A good planner is a lot like a doctor. You need to be willing to take off your financial clothes if they're going to do any good. You'll also need to ask the planner how they charge. Some earn commission on investments. Others charge on an hourly basis or even ask for a percentage of your wealth each quarter.
Fees can vary dramatically.
If those rates seem prohibitive, you might need to consider a planner that charges a commission on the investments they recommend. Many planners have achieved professional certification. And, unfortunately for consumers, there are a number of them that planners can obtain. The courses cover insurance, taxes, retirement planning, investments and estate planning. The program began back in 1982 and over 30,000 people have earned the designation.