Think a great rate of return means you have a really great financial advisor? Or that a mediocre or bad rate of return means your advisor isn't very bright? A good or bad rate of return needs to be understood in the context of the investment environment it's being measured within.
If an advisor "rewarded" his clients with a negative 20% return in 2008, that was actually a really good outcome. The equity markets, as measured by the S&P 500, lost 37%. Alternatively, if your advisor got you a +20% return in 2009, that's not great considering the market was up 26% that year.
Good and bad markets are inevitable. Often the best outcome an advisor can deliver is getting clients to stick to their plan as defined by their goals. Watch this short video to learn more!