Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning your financial future.
But who can you really trust with your money?
Not all financial advisors bring the same level of training and experience — and that’s okay. What matters is knowing how to spot the ones who are truly qualified to guide you through life’s biggest financial decisions. The best advisors combine real education, hands-on experience, and a commitment to putting your interests first — and that’s exactly what you deserve.
In this post, we’ll help you cut through the noise. You’ll learn why education and experience matter, what red flags to watch for, and how to choose a financial advisor who’s actually qualified to help you build a more secure future.
Three Credentials That Truly Matter – And What They Say About an Advisor
You’ve probably seen an alphabet soup of titles and certifications behind the names of financial advisors.
While many of them are little more than resume padding, there are three that stand out — credentials that represent real, rigorous training and a serious commitment to the profession.
- CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™): Requires years of coursework, a comprehensive exam, and ongoing ethics and education requirements. CFPs are trained in retirement planning, investments, taxes, insurance, and estate planning.
- CIMA® (Certified Investment Management Analyst): Focuses on advanced portfolio construction, asset allocation, and investment strategy. CIMA-certified advisors bring institutional-level investment expertise to individual portfolios.
- CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst): An investment credential focused on deep financial analysis, portfolio management, and ethics. The CFA is known for its difficulty and is widely respected in the global finance industry.
An advisor who holds one of these credentials is demonstrating a serious level of expertise.
An advisor who holds two or more is in rare company — and stands out immediately in a crowded industry.
You’ll also see a variety of lesser-known titles and credentials. But not all designations carry the same weight. Most can be earned with a few hours of coursework and a short exam. While they may offer helpful training, they don’t reflect the same depth of knowledge or standard of ethics as the CFP®, CIMA®, or CFA®.
Bottom line: If you’re evaluating advisors, look for one or more of the “Big Three” — CFP®, CIMA®, or CFA®. These credentials aren’t easy to earn, and they speak volumes about an advisor’s technical ability, commitment, and professionalism.
Experience Brings Perspective Even AI Can’t Provide
Technical knowledge is essential, but experience adds something even more valuable: context and judgment.
An experienced advisor has seen:
- Markets rise and fall — and how people emotionally react
- Retirement plans that worked… and those that didn’t
- Tax law changes and how they affect real households
That kind of perspective lets an advisor connect the dots in a way textbooks can’t. They know what works — not just in theory, but in the real world.
It’s also true that experience grows with the complexity of the portfolios under management. Advisors who work with higher-net-worth clients often encounter more advanced strategies — like tax-efficient withdrawals, multi-generational estate planning, concentrated stock positions, and custom investment allocations. That kind of hands-on exposure sharpens their ability to solve complex problems, think strategically, and apply those same sophisticated strategies to benefit all of their clients – regardless of net worth.
The Stakes Are Too High to Wing It
You only get one shot at retirement. One chance to invest wisely. One opportunity to pass on wealth to the next generation. That’s why the person you trust to guide you matters so much.
The right advisor will:
- Build a plan around your unique goals and circumstances
- Understand how to optimize taxes, investments, and risk over time
- Provide accountability and reassurance when life or markets get unpredictable
5 Smart Questions to Ask Any Financial Advisor
Before choosing an advisor, ask:
- What credentials do you hold, and what do they mean?
- How many years have you worked with clients like me?
- Do you have experience in areas like retirement income, estate planning, or tax strategy?
- Are you a fiduciary at all times?
- How are you compensated? (Fee-only, commission, or both?)
A good advisor will welcome these questions — and answer them clearly.
Why It Matters to Us
At Insight Capital Management, we believe education and experience are just the starting point. What matters most is how we use them — to listen, to plan carefully, and to help our clients make better decisions at every stage of life.
Our founder and lead advisor, Dustin Blodgett, holds both the CFP® and CIMA® designations — two of the most respected and rigorous credentials in the financial industry. Before Insight Capital, Dustin spent years advising ultra high-net-worth clients with portfolios exceeding $300 million, giving him firsthand experience with complex wealth strategies that few advisors ever encounter.
That level of experience doesn’t just benefit large portfolios — it shapes how we think about planning, risk, and opportunity for every client we serve. We apply the same disciplined, thoughtful approach to help individuals and families make smart, informed decisions at every stage of life.
We don’t just give advice — we build lasting relationships, grounded in trust, transparency, and a deep understanding of what matters most to you.