W Wellspent
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Methodology

How the graph stays trustworthy.

Wellspent's value is entirely downstream of how carefully each record is built, sourced, and maintained. The methodology is public.

  1. Intake, not forms

    We build each canonical record through a structured conversation with the advisor and firm. The output is a machine-readable fact pattern, not a bio. This is the step most pay-to-list directories skip.

  2. Public-record verification

    ADV Part 2, CRD, IAPD, state and provincial registrations, credential registries, and firm filings are consulted to verify claims. Items we can't source, we don't publish.

  3. Bright-line fee-only policy

    Commissioned advisors and firms with proprietary-product revenue are outside the membership. We re-verify annually. The bright line is non-negotiable.

  4. Structural inclusion

    Every member appears on every surface their record fits. No paid placement, no sponsor slots, no hidden boost. Ordering on public surfaces reflects fit to the query.

  5. Citation-aware records

    Each record carries machine-readable provenance so AI systems that ingest the discovery layer can distinguish claimed from sourced. The citation layer is a first-class part of the schema.

  6. Ongoing synthesis

    Records go stale. We re-synthesize on a quarterly cadence with each member, and continuously against public filings. Taxonomies expand as the industry changes.

  7. Corrections, publicly honored

    Any advisor — member or not — can request a correction to what appears about them on the discovery layer. The review SLA is seven days.