Read Paladin Articles About Financial Advisors

Most investors use subjective processes when they select financial advisors. For example, they select advisors based on: personalities, sales pitches, brand names, and promises of high returns for low risk. Personalities and sales pitches have nothing to do with the competence and ethics of advisors and promises are illegal (no one can predict future returns or events). There has to be a safer, easier way for investors to... More

Every financial advisor in America claims to be an investment expert. They do not provide any type of track record that documents this claim. In the absence of documentation, these advisors know you have no way to invalidate their claims so they are free to make sales claims that are designed to convince you they are real experts. Less ethical advisors use sophisticated sales pitches to make unsubstantiated claims that are... More

There is a lot of confusion about the compensation of financial advisors. Should they be compensated with fees or commissions? How much are they paid? What services do investors receive for the money they pay them? Should advisors provide written disclosure for their compensation? The confusion is no accident. It exists because Wall Street wants it to exist. This is because the financial services industry has a core... More

Very few investors know the critical importance of selecting an investment fiduciary as their financial advisor. That's because the financial securities industry deliberately blurs the distinctions so lower quality sales representatives can sell you their products for substantial fees and commissions. It is important to know there are two primary types of investment advisors and not one. Following is a brief description of... More

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation can be of critical importance for reasons that are largely hidden by the financial services industry. That's because the industry allows anyone to call themselves a financial planner whether they have the necessary knowledge or not. But, they do not want you to know that. This means your planner could have three months of planning experience or is an insurance agent... More