Best Fiduciary Investment Companies in 2026

Vanguard Personal Advisor pairs automated portfolio management with access to human advisors, and its headline net advisory fee of about 0.30% per year for typical portfolios is hard to beat for this level of help. Clients get a financial plan, ongoing portfolio management, and advisor contact for questions about retirement, college saving, and other goals. The service is a strong fit for investors who already trust low-cost index funds and do not need a boutique planning experience.

The catch is the entry point. You need $50,000 to enroll in the main Personal Advisor service, and the portfolios are built from Vanguard funds, so you will not get a hand-picked mix of outside fund families. Vanguard does not prepare tax returns as part of this service. For a large balance, the tiered fee gets cheaper.

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium adds a team of certified financial planners to Schwab's automated investing service, for a $300 one-time planning fee plus $30 per month. That flat structure is the main appeal. On a $25,000 account the fee is a large share of assets, but on a $250,000 account it is a small share, which makes Premium cheaper than percentage-based rivals as balances rise. Clients get a personalized financial plan, goal tracking, and ongoing portfolio management.

The trade-off to weigh is the cash allocation. Schwab portfolios hold a portion in cash in FDIC-insured deposit accounts, and Schwab Bank earns income on those deposits. Cash can lower returns in strong stock markets compared with a fully invested portfolio, and some cash alternatives outside the program pay a higher yield. Premium uses a team model rather than a single dedicated advisor for every client.

Facet charges a flat annual membership fee based on the complexity of your situation, starting at $2,600 per year for its Core tier in published 2026 pricing, with higher tiers for more complete planning and tax help. That model suits people whose balances are growing, because the fee does not climb just because the portfolio did. All of its planners are certified financial planner professionals, and Facet states that they act as fiduciaries for members.

The service is delivered entirely online by video and phone. Meeting counts vary by tier, so read the details before you sign up, especially if tax filing matters. Facet is best for professionals and couples who want ongoing planning and investment management in one subscription, without a percentage fee.

Betterment Premium builds on Betterment's automated investing service by adding unlimited access to certified financial planners, at 0.65% per year on the first $1 million. The base automated service charges 0.25% per year, and Premium adds 0.40% for the human advice layer. Portfolios use low-cost exchange traded funds, and taxable accounts get tax-loss harvesting and tax-coordinated placement of assets across account types.

Premium makes sense if you like automation but want a real person to call when life changes, such as a job move, a home purchase, or a retirement decision. The $100,000 household minimum for Premium is the main barrier, and at very large balances the percentage fee becomes expensive compared with a flat fee from Schwab or Facet. Betterment has no branch network, so advisor conversations happen by phone or video.

Empower Personal Strategy, formerly Personal Capital's advisory service, combines automated investing with human advisors, starting at 0.89% per year for the first $1 million, with lower rates at higher balances. At higher tiers, clients get two dedicated advisors, individual stock holdings for more granular tax-loss harvesting, and specialist help for stock options, real estate, and other complex holdings. The free Empower dashboard for net worth tracking and fee analysis remains available to anyone, even without the managed service.

The fee is the obvious drawback. At 0.89%, Empower costs far more than Vanguard, Schwab Premium, or Betterment for a similar core portfolio, so the value has to come from the planning and tax work, not from the investments alone. The entry tier uses a team of advisors rather than dedicated advisors, so ask what you get at your balance. Empower fits best above $250,000, with tax or equity compensation questions.

Fidelity Go is Fidelity's automated investing service, and it is free for balances under $25,000, then charges 0.35% per year at $25,000 and above. Once you reach $25,000, you also get unlimited 30-minute coaching calls, which makes Fidelity Go one of the cheapest ways to talk with a professional about your plan. The service builds diversified portfolios from Fidelity Flex funds, and it supports taxable accounts, IRAs, and health savings accounts.

Coaching is not a full planning relationship. Calls help with goals and portfolio questions, but not with a comprehensive ongoing plan. Fidelity Go also has no dedicated advisor, and the coaching model suits people who are comfortable managing most decisions themselves. For a first managed account, or a smaller IRA, the free entry point is genuinely useful.

Edelman Financial Engines is one of the largest independent financial planning firms in the United States, and it is best known for retirement planning and for advice delivered through employer retirement plans. Clients can get a financial plan, investment management, and retirement income planning, with advisors who act as fiduciaries in the firm's advisory services. The scale of the firm means it can support clients through retirement transitions, Social Security decisions, and income planning in a structured way.

Pricing transparency is the main frustration. Edelman does not publish one simple starting price, and your fee can depend on a workplace plan or direct enrollment. Ask for a written fee schedule before enrolling. Edelman is a strong choice for people approaching retirement who want a well-established firm with deep retirement expertise.

Merrill Guided Investing offers automated portfolio management at 0.45% per year, with an advisor-led version for clients who want ongoing access to a Merrill advisor. The service suits Bank of America customers who want investing, banking, and planning in one place, and who value being able to speak with an advisor at a branch or by phone. Portfolios are built around investment themes and goals, with rebalancing handled for you.

The fee sits above Vanguard, Fidelity Go, and Betterment Digital, so the case for Merrill rests on convenience and advisor access. The advisor version also requires a higher minimum. If you already bank with Bank of America and want a single relationship, Merrill is convenient. If price is your main driver, the low-cost hybrid services above will usually win.

Garrett Planning Network is a network of fee-only financial planners who offer hourly or project-based advice, rather than a single managed service. That model is ideal if you want a second opinion, a retirement plan, or help with one decision, without handing over your portfolio or paying a yearly percentage fee. Members state that they act as fiduciaries, and you can search by specialty, such as small business owners, educators, or retirees.

You are buying advice, not ongoing management. If you want regular portfolio management, you will need repeat sessions or a different firm. Hourly rates vary by planner. For a one-time plan, or for annual check-ins without an asset-based fee, Garrett is one of the most flexible fiduciary routes available.