I am a financial adviser and think, in many ways, your comments do more harm than good. True, there are many people out there that can pick there own investments a do better than the overall market. I know I did for years before becoming a financial adviser and help my clients do the same now.

However, I find most people out there are pretty clueless about choosing investments. Many of these folks have listened to people like you only to lose significant value in their portfolio over the years before showing up in my office. If they had come to me first they would be way ahead of where they are now.

Also, you seem to think that it is only about picking the right investments when it is so much more complex than that. What kind of retirement plan should a person have in place? Does an individual need a trust, TOD, will? What other considerations should one have based on their specific situation?

Most of us hire a doctor to help us maintain our health, or even a mechanic to help us maintain our car. I think it is a disservice to make people feel bad about hiring a professional to help them with their investments and overall financial situation - something that is very important to everyone of us.

For me, an advisor is like a member of the board of directors. What does Hulbert say about a BOD? Does he suggest it is a waste of money? We need people in our lives to help us execute, clarify and provide knowledgeable information.

Another example is that I have played golf for one year by myself in an effort to become a good player. Yet when I spent time with a friend and instructed his efforts, the combination of watching and correcting and advising him provided a clearer picture for me and my game immediately improved!
I think it is the same with the advisor. I may become one soon.

I don't use the services of a paid financial advisor. I do check in with an advisor provided free of charge by one of my three retirement accounts every two years for a look at my overall portfolio (it just worked out that way--I'd have that many providers in any case because I have an IRA, a 403(b) and a 457 account, and there aren't any common providers for all three accounts).

I use the consultation as a way to further my understanding of current market conditions, and I take any advice with a grain of salt. I don't discard it out of hand, but I do let the advice simmer in my brain for a good six months before taking any action.

I don't think I'd get much benefit from paying a financial advisor, although there will come a time when I would appreciate the services of someone who could bring all of my scattered assets and accounts together and simplify things for me. Right now I can keep track of it all, and I do.

That said, I'm not your average investor. Although I have no formal education in finance, I do okay by erring slightly on the side of caution. By slightly on the side of caution I mean avoiding IPO's, and preferring to buy blue-chip, dividend-paying stocks and low-fee mutual funds. I mean keeping my portfolio balanced and diversified. I mean staying on top of major financial and geopolitical developments. And I mean researching my investments prior to purchase, looking at financial data, analysts' evaluations and wherever possible, doing "shoeleather" research to gauge a company's or investment's suitability and potential.

I figure I'm doing a financial advisor's job for myself, so why pay someone else for something I basically enjoy doing?

After working in another field for 25 years, I became a financial adviser nine years ago. I always handled my own investments many years ago because I didn't want to pay anyone to help me. Looking back, I wish I had paid someone who would have helped me learn more about the markets and the opportunities that are out there. Most of my clients have no interest in the market and I know they are well-served by working with me. When you can pay a fee of 1%---why would you not work with a good adviser? I have learned so much more about investing in the last nine years and I am certain I know much more than the average person. They pay me the 1% because they get more than that when it comes to their returns and their protection against possible losses through asset allocation and diversification. I think by writing such an article you are only showing your ignorace. Some people do not need our help, but that is a small number of people.

With the huge amount of financial information and advice available free today and over the Internet anyone willing to spend time certainly doesn't need to pay someone for advice! What a waste.