Picture this:

You're not feeling well, so you go to the doctor. There's a great medication for what's ailing you, but the doctor won't give it to you. The reason that medication wasn't prescribed is that the company that makes that medication doesn't pay your doctor. Instead, the doctor gives you another medicine that he says is a "suitable" replacement. After taking the "suitable'' medication for a while you try to schedule a follow-up appointment. The doctor informs you that he's not obligated to check in to make sure that the medicine prescribed is working.

I know this scenario sounds farfetched. But believe it or not, this is essentially the kind of agreement that millions of folks have with their financial professional!

On today's show, we talk about how to make sure "pay to play" scenarios aren't impacting your financial planning. We also discuss some important questions you should ask potential advisors to make sure your best interests are protected.