Author: Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Table of contents
- What the Wealthtender Highly Rated Advisor Award Actually Measures
- What I Credit It To
- Thank You
- Sources
Wealthtender has named me a Voice of the Client Highly Rated Advisor for 2026. This is the second year the award has existed, and the second year in a row I’ve received it.
I don’t write about awards often, and most advisor awards don’t deserve the space. This one is different for a reason worth explaining. Clients write the reviews, and Wealthtender certifies them before publication. The criteria are published and objective. My Wealthtender profile currently shows 19 Certified Advisor Reviews and a 4.9 out of 5 rating. Those reviews are what the award measures. Not a marketing pitch, not a nomination form.
So instead of a victory lap, here is what the award actually is and how it works. Then I’ll show you how to use the same lens to evaluate any advisor award you see. If you’re in the middle of choosing an advisor, that lens matters more than any single badge.
What the Wealthtender Highly Rated Advisor Award Actually Measures
Wealthtender launched the Voice of the Client awards in June 2025, so 2026 is the program’s second year. For returning winners, the 2026 criteria are specific. That means an average rating of 4.75 or higher across eligible Certified Advisor Reviews published on the advisor’s Wealthtender profile. It also takes at least five eligible reviews submitted between January 1, 2026 and the award date.
Three details make those reviews worth more than the usual testimonial:
- They come from actual clients. Each reviewer’s client status is disclosed. These aren’t colleagues trading endorsements or anonymous internet ratings.
- They’re certified before publication. Wealthtender verifies reviews before they go live on an advisor’s profile. A screening step sits between the typing and my name.
- The program was built for the SEC Marketing Rule. Since 2021, the SEC has permitted advisors to use client testimonials. But only with specific disclosures about client status, compensation, and conflicts. Wealthtender designed its review platform to align with that rule, which is why every review carries the required disclosures.
Now the part that applies to every award, not just this one. Many “best advisor” and “top wealth manager” lists are pay-to-play. The advisor buys a plaque, a table at a dinner, or a listing fee. Then the recognition follows. The methodology, if one exists, is rarely published. When you see an advisor award, ask three questions. Who supplied the input, clients or the advisor’s own marketing team? Is the criteria published and objective, a number anyone can check? And is the financial relationship between the advisor and the awarding organization disclosed?
On that last point, I’ll hold myself to the standard. Align Financial Solutions pays Wealthtender for marketing services, including eligibility for this award. I disclose that in full at the bottom of this post. The award criteria themselves are objective. That payment does not influence them. Any award that can’t give you a disclosure like that, in writing, is telling you something.
What I Credit It To
Two decisions, both structural, made years ago.
The first is being fee-only. My clients pay me a fee for advice, and advice is the only product I sell. No commissions, no products with a payout schedule behind them. No reason to recommend one fund over another except that it fits your plan. When a client writes a review saying she trusts the recommendations, that structure is why the trust holds up. I’ve written before about why the fee-only distinction matters more than almost any credential. I’ve also covered when an advisor is actually worth the fee. The short version: the compensation model determines whose side of the table the advisor sits on.
The second is working deeply with a specific clientele rather than broadly with everyone. I built my practice around high-earning women facing retirement timing, equity compensation, and the tax decisions that connect them. When to exercise, when to convert, when to sell, and what each choice does to the others. Reviews reflect depth. A client whose advisor has seen her exact situation dozens of times writes a different review. A client who is one account among a thousand writes another kind entirely. Want to see how that focus shapes the way the firm runs? It’s laid out at The Align Difference.
Neither of those decisions was made to win an award. But if you’re evaluating advisors, they’re the two things I’d look for first. They’re also the two things a genuine client-review record tends to surface.
Thank You
The reviews are my clients’ words, not mine, so this award belongs to them. Writing a review takes time nobody has extra of. The women who wrote them did it without being asked twice. Thank you.
If you’re researching advisors, or researching me, read the reviews yourself on my Wealthtender profile. Nineteen clients describing their actual experience will tell you more than any award announcement, including this one.
Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®, is the founder of Align Financial Solutions, a fee-only fiduciary firm that works with high-earning women and female executives on retirement planning, equity compensation, and tax strategy.
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Wealthtender awarded Hazel Secco the Wealthtender Voice of the Client Highly Rated Advisor award on July 9, 2026, based on Certified Advisor Reviews™ submitted by clients between January 1, 2026 and the award date, with a minimum average rating of 4.75 out of 5. Wealthtender, Inc. created and tabulates this award. Although Align Financial Solutions LLC compensates Wealthtender for marketing services (including eligibility to be considered for this award), Wealthtender’s award criteria is objective and not influenced by compensation. This award is not a guarantee of future performance or success, and client reviews may not be representative of the experience of all past or future clients.
Disclaimer: Advisory services are offered through Align Financial Solutions LLC (“AFS”), an Investment Advisor in the State of New Jersey. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized tax, legal, investment, or financial planning advice. Rules and figures are current for 2026 and subject to change. All client scenarios are hypothetical composites for illustration and do not represent any specific client outcome. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Sources
- Wealthtender, “Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards”: https://wealthtender.com/wealthtender-voice-of-the-client-awards/
- Wealthtender profile: Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®: https://wealthtender.com/financial-advisors/hazel-secco-cfp-cdfa/