re: Bernie Madoff or Other Ponzi Scheme Question

You should feel absolutely fine with any advisor who works for a broker dealer (ed jones, NY life, etc). They aren’t the boss and have no say-so in what is available or how it’s reported to you.

For RIAs, anyone using a well known custodian should be ok too (Schwab, fidelity, vanguard). They also have no say-so in how it is reported to you or the paperwork involved.

The only thing that would make me nervous is if I hadn’t heard of the place my money was actually to be held, and the advisor had some type of ownership or authority in that firm.

Otherwise, you’re just worrying over almost nothing. Not saying the advisor isn’t going to put you in some crappy annuity and suck at their job or whatever, but you can be pretty sure he’s not taking it to the Bahamas with him.