Finding the right financial advisor for your particular situation can be incredibly tough and time-consuming. To help you begin to filter through the many financial professionals, numerous articles have been written about what questions to ask. 

I even wrote an article on the subject and outlined five key factors to consider:

1. Education and Experience
2. Certifications
3. Fees and Conflicts of Interest
4. Standard of Care
5. Working Relationship

A factor I didn't mention was inquiring about an advisor's own financial situation. I asked several financial advisors to weigh in on whether they thought their own financial situation would be relevant to prospective clients, and most agreed sharing certain aspects could be helpful. Here's what you may want to ask a prospective financial advisor about their own finances.

InvestmentNews recently named lifelaidout founder, Roger Ma, as one of its 2017 40 Under 40. Based on accomplishments to date, contributions to the financial advisory industry, leadership and promise, Roger was chosen from more than 800 nominations.

The financial advisor ecosystem can be surprisingly complex. Nearly anyone can call themselves a financial advisor, financial planner, or financial coach, with minimum qualifications required. As a result, it's important to be careful and thoughtful when selecting a professional to help you save, grow, and protect your savings. Here are five things to consider when shopping for a financial advisor.