How to prove to a client they need advice

If a friend at the local pub suggested coming round and rewiring your home you would probably think twice. You would want to understand his background, experience and qualifications to do the job. You would probably also want references and to know if he was a member of a professional body. You would insist on a quote for the work in advance (and probably get another couple of quotes for comparison purposes). You would also want to know what sort of guarantees you would get on the work he undertook for you. So why do people not apply the same standards to getting financial advice? We ...