Financial Planner - To do or not to do...

[Chinmay J.]

So I recently got connected with a very good CPA in NoVA for my 2019 taxes, and she advised me that I need to see a financial planner. So far, I have been investing my money myself into stocks and bonds. 

In my situation a Financial Planner can certainly help me if I find a good one, and I am sure most people are ethical, and work in the best interest of their clients. However the question that keeps me up at night is, how do I know I am not dealing with the next Bernie Madoff?  I am a big fan of the TV Show "American Greed", which for those of you who don't know is a CNBC production currently in its 13th season that focuses on White Collar Crime. The show is rife with story after story of people who handed over their assets to financial planners, and lost everything.

What are the steps one can take to ensure that you are not one of those poor saps who end up on AG. 

[Aaron K.]

If you are not meeting with a financial planner who charges an hourly rate you are being fleeced, they make their money on commissions from crappy mutual funds that they get clients to invest in.  If you just invest in a couple ETFs and RE you really don't need a financial planner.