Spotting the Sharks: 5 Red Flags Your Financial Advisor Might Be Waving (SB1732)
whatshot 9 snips
Sep 8, 2025
Discover the five alarming red flags that could mean your financial advisor is steering you wrong. Learn about the importance of fee transparency, and how to evaluate investment recommendations properly. The hosts share humor and historical tidbits while warning against speculative pitches and the pitfalls of so-called 'fun money' accounts. With practical tools and insights, this discussion will help you differentiate between trustworthy guidance and a wolf in sheep's clothing, all served with lighthearted banter.
01:11:05
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Humility Means Using Specialists
Advisors who refuse to outsource individual-stock trading often lack humility.
It's reasonable to direct clients who insist on stock speculation to specialists with proper resources.
insights INSIGHT
Set Firm Rules For Fun-Money Accounts
Fun-money accounts can be useful but must have strict rules and boundaries.
Advisors should reserve the right to limit refills or require taking gains off the table.
insights INSIGHT
Firm Type Shapes Incentives
Big firms have resources but also shareholder incentives that can misalign advice.
Independents may align better with clients, though neither structure guarantees good advice.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Not all financial advisors are created equal—and some will steer you straight into the rocks while smiling the whole way. In this episode of The Stacking Benjamins Show, Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug share the top five warning signs your advisor may not have your best interests at heart. From shady investment recommendations to fee structures that deserve a magnifying glass, we unpack the behaviors and practices that can quietly drain your portfolio.
This isn’t just about avoiding bad actors—it’s about knowing what great advice looks like so you can spot the difference. You’ll hear why “fun money” accounts can be a trap, how to sniff out overly speculative pitches, and why transparency isn’t optional when it comes to your financial future. Along the way, we sprinkle in a few stories, historical nuggets, and plenty of those classic “Doug moments” that make a trip to the basement worth your time.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your financial guide is truly on your side—or if you just want to sharpen your radar—this episode will give you the practical tools to tell the difference between a trusted partner and a wolf in a well-tailored suit.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The five biggest advisor red flags that should send you running
How to evaluate an advisor’s investment recommendations for risk and suitability
Why fee transparency can make or break a relationship
The subtle clues in an advisor’s office environment and interactions
The difference between fun money accounts and dangerous speculation
How to ensure your advisor’s plan matches your long-term goals
Questions to Think About:
When’s the last time you reviewed exactly how your advisor gets paid?
Are you clear on the why behind each investment they’ve recommended?
Would you feel confident explaining your advisor’s strategy to a friend—or does it sound like a foreign language?
This episode originally aired on August 2, 2023. Please disregard any mention of current events. You can find the original show notes here.
The Stacking Benjamins Show