Doing financial consulting can be like walking in a minefield with blindfolds on. While you are aware of the risks, it can be hard to identify them. If you want to make sure your investments are safe, it is important to know the complaints made against financial planners. What does a financial advisor do?

Transparency problems are at the top of the list for client complaints. Imagine hiring someone that promises to make a room brighter, but who keeps you in semi darkness about fees and charges. It’s no fun to be surprised, especially if the surprise comes with dollar signs. Hidden fees are often not explained to clients, and they’re caught off-guard.

Imagine you had planned a vacation at the beach, but ended up in an expensive ski resort. Someone didn’t check your preferences. This is what can happen when advisors fail in their efforts to align strategies with clients’ needs.

Communication–or the lack thereof- is another huge problem. It’s the same as sending messages to space and hoping they will return. The clients expect regular updates; silence and cryptic responses won’t work.

A lack of experience or apparent incompetence can cause problems at complaint departments. You should not feel nervous about handing your financial reins over to someone.

Another mazelike process is the actual filing of complaints. Many are caught up in procedural tangles so thick you’d need to have a machete.

What is the best way to avoid this trap? Start with doing your homework. I mean, really do it. Research potential advisors the same way you would research a babysitter before hiring them to take care of your firstborn. Check credentials. Read testimonials like New York Times articles and conduct interviews the way a journalist would.

As if you were setting the rules of a summer camp, insist on clarity in all aspects of your engagement right from the start. It should all be transparent, with no surprises.

Establish communication norms too. If you decide to have monthly meetings or weekly emails, it should be stated more clearly than instructions on the shampoo bottle.

Remember that to successfully navigate the terrain, you must do more than simply observe. You need to actively participate. Ask questions until satisfied. If you smell something fishy, it is likely something is rotting.

Conclusion (though we didn’t say anything formal here): Finding the right financial planner is not just about choosing someone who speaks well. It is also about finding a person who will play along with you according to the rules set out by you.