I don't trust my Financial Advisor, what should I do?

[Nick Farrell]

I've had a roth IRA and a mutual fund thru Northwestern mutual for just under 2 years. I'm 23, I wanted to get started early so I can buy a business with the money some day. I don't trust the guy that is in charge of my account. My 2 accounts are up less than $100 COMBINED during the lifetime of my contributions (23 months) . Should I take my money out and invest in Robinhood myself? Anyone have any good suggestions? I'm open to anything, please let me know what you think!!

[Steve Vaughan]

I have a friend that works for Northwestern Mutual.  Limited insurance type products is what he sells.  Hardly a 'financial advisor' IMO.

My boys have growth stock mutual funds and index funds.  They were up 20% in 2017, down 8% in '18, up to all-time highs in '19. 

If you were in equities as you should be, you should be up way more than $100 unless the account value is $1000 or something real small. What's the % gain?

My guess is fees are eating your lunch.  80% of FAs don't beat the market anyway, so may as well invest in no load index funds.

Exceptions to index funds would include a large, complicated estate.  Check out The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins or I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi and get your investments on auto-pilot (without gotchas).