A Message from NAPFA Board Chair Natalie Pine
A Commitment to Fee-Only Fiduciary Excellence
For NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors, fiduciary responsibility is not aspirational. It is the standard.
In this message, NAPFA Board Chair Natalie Pine shares why NAPFA is reaffirming its commitment to fiduciary excellence and what the NAPFA Fiduciary Standard means for advisors, clients, and the profession.
The NAPFA Fiduciary Standard
NAPFA has long believed that clients are best served by advisors who place their interests first, operate in a Fee-Only capacity, and minimize conflicts of interest wherever possible.
The NAPFA Fiduciary Standard defines this commitment through five core duties: Care, Loyalty, Competence, Compensation, and Engagement.
Together, these duties establish a clear framework for Fee-Only fiduciary excellence in financial planning.
The Five Duties of the NAPFA Fiduciary Standard
Duty of Care
Act with diligence, prudence, and professional judgment in all aspects of client service.
Duty of Loyalty
Always place clients' interests first and avoid conflicts of interest whenever possible.
Duty of Competence
Maintain expertise through continuous learning, professional development, and ongoing education.
Duty of Compensation
Operate in a Fee-Only capacity and avoid commissions, revenue-sharing arrangements, and other forms of conflicted compensation.
Duty of Engagement
Serve clients within agreed-upon objectives and seek outside expertise when a client's needs extend beyond your area of competence.
Why It Matters
Trust is the foundation of the advisor-client relationship.
The NAPFA Fiduciary Standard ensures that fiduciary responsibility is applied consistently and transparently through a clear set of duties that guide professional conduct.
This standard reinforces NAPFA’s belief that financial advice is strongest when it is Fee-Only, transparent, and grounded in an unwavering obligation to act in the client’s best interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the NAPFA Fiduciary Standard, Fee-Only compensation, and how fiduciary responsibility is defined for NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors.
Member Toolkit
To help ensure consistent communication of the NAPFA Fiduciary Standard, NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors have access to approved language, messaging guidance, and practical tools.
The NAPFA Fiduciary Standard is more than a definition. It is a shared commitment and a shared message.
This toolkit provides NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors with approved language and practical resources to communicate the NAPFA Fiduciary Standard clearly and consistently.
Share your story
NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors act as fiduciaries at all times, and many of the most meaningful examples of that commitment come from real client experiences.
We welcome members to share brief stories that reflect fiduciary and Fee-Only advice in action.
Questions?
For questions about the NAPFA Fiduciary Standard or available resources, contact: