My advisor sold me high-fee funds. Should I dump her?

Higher-fee mutual funds versus cheaper ETFs is one of the most common questions investors wrestle with, and this piece meets it head-on. A reader paying a couple of percent in fund costs wonders whether to switch to lower-cost options and whether to part ways with their advisor. The answer resists the easy assumption that cheaper automatically means better off. It points out that low-cost funds don't pay an advisor, so an advice fee usually gets layered on top, and once you add it up the total cost may not be all that different. It also notes that even a skilled manager can take a long stretch of years to clearly outperform. The more practical takeaways are to settle on an investment approach you believe in, put your energy into lifestyle and tax planning where you have real control, and compare fees honestly before making a move.