Financial planner?

Need some financial planning advice asap. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Check with your bank. Sometimes they offer free financial planning services to members

Ditto for Fidelity and Vanguard.

the bank advisors are also commission sales people.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

the bank advisors are also commission sales people.

I guess maybe that depends on your bank. I use USAA and had a great in-depth conversation with them, and I don't think they even mentioned their investment products once.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

the bank advisors are also commission sales people.

In many instances, financial planners are compensated by commission whether they have upfront fees or not.  Those commissions could add up to a significant chunk of your investment return over time.  We use a fee-only planner and have been happy with that decision and have an increased awareness over the fee structure built into investments and financial planning.  You may also come across commission-based planners who have a track record worth the associated fees.  Whoever you go with, try to get a good understanding for how they are compensated and what your fees will be upfront and/or built in.

And many fee based planners receive incentives from various sources (usually the mutual fund carriers) that sometimes come in the form of gifts (Ipads, trips, sporting events).  

Yes, many financial planners receive a percentage or a commission on what they recommend, but a good, honest one will sit with you, listen to you and your needs and recommend products that are useful and helpful to you. If they are commission based, that is just how they get paid, but that should not influence what products they offer you. I have not seen or heard of any incentives that are mentioned above, but can imagine they exist (just as doctors receive goodies from pharmaceutical comapnies, etc). There are good and bad in both, but just because a financial planner makes a commission does not mean they do not have good advice.