Financial advisors as a group have a pretty bad reputation for charging fees no one can understand, always trying to sell you something, and not always having your best interest at heart.

Not all financial advisors are bad. But there have been enough bad ones that have ruined the perception of the whole industry.

Part of the reason there are so many bad ones is because anyone can call themselves a financial advisor. Unlike other professions, there is almost no barrier to entry.

No special education or training is required. Usually, at most, a straightforward licensing test is needed that takes about 1-4 weeks to study for. After that, you are free to start selling high commissioned products without any real understanding of personal finances.

It seems obvious, but a good financial advisor should care about YOU more than just making money off of you. They should listen to your needs and provide you with unbiased advice. The fees you pay them should be easy to understand. If you’re looking for something like this, check out our new company, Nectarine.

As always, reminding you to build wealth by following the two PFC rules: 1.) Live below your means and 2.) Invest early and often.

-Vivi & Shane