Looking for a financial adviser? Here's what to seek out, and red flags to avoid

You’re looking for a financial adviser . In addition to the usual laundry list of attributes, let’s explore what to avoid. In investing, as in life, the phrase “winning by not losing” comes to mind. While there are certainly empirical markers one can look for and while empathy and bedside manner are often crucial, there are nonetheless several serious red flags — although difficult to reliably quantify — that constitute serious impediments to financial progress.

It has been a decade since some jaw-dropping information about financial advice was released in an academic paper that looked at how...