From whom should you take advice?  It's a good question because the answer is not so simple and most people, me included at times, get this completely wrong.  In my world of finance and helping people in trouble, I often hear the comment in reply to a piece of advice that I have given, "Well, I asked my (father, neighbor, attorney, CPA, etc.) and they said not to do what you said...yada, yada, yada."  In my experience there are two things wrong with this sort of thinking and advice.  First, the person objecting to the advice that I have given typically has very little basis and/or special knowledge that gives them a qualified perspective.  Secondly, the person seeking outside advice contrary to mine is looking for validation of their already flawed approach as opposed to a real opinion.  Simply, it is a lot easier to keep doing what you are doing when in trouble, rather than making changes and it is even easier to get someone unqualified to justify it.

I mean, what do parents know about finance?  Nothing, unless they are successful at it and more often than not parents and children are in the same boat financially.  As my mother said, the apple does not fall far from the tree, meaning that most of who we are was implanted genetically and in child rearing by our parents.  If you are not successful, chances are they aren't either so why take advice from someone who is not succeeding?  I'll give you the answer; misery loves company and by validating already mistaken ideas everyone can be in a bad way together.  I suppose that there is some comfort in that, but really, is that the desired goal?

How about lawyers and CPAs?  Here is a trivia question: How much financial planning work does an attorney or accountant receive in the course of their training?  100 hours?  50 hours?  The correct answer is ZERO!  That's right, they have no idea what they are talking about but that won't stop them from giving advice usually.  It is all about two things with these folks, being professional in appearance and client control.  They don't want to say they don't know, heck no one does, so they go right ahead and give advice.  Plus, if you take advice from me there is a possibility in their minds that they might lose a client.  That's nonsense, but it is real nonetheless.  So they usually give incorrect advice as what they are trained to do is be cautious. I mean, is not the term aggressive accountant an oxymoron?  And isn't the practice of law all about avoiding conflict, not solving financial problems.  I love both professions within their scope of expertise and use both all the time, but I never ask financial advice.  The shortest book in the world is the "Book of Successful Lawyer and Accountant Investors".

Also, I would ignore the advice of brokers and so-called financial planners as well.  Most of them are so commission oriented that their judgment is flawed from the greed motivation and those are the good ones.  I most disdain the "Financial Planners" who are usually insurance salesmen disguising themselves with a silly job title and are always looking for an opportunity to solve your problems through more insurance or mutual funds.  Yean, right.

So here I am, with decades of experience in turning around bad problems, ready and able to help you for a tiny fraction of the cost of any alternative.  My motivation is twofold. First, I want you to succeed to be a spokesman and advocate of my system to others.  Secondly, I want you to succeed because it is what you deserve – with a little practice, some determination and a lot of diligence, you will answer your financial questions, and the rest (like asking for advice from others) is solved by real world solutions – not by someone who is under qualified.  I specifically chose to go into a business to help others because it makes me feel good.  I love hearing about your successes and my role in them.  Let me help you.  I have no ulterior motive and I actually know what I am talking about.  And most of all, trust the advice and actually do it.  Oh, you can easily find unqualified people to validate what you are already doing, but so far, how is that going?  Yes, that's what I thought!