E15: How do I evaluate whether my financial advisor is doing a good job or not?

Evaluating an advisor isn’t just about looking at your latest statement. Courtney from Troy, Michigan, asks how to know if her guide is actually performing. Mark explains why judging an advisor solely on returns can be dangerous—high returns often hide high risks. Instead, we use the analogy of a cross-country trip to demonstrate how to evaluate an advisor based on systematic progress toward a clear destination.

You’ll learn why having a clear goal and regular benchmarks is the only way to measure success. We discuss the importance of communication, the reality of 7% gains, and why a good advisor should be nimble enough to pivot when your life or the economy changes.