In this episode of the NGPF podcast, investment expert Patrick Geddes pulls back the curtain on the investment industry, breaking down the difference between asset managers and wealth managers and explaining how each gets paid. Geddes walks listeners through the most important questions to ask a financial advisor, including how to identify hidden fees, understand fiduciary standards, and evaluate professional designations like CFP and CFA. He makes a compelling case for low-cost index fund investing, explaining how even a fee under 1% can cost an investor hundreds of thousands of dollars over time due to the power of compounding. The episode closes with an honest framework for deciding whether to hire an advisor or go the do-it-yourself route, empowering listeners to think of themselves first as consumers — not just investors.