How Carol can calculate her advisor’s value

Wondering whether your advisor is worth what you pay is a fair question, and a hard one to answer just by looking at a fee. This piece follows Carol, who wants to know if she's overpaying and whether she's getting sound advice. The column separates the cost of the advice from the cost of the underlying products, then sets that total against the alternatives, including lower-cost robo options, so the comparison is honest. From there it shifts the question away from fees alone toward the value being delivered: whether the advisor understands what she wants, stays in touch, and helps her make good decisions when it counts. The relationship, it argues, is a two-way street. It's a grounded read for anyone who suspects they might be paying too much but isn't sure how to judge what they're actually receiving.