If you are considering hiring a Wealth Management Firm we believe that  the firm should make the following commitments to their clients as we  do at Lara, Shull & May LLC:

1. The firm should be able to demonstrate that its guiding principal  is to provide investment management services that are in the client's  best interests.

2. The firm follows a fiduciary standard of care - a fiduciary  standard is often considered the highest legal duty that one party can  have to another. This differs from the suitabilty standard present in  most brokerage firms. That standard only requires that a product or  service be suitable - it does not have to be in the investor's best  interest.

3. The firm is a fee-based investment advisor - avoiding the conflicts  that commission-based compensation can create. With commission-based  compensation, it can be difficult to know if the investment or product  recommended is the one that is best for you or the one that generates  the greater commission for the broker.

4. All potential conflicts are fully disclosed.

5. Advice is based on the latest academic research, not on opinions.

6. The firm is client centric - advisors focus on delivering sound  advice and targeted solutions. The only requirement they have in  offering particular solutions is whether the client's best interests  will be served.

7. The firm delivers a high level of personal attention and develps  strong personal relationships - and clients benefit from a team of  professionals to help them make sound financial decisions.

8. They develop investment plans that are integrated with estate, tax  and risk management plans. The overall plans are tailored to each  client's unique personal situation.

9. Their advice is goal-oriented - evaluating each decision not in  isolation, but in terms of its impact on the likelihood of success of  the overall plan.

10. Comprehensive wealth management services are provided by a team of  skilled adviors with many years of experience and professional knowledge.