There are certainly many highly qualified and skilled financial advisors out there. But I like to help empower my clients to learn as much as they can about finance, so they can keep an eye on things for themselves.
Remember that financial advisors are oftentimes trying to sell you a product, which provides them with an upfront and/or continuing payment, such as life insurance policies. In those situations the financial advisor has a vested interest and is not a neutral advisor. And that may be ok, so long as you understand and need the product he is selling.
But please be very weary of financial advisors who are overly personable and engratiating. They may have a hidden agenda.
I absolutely cringe every time I hear a client say “my financial advisor is like a part of my family.” He is not your family – he is trying to make money to support his family, like everyone else. Keep your eyes open and keep yourself educated by reading the Wall Street Journal and similar non-biased sources of financial information.
Lastly, remember that your financial advisor is not your lawyer. Any financial advisor who says he will do you a favor by providing you with form legal documents, such as a power of attorney or a will, is practicing law without a license, and is doing you no favors.
Estate planning is a very complex area of the law, despite what Legal Zoom may advertise. The best estate planning attorneys spend hours upon hours each week, just to keep up with changes in the law, and thinking of highly personalized and creative plans to benefit their clients. No computer program can do that.