals evolve. Markets behave unpredictably. Laws and tax rules shift.

A responsible advisor provides:

• Annual full reviews
  
• Mid-year or quarterly portfolio reviews
  
• Updates after any life event
  
• Market-condition guidance
  
• Structured rebalancing
  
• Tax-year transition planning
  

This shows long-term commitment and accountability.

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8. “How do you get paid, and what total costs should I expect annually?”

Transparency is non-negotiable.

A good advisor explains:

• Advisory fee model (AUM %, flat fee, hourly)
• Platform/system charges
  
• Product costs
  
• Tax-related fees
  
• Exit loads, if any
  
• Insurance commissions (if applicable)
  
• How they minimise your total cost-to-invest
  

You want a simple, clear, direct answer. If you feel even a little confused, that is a problem.

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9. “What type of clients do you work best with?”

An advisor who works with people like you will:

• Understand your financial language
  
• Anticipate your challenges
  
• Build relevant strategies
  
• Reduce onboarding friction
  
• Provide targeted examples
  
• Forecast meaningful scenarios
  

If they say: “I work with everyone,” they truly work with no one.

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10. “How do you support clients during market volatility or unexpected life events?”

Financial planning is mostly behavioural management.

You want to know:

• How they prepare you for market drops
  
• How they prevent panic decisions
  
• Whether they offer structured responses during volatility
  
• How they adjust plans during emergencies
  
• How they help you reframe short-term fear into long-term discipline
  

A strong fiduciary financial advisor gives you rules, not reassurance.

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Tailored Mini-Checklists for Each Priority Area

Below are focused checklists depending on what you primarily care about. You can use these as call prompts.

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If Your Priority Is Retirement Planning

Ask:

1. “How do you compute the retirement corpus I need?”
2. “What assumptions do you use for inflation, longevity, and returns?”
3. “How do you simulate different retirement lifestyles or spending patterns?”
4. “How do you handle rising healthcare costs in retirement projections?”
5. “What income-generation strategies do you recommend for retirement?”
6. “How do EPF, PPF, NPS, annuities, and equity funds fit into the plan?”
7. “How do you adjust plans if my retirement age changes?”
8. “How do you project the impact of recessions or poor market decades?”
9. “How will you help me transition my portfolio to a lower-risk structure?”
10. “How frequently should a retirement plan be reviewed?”

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If Your Priority Is Tax Optimisation

Ask:

1. “What are the biggest tax inefficiencies you typically see in people like me?”
2. “How do you plan across multiple financial years?”
3. “Do you run projections comparing old vs new regime?”
4. “How do you integrate capital-gains planning with investment strategy?”
5. “How do you manage taxation for RSUs, ESOPs, and bonuses?”
6. “How do international assets, foreign income, or NRI status affect planning?”
7. “How do you coordinate with my CA?”
8. “What tax-saving instruments actually align with long-term goals?”
9. “Do you provide a tax review during mid-year and year-end?”
10. “How do you plan taxes for retirement income?”

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If Your Priority Is Investment Management

Ask:

1. “What evidence supports your investment philosophy?”
2. “How do you determine strategic vs tactical allocation?”
3. “Do you use model portfolios or customised portfolios?”
4. “How do you select mutual funds or ETFs?”
5. “How do you monitor performance and when do you rebalance?”
6. “How do you handle large one-time investments (bonus, inheritance)“
7. “How do you minimise taxes and costs inside the portfolio?”
8. “How do you incorporate my life goals (house, children, retirement) into my asset allocation?”
9. “How will you help me stay disciplined during volatility?”
10. “What does your quarterly or annual reporting look like?”

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If Your Priority Is Insurance Planning

Ask:

1. “How do you calculate the right life insurance coverage for someone with my dependents and liabilities?”
2. “How do you avoid commission bias when recommending term or health plans?”
3. “What criteria do you use to compare insurers—claims ratio, premiums, exclusions?”
4. “Can you review my existing policies before suggesting anything new?”
5. “How do you determine whether I need critical illness or disability cover?”
6. “How do you estimate future healthcare costs and medical inflation?”
7. “What is your view on bundling vs separating life and health cover?”
8. “Do you help with claims or documentation if something happens?”
9. “How often should my insurance be reviewed?”
10. “How do you ensure my insurance integrates with my overall financial plan?”

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Extended Explanations for Each Question

(To help you understand what a great answer sounds like)

Below you will find deeper context—this allows you to evaluate the quality of responses rather than just ticking boxes.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 1: Decision Framework

A real advisor talks about information + structure + prioritisation.

A weak one talks about products + returns + generalities.

A strong answer includes:

• “First, we understand your income stability, dependents, and non-negotiable expenses.”
• “We review your liabilities and risk exposures.”
• “We run goal-priority ranking.”
• “We map cash flows against non-negotiables and future goals.”
• “We design a plan with short-term, mid-term, and long-term layers.”

This is the hallmark of trained planners, CFPs, and disciplined fiduciaries.

A weak answer sounds like:

• “You should invest in equity for growth.”
• “These funds have been doing well recently.”
• “We will recommend products after the call.”

Run.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 2: Fiduciary Practice

A strong advisor gives examples:

• “We disclose all commissions upfront.”
• “We provide a written rationale for every recommendation.”
• “We document conflicts and alternatives.”
• “We avoid volume-driven incentives.”
• “We prioritise suitability, not convenience.”

A weak advisor avoids details:

• “Don’t worry, we act in your interest.”
• “We will guide you accordingly.”
• “Everything is transparent.” (without specifying how)

Look for operational clarity, not moral claims.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 3: First 90 Days

A strong advisor describes deliverables:

• Personal cash-flow map
  
• Net-worth statement
  
• Insurance adequacy assessment
  
• Retirement projections
  
• Tax optimisation roadmap
  
• Investment policy statement (IPS)
  
• Prioritised action list
  
• Review call at Day 30 and Day 90
  

A weak advisor says:

• “We will discuss your goals and start investing.”

That is not planning.

That is distribution disguised as planning.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 4: Customisation

A strong advisor demonstrates adaptive thinking:

• “We separate variable income from fixed obligations.”
• “We create a volatility buffer for business owners.”
• “We model different retirement ages for spouses.”
• “We account for eldercare obligations.”

A weak advisor says:

• “We follow the same process for everyone.”

Great advisors tailor.

Bad advisors template.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 5: Investment Philosophy

A strong advisor talks in principles:

• “We diversify globally.”
• “We use evidence-based index or factor strategies.”
• “We minimise fees and taxes.”
• “We rebalance annually or when allocations drift by X%.”
• “We avoid timing the market.”
• “We focus on time in the market, not predictions.”

A weak advisor:

• Predicts markets
  
• Focuses on returns
  
• Talks about “exclusive insights”
  
• Uses complicated language to hide lack of structure
  

Your wealth depends more on behaviour + philosophy than on picking winners.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 6: Success Metrics

Never accept “good returns” as a metric.

Better metrics include:

• Corpus sufficiency
  
• Savings adherence
  
• Tax savings achieved
  
• Goal progress percentages
  
• Defined liquidity buffers
  
• Insurance adequacy
  
• Risk vs return alignment
  
• Probability-of-success ranges
  

If the advisor uses quantitative metrics, they’re serious.

If they use adjectives (“strong performance”, “healthy growth”), be cautious.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 7: Review Frequency

A strong advisor:

• Schedules annual full reviews
  
• Conducts quarterly or semiannual portfolio check-ins
  
• Revisits the plan after major life events
  
• Updates your risk profile when needed
  
• Provides proactive communication during volatility
  

A weak advisor:

• Says “Call me if needed.”
  
• Provides reviews only when they want to sell products.
  

Your plan must evolve.

Your advisor must, too.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 8: Fee Transparency

A strong advisor:

• Explains advisory fees in plain language
  
• Provides specific examples of total yearly cost
  
• Mentions the TER of funds
  
• Discloses insurance commissions without hesitation
  
• Explains their incentive structure
  

A weak advisor:

• Glosses over costs
  
• Uses vague phrases like “very minimal”
  
• Cannot explain total cost-to-client
  

Great advisors are comfortable discussing fees.

Only salespeople hide them.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 9: Client Fit

A strong advisor:

• Names specific client categories
  
• Explains why those clients match their strengths
  
• Gives examples of problems they routinely solve
  

A weak advisor:

• Claims to work with everyone
  

The more specific they are, the more capable they are.

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How to Evaluate Responses to Question 10: Behavioural + Crisis Guidance

A strong advisor:

• Prepares clients for downturns
  
• Offers rule-based rebalancing
  
• Sends structured communication during volatility
  
• Helps you avoid emotional decisions
  
• Shows examples of past guidance
  

A weak advisor:

• Says “Just stay calm”
  
• Offers platitudes instead of frameworks
  

Behavioural coaching is the core of long-term wealth management.

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The Complete 15–20 Minute Call Script

(Use exactly as written)

This script ensures you extract everything you need, within the time limit.

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0:00–0:30 — Opening

“Thanks for taking the call. My goal today is simple: I want to understand how you work, how you think about planning, and whether your approach fits what I’m looking for.”

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0:30–2:30 — Core Diagnostic Question

“First question: how do you decide what advice is right for someone in my situation?”

Let them explain.

Take notes.

This question reveals 60% of their capability.

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2:30–5:00 — Fiduciary & Conflict Check

“I’d like to understand what acting in my best interest looks like in your daily work. How do you manage conflicts and disclose fees?”

Listen for specifics, not fluff.

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5:00–8:00 — Process & Deliverables

“What does the first 90 days of working together look like? What deliverables should I expect?”

This reveals professionalism and planning depth.

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8:00–11:00 — Tailored Question Based on Your Priority

Pick ONE:

Retirement:

“How do you calculate the retirement corpus I’d need?”

Investments:

“What is your investment philosophy in under two minutes?”

Tax:

“How do you identify key tax optimisation opportunities for someone like me?”

Insurance:

“How do you determine the right cover amounts for my situation?”

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11:00–13:30 — Review Structure

“How often will we review and update the plan?”

This tells you whether the advisor intends to support you long-term.

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13:30–15:30 — Fees

“How do you get paid, and what total costs should I expect annually?”

Look for transparency and comfort discussing fees.

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15:30–17:00 — Behavioural Coaching

“How do you guide clients during market volatility or major life events?”

Good advisors will mention rules and communication protocols.

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17:00–18:30 — Fit

“What type of clients do you work best with?”

If you match their strengths, perfect.

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18:30–20:00 — Close

“Thanks, this was helpful. Can you send a short written summary of your process, fee structure, and next steps? I’ll review it and respond.”

If they hesitate to put things in writing—red flag.

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Red Flags You Should Never Ignore

1. Vague explanations.
   
2. Focus on products instead of process.
   
3. Market predictions instead of philosophy.
   
4. No written disclosures.
   
5. Unclear or evasive fee models.
   
6. Overuse of jargon.
   
7. Promises of high returns.
   
8. Lack of review structure.
   
9. Pressure to commit immediately.
   
10. Inability to explain concepts simply.

Great advisors simplify.

Bad advisors mystify.

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After the Call: Evaluation Checklist

Use this immediately after ending the call:

• Did the advisor demonstrate a structured approach?
  
• Were their explanations clear and simple?
  
• Did they show curiosity about your goals?
  
• Did they discuss deliverables and timelines?
  
• Did they fully disclose fees?
  
• Did they avoid pushing products?
  
• Do they work with clients like you?
  
• Did you feel informed, not sold to?
  

If you can confidently say “yes” to at least seven of these, you likely found a strong advisor.

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Printable / Clipboard Card

(Compact, 1-page quick-reference)

10 QUESTIONS — INTRO CALL CHECKLIST

1. How do you decide what advice is right for someone like me?
2. What does acting in my best interest look like in practice?
3. What will the first 90 days of working together look like?
4. How do you customise advice for real-life complexity?
5. Explain your investment philosophy in under 2 minutes.
6. How will you measure success in my plan?
7. How often will we review/update the plan?
8. How do you get paid? What total costs should I expect?
9. What type of clients do you work best with?
10. How do you guide clients during volatility or life events?

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Conclusion

Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you will make for your financial life. This 15–20 minute intro call is your chance to evaluate their process, philosophy, transparency, communication, and fit. When you ask the ten questions in this guide—properly and confidently—you force clarity. You eliminate guesswork. You see the advisor’s mind in action.

A good advisor welcomes these questions. A great advisor answers them with structure, humility, and precision.

Use this checklist whenever you book an intro call through RiaFin after getting matched with a financial advisor or with any advisor you’re considering.