If there was one question you would like to ask a financial planner

I think it's a valid question to ask a Financial Planner.

If you are after Financial Freedom, do you really want Financial Advice from someone that has to work? No.

You want advice from someone that has already achieved Financial Freedom and is authorised to give you financial advice.

I've given advice to quite a few people over the years about what they should be looking for in a planner, and one of the keys things I tell people to ask is:
"Are you financially secure and independant or at least on your way, and what types of things do you do with your money?"
If someone expects you to give them everything re info, and little give and take should be fair. I know financial planners in their 20's who are very very good, but the strategies that they are using for themselves have only taken them so far towards their goals, they may only be worth a million or two - I have also known planners that can't even afford to pay for their train tickets so jump the ticket machines!
You're entitled to know the broad strokes, but I think that specific details are a little too much.
A financial planners personal success is relevant to their clients, and the techniques used are also relevant.

Something that I've always done (and said), if I would not invest into myself, or recommend it to someone in my family, I would not recommend it to a client. If it's not good enough for me, what on earth makes me think that it's good enough for anyone else that I'm supposed to care about.

FS

I'm completely biased in answering this question because I'm a financial planner, but I'm want to share my view. I would argue that it is a meaningless question to ask a planner what their net worth is.

A financial planner's job is to help you make smart financial decisions. They don't need to be financially free or have a high net worth themselves to do that.

Net wealth comes down to how much assets you've accumulated in your life based on what you've managed to save and invest and the asset mix you've chosen.

A young FP could well be on their way to achieving their financial goals by making smart financial decisions, but not quite there yet - so that's what I would ask them. "Are you making smart financial decisions in your own life? Is your financial house organised? Do you have a game plan in place?" - if they stare at you blankly or hesitate for a second, you know what to do.

Hi Guys,
first post and I know this thread is dated but I found the comments "interesting" to say the least.

I see you are most concern with the income status of a planner but no-one mentioned "transparency of service" for without this all is domed in my opinion.

Of most importance to me is the way the transparency is communicated.

Having interview over 300 FP for research on behalf of a software client I was personally amazed that most (not all) do not what to offer transparency to the clients, most would drum up reasons for not providing it but none were worth thinking about in my books.

Anyway, interesting comments from everyone here

Cheers
Poddy