Financial Advisors: The Good, The Bad, and the Ones You Should Run From

February 10, 2026

A Shoutout to the Real Ones

Let me be clear right up front: some of the sharpest, most generous, and genuinely good-hearted people I know are financial advisors. They’re the ones who actually care about building lasting wealth for their clients, not just padding their own pockets. If you’re lucky enough to work with one of them, hold on tight, they’re rare.

The Industry’s Dark Side

But the industry? It’s full of wolves in sheep’s clothing. And too many advisors fall into that second category: the ones who dodge questions, hide fees, and prioritize their commissions over your future.

What Real Transparency Looks Like (And the Dodges I’ve Seen)

I’ve seen it play out with friends. One of them straight-up asked her advisor, “How am I paying you? What’s coming out of my money?” His response? “Oh, you don’t pay me, my company does.” Classic sidestep. She was asking about fees eating into her returns, and he spun it like his paycheck magically appears from nowhere. That’s not transparency; that’s sleight of hand.

The real ones, the fiduciaries who put your interests first, don’t play games. They’ll lay it out plain:

• They charge a straightforward percentage of assets under management (usually around 1% annually, sometimes less for bigger portfolios).

• No hidden commissions, no transaction fees, no monthly nonsense.

• Zero kickbacks or “incentives” from the funds they push.

• And crucially, they’re legally bound as fiduciaries to act in your best interest, not theirs.

If they’re not explaining all that upfront and educating you on the math, walk away.

How the Shady Ones Hide Fees (And the Red Flags to Spot)

The shady ones bury fees everywhere. Front-end loads? That’s 5-6% skimmed right off the top before your money even hits the market, gone forever. 12b-1 fees? Those are straight kickbacks from mutual funds to the advisor for steering you’re cash their way.

And don’t get me started on the “financial advisors” who are really just insurance salespeople in disguise. If they start steering you toward cash-value life insurance as an “investment,” that’s your cue to bolt. Run, don’t walk. It’s rarely the optimal play for most people, and it’s often loaded with high costs and low returns dressed up as protection.

My Take + What You Should Do Next

I’ve never used a traditional financial advisor myself, probably because I’m not your average investor. I came up in the nightlife grind, learned to spot BS fast, and built my own path through real estate and smart compounding. But I get it: most people need guidance, especially when the stakes are your hard-earned money and retirement.

So if you do work with one (or are thinking about it), demand clarity. Ask hard questions about every fee, run the numbers on long-term impact (those “small” percentages compound into massive drags over decades), and verify they’re a true fiduciary. Your future self will thank you.

Bottom line

Your money is you’re freedom. Don’t hand it over to someone who won’t be transparent about how they’re getting paid. The good advisors are out there, but you have to hunt for them, and be willing to walk when the red flags wave. Protect your wealth like you protect your reputation: fiercely, intentionally, and without apology. That’s how you turn hustle into real, lasting security.

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Let’s make 2026 the year we level up. 🚀

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