In those cases, one would be best served to speak with a fee-based financial advisor (http://www.napfa.org/ http://www.napfa.org/) These advisors make money in

In those cases, one would be best served to speak with a fee-based financial advisor (http://www.napfa.org/ http://www.napfa.org/) These advisors make money in a way that is far more transparent and typical of professional relationships: they charge you a price for their service, and you don't continue to pay them when they aren't adding value. I would even argue that many of the cases you listed are better suited for a lawyer. Another example of a typical relationship where I pay them $X for their service instead of X% of my assets in perpetuity.