How does an ordinary investor find a true professional financial planner when it can be like searching for a needle in a haystack?

The financial services industry includes hundreds of thousands of individuals who use titles such as financial advisor, wealth manager, financial consultant, retirement specialist or financial planner. Yet these professionals operate under very different business models, compensation structures and standards of care.

Over the years, I've developed three criteria that I believe help consumers identify a true financial planning professional:

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