A Financial Planner is a trusted role. Empathy, understanding, free of judgement or blame. The advisor must embrace the client and fearlessly know the client to the point that the client can feel safe enough that they will permit their best interests to be served, beyond and often contrary to their pride and ego.

Friendly Advisor? So what? Used car salesmen, realtors and lawyers are friendly too. Are you getting value for the fees you're paying? How do you know? it's a question of relative not ABSOLUTE VALUE. Financial planners are paid to plan? Even up to 5 years ago planners were compensated by the sale of investments , and they performed planning services for free. That's completely opposite today. Because of computer literacy, and the internet... all ages and stages of society have direct access high quality investment strategies, with or without a plan. Are you getting planning value? Is your financial plan still relevant? How would you know? Fees... Touchy subject? Not if you're keen on the comparative value versus alternatives. The TRUTH is. Relationship quality is a binary qualifier, and not an indicator of value . Friends - should be and are - FREE. Not all Advisors are the same. They vary in: Qualifications and Professional Development Experience Platform Specialization COMPETENCE WORK ETHIC ASSOCIATED LICENSING. Advisors may also have different capacities based on their Dealer or Brokerage. Access to: Experts Suitable Products Pricing Related Services Independent advisors are unbound and able to seek planning tools, experts, and premium products services and strategies and more. This January... when you open your Investment statements... Find out what your Fees are and get mad enough to seek better value elsewhere. or... Not. Its a question of Relative Value... Paul