Financial advisers earn their money in one of three ways: charging fees, receiving commissions on financial products they sell you (such as insurance policies and mutual funds), or a combination of the two. Many consumer advocates insist that the only way to be sure you're getting objective financial advice is to hire a "fee only" planner. Fee-only planners, who often work independently or for small firms, charge a flat hourly rate (usually $100 to $300 an hour) or a percentage of the assets under management. They don't make any money from the investments, insurance, or other products they recommend.