If figuring it all out on your own proves too difficult, have a fee-only financial planner run the analysis for you.

According to Cerulli's study, half of the fee-only planners have been in the business less than four years.

The fee-only planner will continue to receive his or her fee only if the client is satisfied.

Continuing his commitment to innovation, John Sestina has been chosen to take the lead in educating the next generation of fee-only planners.

He uses both types of funds, but says that fee-only planners, who charge a percentage of the no-load money under management, can be more expensive.

Many no-load funds are being sold by so-called fee-only financial planners, who impose their own charges.

Rather than talk about their prices, however, fee-only planners prefer to address the fiduciary responsibility of a professional adviser to place a client's interest first.

And unlike fee-only planners, agents earn nothing until a sale is made.

Consider working with a certified, fee-only financial planner to devise the optimal plan.

Of the 288 companies surveyed, all in the Washington area, only 14 percent met the criteria for a fee-only planner.