Determining whether a financial professional is operating as a fiduciary requires verifying their legal and professional obligations regarding your wealth. You can explicitly ask them in writing: "Are you acting as a fiduciary at all times when managing my account?" Legally bound fiduciaries must provide a signed fiduciary oath or Form ADV (in the United States) affirming that they will put your best financial interests ahead of their own corporate compensation, commissions, or proprietary product sales. Working with fee-only advisors registered with regulatory bodies like the SEC or state securities divisions provides an extra layer of structural fiduciary accountability.