9. How do referral payments and product incentives affect recommendations?

Why it matters: the buyer needs to know who benefits from an introduction or implementation product.

Good-answer framing: disclose compensation and related providers, explain alternative routes and confirm engagement-specific professional restrictions with counsel. Do not assert one uniform rule for all advisers or jurisdictions.

Follow-up: “Would the recommendation change if no referral payment were available?”

Evidence request: conflicts disclosure and documented evaluation criteria.

Expert quote: ____________________ Speaker/date/permission: ____________________