A trustworthy financial advisor should make your financial life clearer, not leave you decoding mysterious fees and impressive-sounding credentials. The real test goes beyond a friendly personality or a polished office. You can check how an advisor gets paid, what services they provide, what conflicts they face, and whether regulators have reported problems.
That matters because “financial advisor” describes a broad group of professionals with different licenses, services, compensation structures, and legal obligations. A good conversation can tell you plenty, but paperwork and public records can tell you things a sales pitch cannot.
