Saving for retirement is just plain confusing. There are 401(k)s and pensions and IRAs (both Roth and regular). For advice, you can turn to advisers, planners, brokers, and agents. It’s not easy to sort out all the terms. There is, however, one word you must know before you dive into retirement planning: fiduciary.

A fiduciary is a person who is legally required to act in a client’s best financial interest. Typically, professionals who go by the title “financial adviser’’ are fiduciaries and those who are brokers are not.

What’s the difference for the average consumer? Without fiduciary responsibility, a professional might recommend and sell products that are not the best deals for the buyer but generate high commissions. Non-fiduciaries might also encourage or execute more trades than are necessary to earn fees on each transaction. Fiduciaries, on the other hand, usually make their money by charging a flat fee or a percentage of the assets under management, reducing the potential for conflicts of interest.

The difference is no small matter. A 2015 report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that conflicts of interest cost American families $17 billion every year.

Making matters even more complex are potential changes in the rules dictating who must act as a fiduciary. In 2016, the Department of Labor issued new rules requiring any financial professional who is involved in retirement saving to be a fiduciary and calling for clear disclosures of any conflicts of interest. These new regulations were to go into effect this spring. Last week, however, President Trump delayed implementation of the rules for 180 days. Some believe he might eventually rescind them entirely.

Amid this regulatory uncertainty, what is an aspiring retiree to do? Ask questions. Lots of questions. Ask your potential financial counselor, explicitly, whether he or she is a fiduciary. If the answer is no, keep looking. Make sure you are 100 percent clear on how a potential adviser makes his or her money — and avoid anyone who depends on commissions or who assesses per-transaction charges. You should be looking for someone who charges an hourly rate or a percentage of assets under management.

Lastly, make sure to stay on top of the (perhaps) changing fiduciary rules. A quick online news search for the term “fiduciary standard’’ should keep you updated on the current state of the regulations. Stay vigilant. It’s your money.

Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at seshemkus@gmail.com.