No. (Am I the only one left in the whole wide world?) I reject the 'let your money grow while you sit on your butt' promise of investment in favor of reasoning that says: You get a certain return for time and effort invested in something with a given amount of risk. I believe I'll get a more efficient return putting time and money into things I know a lot about rather than things about which I know very little. So I have no 'financial vehicle' investments.
I also reject the often parroted advice to 'talk to a broker or financial adviser' if you don't know about investing. As if he has no dog in the hunt. Might as well ask a car salesman if buying a car is good move, or an accountant if doing your own books is a bad idea.
1) 90% of the private companies out there will take 100% of your money. But do what you want.
2) I have been a licensed advisor / manager for many years. You are far, far better off consulting with one yourself than taking "tips" off internet hacks on a bodybuilding message board.
Today's advisors most often work off managed money, which means the better you do the better they do. It also means that they generally don't get a commission for every buy and sell, but rather mostly make a flat % on your total amount of assets. Investment advisors these days are also heavily regulated (at least those who don't strictly deal with accredited investors) and have a fiduciary responsibility to do right by their clients.
You can always do your own investing, but again I'd spend many, many hours doing research - not fishing for "tips" from strangers online, most of whom are in no way qualified to give financial advice. Even someone like myself who IS certainly qualified cannot make responsible recommendations without knowing a great deal about someone's unique situation.
As for comparing financial advisors to car salesmen, that makes no sense whatsoever. Maybe you're like many here who don't realize that cars, boats, etc are depreciating assets that DRAIN wealth. Just about anybody can buy a car, and anybody with decent income and a little cash to put down can get into a high end car that drains more and more of their monthly income they should be investing every month. But hey, some peole will be impressed and think they're cool, right?
It takes a little more financial savvy, common sense, and discipline to invest a little each month (on your own or with a pro) and build actual wealth over time. I know plenty of people who make 6 figures or more. Some invest wisely and eventually get very wealthy. Others spend every penny on high living, debt, and depreciating assets and have to work forever. I also know people who never made six figures who lived frugally and invested wisely and were able to retire with a 7 figrue next egg and no debt.
And if you don't think CPAs are actually useful to some people (people with money), you probably aren't the investing type anyway for one reason or another.