Laurence --

I'll return your kind compliment: great thoughts! Many thanks for reading.

I think the problem that you're talking about is fundamentally one of recognition. Very few people on the street will talk about how their adviser/client relationship has transformed their lives.

Financial advice is not a fundamentally viral product. It somehow manages to have even less buzz than going to the dentist or doctor. And the people who buy it (at least the individuals) are perhaps even less able to tell the difference between a good and bad practitioner. Just as perniciously, they aren't necessarily able to tell the difference between a "good enough" practitioner and the one they should really be working with.

There are also fit issues that need to be considered. Like, is personal advice really right for everyone? Would I rather talk to the same person throughout my life or someone with expertise in whatever situation I find myself in?

In any case, it's not a simple issue. I'm looking forward to expanding it more in the coming weeks. Many thanks for reading!

Will