Yes, there are articles you could write about some occasions when financial advice has been inappropriate for the client.

But the facts are the opposite of what you write. Shonky financial advisers are vastly outnumbered by the well qualified, caring advisers who do the right thing by their clients and add massive value to their lives.

In addition many people lose money by taking advice from unlicenced people posing as financial advisers. This fraud can occur in any industry.

Disappointingly 10 years ago the Australian Government set the bar way too low for financial advice qualifications. This allows some shonks to get in and give advice above their intelligence and ethics level.

The industry, particularly the Financial Planning Association and Association of Financial Advisers, ARE doing a great deal to rid the industry of shonks. They persistently work to influence the Government to raise the minimum standards of entry. In addition they are raising the standards of membership to their professional associations to enable consumers to better differentiate between potential shonks and true professionals.

As an aside you should be desperately concerned about property advisers – they are unregulated.

You of course are welcome to maintain your belief that most financial advisers are disreputable and thereby pursue a Do It Yourself route. My mind does wonder how much that may be costing you. Hope it’s not and you are successful.