Wells Fargo plans to test the waters in the fee-only advisor market by opening several registered investment advisor (RIA) offices around the country next year, Financial Planning magazine reported. The bank, which has been embroiled in a number of legal controversies and scandals over the last two years, will try to determine if the independent, fee-only advisory business is “a viable business model for us,” said David Kowach, president of Wells Fargo Advisors. The move would set Wells Fargo apart from its wirehouse competitors, which do not operate in the independent space. Wells Fargo’s new RIAs would likely be in separate offices from the firm’s existing businesses but still use the bank’s brand, Kowach said.