<prompt> Human: My wife and I just came into a large sum of money and we are looking into hiring a financial adviser. With the sum we have received it is possible for us to eliminate all of our debt mortgage, car, student loans, credit cards and still have a sizable amount left over to invest. Are there any advantages to using any one firm over another or do they all basically offer the same services? Are local independent firms better to work with over the big national firms. We are looking for someone who can advise on how we should manage our new capitol. Which debts should we pay off versus what we should invest right away. All advice is appreciated!  <response>: IF you decide to hire someone - and that should be a big if - you want a fee-only financial planner that is a fiduciary. They should not be receiving any compensation from the funds they help you choose. The only compensation should be an hourly charge they bill you for general advice. 