If you are not experienced in a variety of investment products, going to a financial advisor who makes their living on commissions from specific investment products is a bad idea. They will most likely recommend products that to will make money for them, not for you.
You can hire a "fee only" advisor, like a CFP, who will charge you by the hour for their time. But, they will often overcomplicate investing to justify their fee. They may produce a fancy financial plan that is not necessary for your situation. Some will want to charge you a percentage of your assets (1 to 3 percent) every year to manage your portfolio. Usually not a good deal. Also, some companies that sell commission based products, including insurance companies, will hire CFPs or CPAs to convince clients that they are providing independent advice, when they really aren't.
The only way to ensure that you are investing correctly is to do your own research and to become well informed about the variety of investment options. I don't see anything wrong with sharing investment experiences on an open forum. It can be very informative. My opinion.
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