Not all financial planners are created equal. And they may be hiding stuff from you. 1. I am not qualified for the job. Although Singapore requires all the licensed insurance agents to take the CMFAS papers, the papers are only the beginning of understanding insurance products. They do not cover how to develop a proper financial plan. It requires further pursuit of CFP or ChFC qualifications and continuous upgrading of new developments. 2. Your interest is not my top priority. The remuneration system is commission based, which means that if no product is sold, the agent is providing free service. Hence, the top priority would be to sell something. This creates a serious conflict of interest. 3. I only look at insurance. A comprehensive financial plan includes looking at estate planning, taxes, budgeting and risk management. However, most financial planners come from insurance company and only have insurance products available. ......