The person you trust with your retirement savings might be getting paid 6–8% commission to sell you products — while calling themselves your "advisor." In this debut episode of Fireproof Your Money, host Wayne Firebaugh breaks down the uncomfortable truth about the financial services industry and gives you the exact questions to ask before trusting anyone with your money.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why the term "financial advisor" has absolutely no legal meaning
- The difference between the suitability standard and the fiduciary standard — and why it matters
- How hidden fees can cost you over $300,000 on a million-dollar portfolio
- The "fee-based" vs. "fee-only" gotcha that trips up most consumers
- 5 questions that instantly separate real advisors from product pushers
- Red flags that should send you running from any advisor
- What working with a real fiduciary financial advisor actually looks like
The 5 questions to ask any financial advisor:
- Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?
- How exactly do you get paid?
- What designations do you hold? (Look for CFP, CPA, ChFC)
- Who is your custodian?
- Can you show me your ADV Part 2?
Good financial advice is boring — it's about consistent, disciplined execution of evidence-based strategies. Not about timing the market or picking winning stocks.